Computers can communicate at many different levels, and there is considerable variation among the different types of computer systems involved. However, the fundamental communication process is relatively uniform and standardized.
In essence, computers communicate with each other over networks that are connected via wired or wireless communication technologies. Various types of networks exist and many different types of network connection methods.
Four Main Types of Computer Network
Personal Area Network (PAN)
PAN is the simplest form of computer network. Communication between the computer devices is limited to a single individual. This network focuses on the workspace of a single individual only. A PAN network provides a distance of up to 10 meters between the user and the device.
Local Area Network (LAN)
LAN are the most commonly used networks. The term LAN refers to a computer network that connects computers through a shared communication path contained within a restricted area, that is, locally. A LAN is a network consisting of two or more computers connected by a server. Ethernet and Wi-Fi constitute two of the most important technologies involved in this network.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
There are many different types of computer networks, but WAN connect computers across a large geographical area using a shared communication path. In this case, it is not restricted to a single location but reaches across many places. Another way of defining a WAN is as a group of local area networks that communicate.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Wireless local area networks (WLAN) use wireless network technology, such as Wi-Fi, to function as local area networks. Wireless technology allows devices to communicate without using physical cables like in a LAN, instead of connecting wirelessly.
How Do Computers Communicate With One Another?
We rely on the Internet to get daily. This implies that we are connected to the same network. The web is a worldwide network that connects everyone on earth and enables them to communicate at any time from anywhere on earth since they belong to the same system.
Systems are interconnected systems. Smaller networks can also be part of it. Computer systems use several computers connected via a network. Users on the same network can use the same hardware (a printer) or software (the same software) to transmit unique types of information (such as video, text, voice, etc.). Hardware can be used for connections, such as wires, optical fibers, or even wireless links.
A network can be divided into two types. Networks of these kinds will be local area networks and wide-area networks. They differ most in terms of the number of connections they provide.
As an introduction, let me give you a very clear explanation of exactly what a neighborhood community is. As its title suggests, LANs (Local Area Networks) link up fewer computers since they are local in nature. Generally, it seems that the neighborhood network focuses on connecting people who have something in common, such as the computers in a university class, to enable communication between students or employees or a business’s computers to connect.
LAN are secure networks that can be accessed and utilized by anyone. Now that the LAN has enabled users to utilize their IP addresses, as explained below, users can make use of their IP addresses. In addition, the network’s description of the sender and receiver is clearly outlined below.
We should now clarify what a wide-area network is. Broad Area Networks can be used as a large network compared to Local Area Networks as consumers grow.
As a result, WAN is used for connecting larger geographic areas. Consider a scenario in which a business has established offices worldwide and wants to communicate with each other. With a WAN, data can be transmitted between long-distance locations or between various networks linked to one another.
Due to the number of consumers and sophistication in WANs, rates may be lower than in LANs, but they are also subject to their preferences. LANs are connected via the WANs, too. Does the World Wide Web fall under the category of a WAN?
How do computers send data through the Internet?
Computing devices transmit data over the Internet by dividing the data to be transferred into small chunks (“packets”) and communicating them to the destination device. This occurs automatically – the web browser, e-mail program, etc., take care of the low-level details.
Your computer may send a packet to another computer by creating a packet, placing the address of the other computer in the destination address of the packet, placing its address in the source address of the packet, and then sending the packet, either directly to the destination computer, or through a nearby router that takes responsibility for routing the packet.
This is analogous to the postal service. There are two addresses on the outside of each package, one for the destination and one for the return. Similarly, routers act as post offices, checking destination addresses and delivering packets to the final destination computer or another router closer to that destination.
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