Comparing computer related terminologies with real world makes it easy for us to understand concepts clearly. Similarly lets understand what a network means? If you take the word Net you can understand it as net fabric connecting each thread in a pattern to form a piece of cloth. Similarly we can understand computer network as an arrangement of computers(devices) in such a way that they are connected to each other through some medium forming a network.
Why do we need a network?
Connecting multiple devices together will form a network of connected devices but why there is a need to connect the devices at first place? We connect devices so that they can communicate with each other and share data. Just like when we want to talk to a person we first establish a connection with them and then start the conversation.
Consider Person A as Computer and Person B as Laptop. Person A wants to communicate with Person B so he will use a medium which will be ‘air’ in real world case to initiate the conversation. Similarly in computer network we have a medium through which information or data is transmitted. This medium is of two types: Wired(Cables) and Wireless(Air).
In a network we have a sender and a receiver. Sender sends the data to the receiver over a medium.
Now if say Person A talks in French and Person B do not understand French and only understands English. Will that be considered as a communication as data is still being sent from Person A to Person B? The answer is No because communication can only happen if the receiver Person B understands the data sent by the sender Person A. Hence there must be some rules agreed between Person A and Person B so that they follow only one language which will be understood by both the parties so they can have an effective communication. Such set of rules in computer networking are called as ‘protocols’. Sender and receiver must both follow these protocols.
Always remember, Sender + Connection + Protocol + Receiver = Communication.
Thankyou,
kewkai
