A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a logical grouping of network devices that share the same broadcast domain. A VLAN can span multiple physical LANs, and it allows for the segmentation of a network into logical subnets. Each VLAN has its own unique identifier (ID), which is used to distinguish one VLAN from another.

VLANs are created in order to improve network performance and security. By creating separate broadcast domains, traffic on one VLAN does not need to be forwarded to all other devices on the network – this reduces overall traffic and improves performance. In addition, by isolating devices into different VLANS, it becomes more difficult for unauthorized users to access sensitive data or resources – this increases security.

Overall, VLANS offer many benefits in terms of both performance and security. When properly configured, they can help improve the efficiency and safety of any computer network.