InformationWeek SMB TechEncyclopedia

An inhouse Web site on the company's local area network (LAN) that serves employees only, and almost every medium to large company has an intranet. Although intranet pages may have links to Web sites on the Internet, the intranet is not exposed to, or is accessed by, the general public. It provides a standard way to publish company policy, news, schedules, medical and insurance forms and training manuals. The intranet is also a venue for publishing blogs, wikis and social activities such as sports and exercise schedules.

     Since the Web browser is the primary interface, intranets offer cross-platform support between Windows, Mac and Linux desktops.

An Internal Web
Intranets use the same HTTP server (Web server) technology, protocols and hypertext links as the public Web. The major difference is that they reside inside the firewall, fortified from the outside world. See HTTP and firewall.

Good Riddance to the Term
When "intra-net" is used together with "Inter-net," each term must be emphasized, creating a verbal tongue twister for an instructor (see naming fiascos). The term was popular in the mid 1990s, but although still used, browser-based applications are so common that the term evolved back to simply "LAN." See LAN, Web site, Web server and Internet.