What function does a network interface card (NIC) serve?

A network interface card (NIC) serves the essential function of providing a means for a device to connect to a network. This connection allows for communication between the device and other devices on the network, enabling the transfer of data. The NIC acts as an intermediary between the device and the network, translating the device's internal data into packets that can be transmitted over the network and vice versa.

In addition to facilitating this connection, a NIC is responsible for handling the data link layer specifics, such as framing and addressing, depending on the network technology used (like Ethernet or Wi-Fi). This role is crucial for ensuring that data sent from one device can reach its intended destination reliably and efficiently.

Other choices focus on functions that are not inherent to the core role of a NIC. For example, encrypting data is a function typically handled by software applications or specialized hardware designed for security purposes, rather than by the NIC itself. Similarly, while a firewall is a critical component of network security, it operates separately from the NIC, often as a software application or dedicated hardware. Managing the speed of data transfer is also outside the NIC's primary function; the NIC will operate at the speed for which it is designed, but it does not control the overall data transfer rate dictated