When you buy a new computer, the first thing you’ll probably try to do is connect to the Internet. To do this, you establish a connection to your router, which receives the data from the Internet and then forwards it to the computer.
Of course that’s not all: Next, you could also connect your printer, smartphone or TV to the router so that these devices are also connected to the Internet. Now you have connected different devices to each other via a central access point and created your own network.
But what exactly does that mean?
Contents
- What is a network?
- Network example: your home Wi-Fi
- What are the tasks and advantages of a network?
- How does a network work?
- Client-server architecture
- Network protocols
- Network addresses
- What types of networks are there?
- Wireless vs. wired
- Network range
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What is a network?
In information technology, a network is defined as the connection of at least two computer systems, either by a cable or a wireless connection. The simplest network is a combination of two computers connected by a cable. This type of network is called a peer-to-peer network. There is no hierarchy in this network; both participants have equal privileges. Each computer has access to the data of the other device and can share resources such as disk space, applications or peripheral devices (printers, etc.).
Today’s networks tend to be a bit more complex and don’t just consist of two computers. Systems with more than ten participants usually use client-server networks. In these networks, a central computer (server) provides resources to the other participants in the network (clients).
Definition: Network
A network is a group of two or more computers or other electronic devices that are interconnected for the purpose of exchanging data and sharing resources.
Network example: your home Wi-Fi
The Wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network, i.e. the Wi-Fi network) in your home is a good example of a small client-server network. The various devices in your home are wirelessly connected to the router, which acts as a central node (server) for the household. The router itself is connected to a much larger network: the Internet.
Since the devices are connected to the router as clients, they are part of the network and can use the same resource as the server, namely the Internet. The devices can also communicate with each other without having to establish a direct connection to each device. For example, you can send a print job to a Wi-Fi-enabled printer without first connecting the printer to the computer using a cable.
Before the advent of modern networks, communication between different computers and devices was very complicated. Computers were connected using a LAN cable. Mechanical switches were used so that peripheral devices could also be shared. Due to physical limitations (cable length), the devices and computers always had to be very close to each other.
Note
If you need an extremely stable connection you should consider the possibility of a wired connection to the router or device, despite the advantages of Wi-Fi.
What are the tasks and advantages of a network?
The main task of a network is to provide participants with a single platform for exchanging data and sharing resources. This task is so important that many aspects of everyday life and the modern world would be unimaginable without networks.
Here’s a real-life example: In a typical office, every workstation has its own computer. Without a network of computers, it would be very difficult for a team to work on a project since there would be no common place to share or store digital documents and information, and team members would not be able to share certain applications.
In addition, many offices only have one printer or a few printers that are shared by everyone. Without a network, the IT department would have to connect every single computer to the printer, which is difficult to implement from a technical standpoint. A network elegantly solves this problem because all computers are connected to the printer via one central node.
The main advantages of networks are:
- Shared use of data
- Shared use of resources
- Central control of programs and data
- Central storage and backup of data
- Shared processing power and storage capacity
- Easy management of authorizations and responsibilities
How does a network work?
In a typical client-server network there is a central node called the server. The server is connected to the other devices, which are called clients. This connection is either wireless (Wireless LAN) or wired (LAN).
In a typical home network, the router assumes the role of the server. It is connected to the Internet and provides the “Internet” resource for the other devices (computers, smartphones, etc.).
Client-server architecture
In larger networks, such as corporate networks, the server is usually a central computer. This computer is used exclusively for running special server software and services, not regular applications and programs. The server must operate continuously, whereas the other computers (clients) can be switched off.
The server and the client communicate as follows in this server-based network: The client first sends a request to the server. The server evaluates the request and then transmits the response. In this model, the client always connects to the server, never the other way around.
Network protocols
Network protocolsensure smooth communication between the different components in a network. They control data exchange and determine how communication is established and terminated as well as which data is transmitted. There are usually multiple network protocols that each perform a specific subtask and are hierarchically organized into layers.
Network addresses
In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the transmitter and receiver can be correctly identified. Network addresses are used for this purpose. In computer networks, each computer typically has an IP address, similar to a telephone number, that uniquely identifies the computer. This internal IP address is used only for communication between the participants in the local network. For communication on the Internet, external IP addresses are used that are automatically assigned by the Internet provider.
A distinction is also made between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. IPv4 addresses used to be standard, but only a total of around 4.3 billion of these addresses could be assigned before they were exhausted. Due to the massive expansion of the Internet, additional IP addresses were urgently needed. Therefore, the new IPv6 standard was developed, allowing up to 3.4 x 1038 (340 sextillion) addresses. This should be sufficient for the future.
You can find detailed information on the IP protocol and its important role in computer networks in our article “What is the Internet Protocol ?”.
What types of networks are there?
Networks are usually divided into differentnetwork typesaccording to transmission type and range, that is, depending on how or how far the data is transmitted.
Wireless vs. wired
Networks are classified by transmission type as either wireless or wired. Examples of wireless networks include Wi-Fi networks based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, or the LTE networks used for mobile devices and smartphones. Wired networks such as DSL are also known as broadband Internet.
Network range
Networks are typically classified by range as follows:
- Personal Area Network (PAN): A PAN is used for interconnecting devices within a short range of approximately 10 meters. Examples include Bluetooth technology or Apple’s Airdrop ad hoc Wi-Fi service.
- Local Area Network (LAN): Local area networks are among the most widespread networks and are used in households or small and medium-sized companies.
- Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): These types of networks cover cities or single geographic regions.
- Wide Area Network (WAN): The nationwide broadband or cellular network in the US is an example of a Wide Area Network.
- GAN (Global Area Network): The best known example of a global network is the Internet.
Note that there is some overlap between the different network types: As a Wi-Fi user, you are simultaneously part of a WAN and a GAN when you’re connected to the Internet.
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FAQs
What is the short definition of network? ›
: an interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system. a network of hotels. : a system of computers and peripherals that are able to communicate with each other. 4. : a group of radio or television stations linked by wire or radio relay.
What are the three types of network explain with examples? ›Below mentioned are different types of networks: PAN (Personal Area Network) LAN (Local Area Network) MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
What is network best answer? ›Q #1) What is a Network? Answer: Network is defined as a set of devices connected to each other using a physical transmission medium. For Example, A computer network is a group of computers connected with each other to communicate and share information and resources like hardware, data, and software.
What are the 4 types of networks explain? ›They are LAN, MAN, PAN, and WAN. Here LAN stands for Local Area Network, MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network, Personal Area Network is abbreviated into PAN whereas WAN is expanded as Wide Area Network. PAN is further divided into Wired Personal Area Network and Wireless Personal Area Network.
What is a network and why is it important? ›Simply put, networking means building connections with other professionals. Networking should always be beneficial to both parties. The reasons why networking is important to include a better reputation, increased visibility, a stronger support network, improved business growth, and more impactful connections.
What is the purpose of network? ›A computer network comprises two or more computers that are connected—either by cables (wired) or WiFi (wireless)—with the purpose of transmitting, exchanging, or sharing data and resources.
What is a network definition for kids? ›A network is two or more computers (or other electronic devices) that are connected together, usually by cables or Wi-Fi. Some computer networks will have a server .
What is network basics? ›Data Link layer. Multiple Access Protocols in Computer Network. P2P(Peer To Peer) File Sharing. Framing in Data Link Layer. LAN Technologies | ETHERNET.
How many network types explain in detail? ›LAN, MAN, and WAN are the three major types of networks designed to operate over the area they cover. There are some similarities and dissimilarities between them.
What are the 3 basic elements of a network? ›Basic elements of a computer network include hardware, software, and protocols. The interrelationship of these basic elements constitutes the infrastructure of the network.
CAN network in simple words? ›
A campus area network (CAN) is a network of multiple interconnected local area networks (LAN) in a limited geographical area. A CAN is smaller than a wide area network (WAN) or metropolitan area network (MAN). A CAN is also known as a corporate area network (CAN).
Why is it called a network? ›The Internet is called a network of networks because it is a global network of computers that are linked together by cables and telephone lines making communication possible among them.
What are the five 5 elements of a network? ›- Computers.
- Transmission medium (wired or wireless)
- Protocols.
- Network software.
A network has 5 basic components viz. clients, servers, channels, interface devices and operating systems.
What is the difference between network and Internet? ›Key differences between the Network and Internet
A network is a collection of two or multiple connected computer systems that may share resources, such as an internet connection, an app, a printer, etc. In contrast, the internet is a network of interconnected devices that are spread around the globe.
- File sharing - you can easily share data between different users, or access it remotely if you keep it on other connected devices.
- Resource sharing - using network-connected peripheral devices like printers, scanners and copiers, or sharing software between multiple users, saves money.
- Shared Knowledge. Networking is great for sharing ideas and knowledge. ...
- Opportunities. It's natural that networking will result in opportunities. ...
- Connections. ...
- Increased confidence. ...
- Raising your profile.
In the broadest sense, a network is any interconnected group of people or things capable of sharing meaningful information with one another. In a technology context, network is usually short for "computer network" or "data network" and implies that computers are the things sharing the meaningful information.
What is needed for a network? ›At the very least, you need adequate cabling, a modem, and a router or switch to provide Internet connectivity to all employees. If your company network is larger, a patch panel simplifies network connectivity and management.
What type of network is Internet? ›Wide Area Network (WAN)
The Internet is the most basic example of a WAN, connecting all computers together around the world.
What are the 5 types of network? ›
- Local Area Network (LAN)
- Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
- Wide Area Network (WAN)
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Virtual Local Network (VLAN)
Networks connect people and promote unregulated communication. Networks are the platforms on which to run businesses, to address emergencies, to inform individuals, and to support education, science, and government. The Internet is the largest network in existence.