What do network interface cards generally facilitate?

Network interface cards (NICs) serve a critical role in computer networking by connecting a computer or device to a network. This involves providing the hardware interface necessary for transmitting and receiving data signals over various kinds of networks, such as wired Ethernet connections or wireless networks.

The primary function of a NIC is to manage the data communication between the device and the network. It converts data into a format suitable for transmission and vice versa, ensuring that information sent to and from the device communicates effectively with other devices on the network. Therefore, the connection to a network is a fundamental capability of network interface cards.

In contrast, while some network interface cards do facilitate wireless signal broadcasting, this is not a universal feature and more commonly pertains to specific types of NICs like those designed for Wi-Fi. Storage of data and secure file transfer are functionalities related to other components and protocols in computing and networking rather than the primary role of network interface cards.