TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

Which network component connects a device to the transmission media and allows it to send and receive messages?

1. Router

2. Network interface card

3. Modem

4. Bridge

The correct answer is: Network interface card

The network interface card (NIC) is the correct choice because it serves as the hardware component that enables a device to connect to a network and communicate over it. The NIC provides the necessary interface between the device and the transmission media, whether that be wired (such as Ethernet cables) or wireless (such as Wi-Fi). This component encapsulates and decapsulates the data packets that are sent and received, allowing the device to send messages to other devices within the network or to transmit them across the broader internet. It also handles the conversion of the digital data from the device into a format suitable for transmission over the chosen medium and vice versa. In comparison, while the router directs data between networks and efficiently manages the traffic, it does not directly connect a device to the transmission media. A modem facilitates the connection to the Internet Service Provider by modulating and demodulating signals, but it does not connect the device to the transmission media directly either. A bridge, on the other hand, connects two or more network segments, supporting communication between them, but it functions at a higher level and does not serve as the direct interface for a single device. Thus, the network interface card is specifically designed for connecting an individual device to the transmission media,