Understanding Computer Networks

Network that allows computers to share resources and communicate with each other.

A computer network is a set of computers connected together for the purpose of sharing resources. The most common resource shared today is connection to the Internet. Other resources can include printers, file servers, scanners, and game servers.

Types of Networks

There are several different types of networks, including:

• Local Area Network (LAN): This is a network that is confined to a relatively small area. It is generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building.

• Wide Area Network (WAN): This is a network that covers a large geographic area such as a city, country, or spans even intercontinental distances. The internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth.

• Personal Area Network (PAN): This is a network that is used for data transmission among devices such as computers, telephones and personal digital assistants. PANs can be used for communication among the personal devices themselves or for connecting to a higher level network and the Internet.

Network Topologies

Network topology is the arrangement of the various elements (links, nodes, etc.) of a computer network. There are several types of network topologies:

• Star: In a star network, every host is connected to a central hub. In its simplest form, one central hub acts as a conduit to transmit messages.

• Bus: In a bus network, all nodes are connected to a common medium, which serves as a backbone of the network.

• Ring: In a ring network, every device has exactly two neighbors for communication purposes. All messages travel through a ring in the same direction.

• Mesh: In a mesh network, devices are connected with many redundant interconnections between network nodes.

Network Protocols

A network protocol defines rules and conventions for communication between network devices. Protocols for computer networking all generally use packet switching techniques to send and receive messages in the form of packets.

• TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): This is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet.

• HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): This is the protocol used for transferring hypertext requests and information between servers and browsers.

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol): This is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network.

Internet and World Wide Web

The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers. More than 190 countries are linked into exchanges of data, news and opinions. The World Wide Web, or simply web, is a way of accessing information over the medium of the Internet.

• IP Addresses: An IP address is a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.

• Domain Names: A domain name is the address where Internet users can access your website.

• Web Browsers: A web browser, or simply "browser," is an application used to access and view websites. Common web browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.

Understanding computer networks is crucial in today's connected world. It allows for efficient resource sharing and communication, and forms the backbone of modern digital infrastructure.