Networking Fundamentals

Networking is the practice of connecting devices (such as computers, servers, routers, and switches) to share resources and information. A network allows these devices to communicate with each other using a set of rules and protocols that define how data is transmitted, received, and processed.

• Data Transmission: Refers to the process of sending data from one device to another. It can occur in several ways:

   • Analog Transmission: Continuous signals that vary in amplitude, frequency, or phase (e.g., radio waves).

   • Digital Transmission: Discrete signals representing binary data (e.g., bits and bytes).

• Circuits and Channels:

• Circuit: A dedicated communication path established between devices for the duration of the communication (e.g., in circuit-switched networks).

• Channel: The physical medium (such as a wire or fiber-optic cable) through which data flows.