Introduction to Computer Network

Original Image by Alan Martinez

Understand what is computer network, why do we need it and how it is formed?

So, let’s talk about Computer Network, shall we.

So, what is Computer Network?

As the name suggests, a network between computers.

Or if you want a specific definition, it would be like this “A Computer Network is network of multiple computing devices interconnected to each other.”

As you can see, I wrote computing devices instead of just writing “Computers”, cause computing device basically means any device that can perform computations (calculations) on input data and perform tasks based on that input data.

But while talking about Computer Network, we usually talk lot more about devices that perform multiple operations and requires communication with other devices to perform specific tasks.

So, why do we need Computer Network, the question sounds stupid, right?

Like you are literally reading this article because computer network made it possible. The whole Internet and all are basically built upon this concept.

But let’s try to answer that question.

The main reason we need Computer Network is because of isolation problem.

The computers were very isolated in the beginning; the computer could perform multiple operations, but the problem was all the data were present in different computers without any way of connecting them all together. So, working on data becoming a tedious work.

Computer Network allows you the following features which makes this work easier:

1. Communication — Computer Network allows communication between devices. Emails, video calls, file transfer all of these are possible because of computer network.
2. Resource Sharing — One of the primary reasons, why Computer Network is required. Computer Network allows multiple devices to share resources instead of each device requiring its own. For example — Computers sharing one printer is cost-effective than each computer having its own printer. The concept of database was also made possible because of computer network, storing all the data in single storage which can be accessed by multiple devices.

Computer Networks basically make multiple other domains like Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Distributed Systems possible.

Now, let’s talk about how Computer Network is formed / how computers connect with each other and perform communication.

Computers connect with each other through Network Hardware and perform communication through Network Software.

The Network Hardware includes Interconnection Networking Devices which helps in connection between the devices.

For example, NIC (Network Interface Card), one of the most important components in Computer Network, which is already installed in your computers, without this you cannot connect to other computers.

Computer Network also uses Transmission Media, the medium through which data can be transmitted.

For example — Fiber Optic Cable.

Now for Communication part, we use Network Software which includes protocols that allows communication in proper manner, Algorithms like Routing Algorithms that find the shortest routes and check for errors.

When you are learning Computer Network, you will have to deal with Network Hardware, Software and all the other networking concepts