Ethernet

Ethernet is a method for communication also called CSMA/CD (carrier sense, media access / collision detect). It was developed at DEC first. It was cheaper than token ring for a Local Area Network (LAN) so it became the industrial standard. Ethernet has historically been used on copper cabling up to Gigabit speeds, but fibre-optic cabling is becoming very popular especially at Gigabit speeds.

Ethernet

Has a bandwidth of 10 Mbps (Mega bit per second). It can work in full duplex and half duplex mode. The maximum length of one copper ethernet cable between 2 NIC's is 100 meters, 200 meters if a ethernet repeater is used, which boosts the signal.

Fast Ethernet

Has a bandwidth of 100 Mbps. It can work in full duplex and half duplex mode. The maximum length between 2 NICS is the same as 10 Mbps ethernet.

Gigabit Ethernet

Has a bandwidth of 1000 Mbps. It can work in full duplex and half duplex mode.

10 Gigabit Ethernet

Has a bandwidth of 10 Gbps (Giga bit per second). It probably works in full duplex mode.