How do computer networks work?
How do computer networks work? You can do lots of things with a computer but, connect it up to other computers and peripherals (the general name given to add-on bits of computer equipment such as modems , inkjet and laser printers , and scanners) and you can do an awful lot more. [1] A computer network is simply a collection of computer equipment that's connected with wires, optical fibers , or wireless links so the various separate devices (known as nodes ) can "talk" to one another and swap data (computerized information). Types of networks Not all computer networks are the same. The network I'm using to link this laptop to my wireless router, printer, and other equipment is the smallest imaginable. It's an example of what's sometimes called a PAN (personal area network) —essentially a convenient, one-person network. If you work in an office, you probably use a LAN (local area network) , which is typical