- Local-area networks (LANs) : The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same building).
- Wide-are networks (WANs) : The computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.
- Campus-area networks (CANs) : The computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus or military base.
- Metropolitan-area networks (MANs) : A data network designed for a town or city.
- Home-area networks (HANs) : A network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices.
In addition to these types, the following characteristics are also used to categorize different types of networks :
- Topology : The geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common topologies include a bus, star, and ring.
- Protocol : The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate. One of the most popular protocols for LANs is called Ethernet.
- Architecture : Networks can be broadly classified as using either a peer-to-oeer or client/server architecture.
Computers on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate resources for a network are called servers.
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The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link several billion devices worldwide. It is an international network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government packet switched networks, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries an extensive range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertextdocuments and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), the infrastucture to support email, and peer-to-peer networks for file sharing and telephony.
By NUR ZULIANA BINTI ZULKIFLI MARTIN
-Nur Zuliana Zulkifli Martin
