In telecommunication and computer communication, the term network interface has the following meanings:

  1. The point of interconnection between a user terminal and a private or public network.
  2. The network card on a computer is sometimes casually called network interface.
  3. The point of interconnection between the public switched network and a privately owned terminal. In the USA, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, part 68, stipulates the interface parameters.
  4. The point of interconnection between one network and another network.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188