What is Network and Networking in the field of Computer?

In the field of Computer when you connect two or more Computers or devices together is called a Network. This connection between two or more Computers or devices could be done with cable or without cable. A network is helpful for exchanging data between two or more devices. 

If there is no connection between two or more Computers, how would you exchange data? In that case we have to use storage devices to copy data from one computer and then have to paste it to another. For more than two computers this data exchange process would be more time consuming. So, to do these processes more quickly and efficiently we build a computer network. 

Now, what is called Networking? 

The practice of creating a network is actually called Networking. Not only practice of creating but also maintaining it is called Networking. 

Types of Computer Network?

 There are mainly three types of networks. 

1. LAN - Local Area Network

 

2. MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

 

3. WAN - Wide Area Network 

though there are many other types of networks we can build such as Personal area network (PAN), Campus area network (CAN), Storage area network (SAN) etc. 

1. LAN (Local Area Network): In LAN, computes and other devices such as scanners, printers, other hardware devices are connected together in a limited area. The speed of data transmission in LAN is much faster than MAN and WAN. LAN network can be done with cable or without cable. 

2. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): This type of network is built within an entire city or town. MAN, network can be done by connecting multiple LAN networks. 

3. WAN (Wide Area Network): A large geographical area such as an entire country or continent is covered in WAN network. Telecommunication networks are considered as Wide Area Network.  

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What is Topology in Network?

The structure of a network is called Topology. In a network how all the computers and devices such as scanners, printers are connected defines the structure. 

There are mainly two types of Topologies 1. Physical and 2. Logical 

Physical Topologies are in six types such as Bus Topology, Ring Topology, Star Topology, Mesh Topology, Tree Topology, Hybrid Topology. We are not going deep into it in this article. 

The Logical Topology deals with network protocols those are used to control the data flow across the network.