Computer networks allow the sharing and central management of resources, information and applications across a variety of devices in a scalable and secure fashion. Computer networks are an integral component of modern society and offer many benefits, including improved communication and collaboration and lower costs, improved security and access to data and resources.
Links and nodes are two primary components of a network. Nodes are networked devices like printers, computers and file servers. They communicate using a standard set of rules referred to as communication protocol. Links connect these devices with each other using optical, wired or wireless connections. A laptop that connects to a network in the local area using Wi-Fi is a node and is a link. Switches and routers function as traffic cops, directing data packets efficiently to get them to their destination.
A wide area network (WAN) is a larger-scale network that uses bridges and gateways for interconnecting multiple LANs. As opposed to LANs the WAN is connected to the Internet and other global networks of communications. Students in Florida for instance can join teleconferences on their workstations with peers in Tokyo thanks to a wireless network.
Computer networks can help streamline processes and foster a more active and collaborative work environment. For example employees can save their files to the server, which is regularly backed-up on a regular basis, rather than emailing documents back and forth, which could result in lost files. They can also access standard versions of employee and customer manuals through the network. This ensures consistency and accuracy.
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