What component must a home network printer have for network operation?

For a home network printer to operate efficiently within a network, it must be equipped with a network interface card (NIC). The NIC allows the printer to connect directly to a local area network (LAN), enabling multiple devices, such as computers and mobile devices, to send print jobs to it over the network. This connectivity is crucial for a seamless printing experience, particularly in environments where multiple users need access to the printer without requiring a direct physical link, like USB.

While wireless connectivity can enhance convenience, it's not strictly necessary for all network printers, as some may connect via wired Ethernet instead. USB support, while useful for connecting the printer directly to a single computer, does not facilitate network printing. Built-in memory can improve the printer’s performance, especially in buffering print jobs, but it does not play a role in making the printer network-capable. Therefore, the presence of a network interface card is essential for enabling the fundamental networking functions necessary for a printer to operate in a home network setup.