What does the term "VLAN" stand for?

VLAN stands for Virtual Local Area Network. This term is used in networking to describe a specific grouping of devices within a local area network (LAN) that are partitioned and isolated from one another even though they may be on the same physical network. By creating VLANs, network administrators can enhance performance and improve security by segregating traffic.

In the context of a VLAN, the word "Virtual" indicates that this segmentation is done logically rather than physically. Devices in different VLANs cannot communicate with each other unless they go through a router or a Layer 3 switch. This logical grouping allows for more flexible network design and better utilization of resources without requiring additional hardware.

Other options do not accurately represent the definition of VLAN. For instance, "Virtual Local Access Network" and "Virtual Link Access Network" do not reflect the correct terminology used in industry standards, while "Very Large Area Network" is an incorrect term as it does not describe any accepted networking technology. Therefore, the correct choice clearly defines the concept of VLAN in networking terminology.