Main glossary
This glossary offers brief definitions of fundamental networking terms to assist learners in mastering computer network concepts.
 | Computer Network | ||
|---|---|---|---|
A structured system of interconnected devices designed to exchange information and share digital resources efficiently. | |||
| Node | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Any active element within a network capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding data. | |||
| Ethernet | ||
|---|---|---|---|
A standardized networking technology used primarily in local networks for reliable and high-speed data transmission. | |||
| MAN | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Metropolitan Area Network is a network that interconnects multiple local networks across a city or a large institutional area. | ||||
| WAN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Wide Area Network (WAN) A communication network designed to connect networks separated by large geographic distances. | |||
| Network Topology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
The conceptual and physical arrangement of devices and connections within a network. | |||
| Physical Topology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
The tangible configuration of network components, including cables and hardware devices. | |||
| Bus Topology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
A network structure in which all devices share a common communication channel for data transmission. | |||
| Star Topology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
A topology where each network device is directly connected to a central communication unit. | |||
| Ring Topology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
A closed-loop network structure in which data circulates sequentially from one device to another. | |||