Glossary comparison
CAN vs LIN: what is the difference?
The difference
LIN is a slower, lower-cost single-wire bus in which one master node starts every exchange, used for non-critical devices such as mirrors and window lifts. CAN is multi-master and faster.
CAN is a faster multi-master bus with arbitration and differential signalling, used for the vehicle's main control networks. LIN is a slower, cheaper single-wire bus with one commander, used for simple sub-networks that usually hang off a CAN node.
The two terms
CAN
The dominant in-vehicle serial bus, a multi-master differential two-wire network with priority-based arbitration on message identifiers and classical speeds up to 1 Mbit/s.
LIN
A single-wire, low-speed (up to 20 kbit/s) commander-responder bus (master-slave in older documents) used for cheap body functions such as mirrors, seats, switches, rain sensors and small motors, where CAN's cost and bandwidth would be excessive.
Side by side
| Field | CAN | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Controller Area Network | Local Interconnect Network |
| Type | Acronym | Acronym |
| Domain | Automotive | Automotive |
| Group | In-vehicle networking | In-vehicle networking |