What is Computer Networking?

 Computer Networking

A Computer Network is a system where two or more devices are linked together to share data, resources and information. These networks can range from simple setups, like connecting two devices in your home, to massive global systems, like the Internet. Below are some uses of computer networks

• Sharing devices such as printers and scanners: Multiple systems can access the same hardware, reducing the need for duplicate devices and lowering costs.
• Sharing Data: Teams can work on shared documents, applications or systems, which boosts efficiency.
• Communicating using web, email, video and instant messaging: Networks enable both real-time and delayed communication. Users can access information, send messages, participate in video calls and chat.
• Data management: Networks allow organizations to store data in a central or distributed location, making it easier to manage, secure and back up critical information.
• Remote access : Users can log into computers, servers or cloud platforms from different locations, supporting remote work and 24/7 access.

How does a computer network work?

Using email as a basic example, here’s how data moves through a network.

When a user wants to send an email, they first write the email and then press the “send” button. When the user presses “send,” an SMTP or POP3 protocol uses the sender’s wifi to direct the message from the sender node through the network switches. Here it is compressed and broken down into smaller and smaller segments (and ultimately into bits, or strings of ones and zeros).

Network gateways direct the bit stream to the recipient’s network, converting data and communication protocols as needed. When the bit stream reaches the recipient’s computer, the same protocols direct the email data through the network switches on the receiver’s network. In the process, the network reconstructs the original message until the email arrives in human-readable form in the recipient’s inbox (the receiver node).

Key networking components and devices

To fully understand computer networking, it is essential to review networking components and their functionality, including:

• IP address: An IP address is a unique number assigned to every network device in an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Each IP address identifies the device’s host network and its location on the network. When one device sends data to another, the data includes a “header” that consists of the IP addresses of both the sending and receiving devices.
• Nodes: A node is a network connection point that can receive, send, create or store data. It’s essentially any network device (for example, a computer, printer, modem, bridge or switch) that can recognize, process and transmit information to another network node. Each node requires some form of identification (such as an IP or MAC address) to receive access to the network.
• Routers: A router is a physical or virtual device that sends data “packets” between networks. Routers analyze the data within packets to determine the optimal transmission path and use sophisticated routing algorithms to forward data packets until they reach their intended destination node.
• Switches: A switch is a device that connects network devices and manages node-to-node communication across a network, ensuring that data packets reach their intended destinations. Unlike routers, which send information between networks, switches send information between nodes within a network.