What is a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) primarily used for?

A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is primarily utilized to create a virtual broadcasting domain, which effectively segments a network into distinct sections. This segmentation allows for improved management of network resources and enhances security by limiting broadcast traffic to specific groups of devices. Each VLAN acts as a separate logical network, even if the devices are connected to the same physical network infrastructure.

By employing VLANs, organizations can control traffic more efficiently, isolate sensitive data, and manage network performance without the need for additional physical hardware to separate networks. This logical separation can also facilitate more straightforward network management, as devices can belong to different VLANs based on their function, department, or security level, regardless of their physical location.

Other options do not align with the primary function of VLANs. For instance, physically connecting devices refers to the role of switches and routers, while establishing a direct internet connection pertains to gateways or ISP services, and backing up data across servers involves data management strategies rather than networking segmentation. Thus, the correct choice highlights the core benefit of VLAN technology in network configuration and administration.