What Does the WAN Port Mean on a Router?

In this video, I explain how to identify the WAN port on your router, as well as what it's used for. For more content on similar topics, check out my YouTube channel:    / @network-from-home   The video above is included in the following blog post on network-from-home.com: https://network-from-home.com/what-is... 0:20 What does the WAN port stand for? 0:50 What is the WAN port for? 1:11 Where is the WAN port located on a router? 3:09 What connects to the WAN port of a router? 4:10 Demonstration of how your router connects to your modem using the WAN port What is the WAN port for on a router? WAN stands for “Wide Area Network”. In the context of your router, the Wide Area Network that this port is referring to is the Internet. In other words, the WAN port is used to connect your router to the internet. Your router cannot provide an internet connection on its own to your devices, which is why the WAN port exists in the first place. How do you identify the WAN port on your router? Your router will have multiple ethernet ports on it. These ethernet ports are usually located on the back of the device. The WAN port on your router will usually be clearly marked to differentiate it from the other ethernet ports on your router. It’ll usually have a label above or below it with either “WAN” or “Internet” to identify it. On occasion (like on my router), the WAN ethernet port is a different color than the other ethernet ports on the device. What connects to the WAN port on your router? In order for your router to connect to the internet, your router connects to the modem in your home network. Your modem establishes an internet connection with your internet service provider (ISP), and your modem provides this internet connection to your router through its WAN port. To make the connection between your modem and router, one end of an ethernet cable is connected to the WAN port of your router. The other end of the ethernet cable is connected to the ethernet port on the modem. Conclusion If you have any questions about the WAN port on your router, please leave a comment below. You can also check out the blog post I linked to above for more information.