Difference between revisions of "Computer network"

Revision as of 08:26, 17 February 2016

A computer network or data network is a telecommunications network which allows computers to exchange data.

Description

In computer networks, networked computing devices pass data to each other along data connections (network links).

Data is transferred in the form of packets.

The connections between nodes are established using either cable media or wireless media.

The best-known computer network is the Internet.

Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes.

Nodes can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, and servers, as well as networking hardware.

Two such devices are said to be "networked together" when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other.

Computer networks differ in the transmission media used to carry their signals, the communications protocols to organize network traffic, the network's size, topology and organizational intent.

In most cases, communications protocols are layered on (i.e. work using) other more specific or more general communications protocols, except for the physical layer that directly deals with the transmission media.

Applications

Computer networks support applications such as:

• Access to the World Wide Web
• Shared use of application and storage servers
• Printers and fax machines
• Use of email and instant messaging applications

See also

• Application server
• Bandwidth (computing)
• Computer science
• Digital computer
• Concurrent computing
• Internet
• Node (computer science)
• Remote computer
• Telecommunications
• World Wide Web

External links

• Computer network @ Wikipedia