A computer network, often simply referred to as a

network, is a collection of computers and devices

connected by communications channels that facilitates
communications among users and allows users to share
resources with other users. Networks may be classified
according to a wide variety of characteristics. This article
provides a general overview of types and categories and
also presents the basic components of a network.
LAN (Local Area Network)
MAN (Metropolitan Area
Network)
WAN (Wide Area
Network)
IP Address
 An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is
a numerical label assigned to each device.
Participating in a computer network that uses
the Internet Protocol for communication. An
IP address serves two principal functions:
host or network interface identification and
location addressing. Its role has been
characterized as follows: "A name indicates
what we seek. An address indicates where it
is. A route indicates how to get there."
Computer Server
A server computer is a computer, or series of
computers, that link other computers or
electronic devices together. They often provide
essential services across a network, either to
private users inside a large organization or to
public users via the internet. For example, when
you enter a query in a search engine, the query
is sent from your computer over the internet to
the servers that store all the relevant web pages.
The results are sent back by the server to your
computer.
Computer networking devices are units that
mediate data in a computer network. Computer
networking devices are also called network
equipment, Intermediate Systems (IS) or
Interworking Unit (IWU). Units which are the last
receiver or generate data are called hosts or data
terminal equipment.
 A router is a device that forwards data
packets between telecommunications networks,
creating an overlay internetwork. A router is
connected to two or more data lines from different
networks. When data comes in on one of the lines,
the router reads the address information in the
packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then,
using information in its routing table or routing
policy, it directs the packet to the next network on
its journey or drops the packet. A data packet is
typically forwarded from one router to another
through networks that constitute the internetwork
until it gets to its destination node.
 Hub basically acts as signal splitter, it accepts
signal through its input port and outputs it to the
output ports. Some hubs help in regenerating the
weak signals prior to sending them to the intended
output lines, whereas some hubs help in
synchronizing the data communication (in simple
words, the hub not only provide the mean of
interface within the network, it also provides
some additional and useful features). Sometimes
multiple hubs are interconnected in the network.
Generally hubs are used more commonly where
star topology is used.
A modem is a device or program that
enables a computer to
transmit data over, for example,
telephone or cable lines. Computer
information is stored digitally,
whereas information transmitted over
telephone lines is transmitted in the
form of analog waves.
 Wireless Network

You can use a wireless network to share Internet access,

files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the
Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard.
Plus, it's easier to install than you think.