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A network is like a big group of friends who can talk to each other and share toys, like computers sharing messages and information. Network functionality is how these friends play nicely together, making sure everyone gets a turn and no one gets left out.
Relevant Fields:
Concept
Communication protocols are a set of rules that allow two or more entities of a communication system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity. They ensure reliable and secure data exchange, enabling interoperability between different systems and devices in a network.
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Data transmission is the process of sending digital or analog data over a communication medium to one or more devices, ensuring accuracy and integrity during the transfer. It is fundamental to modern communication systems, enabling the exchange of information across networks and supporting various applications from internet browsing to telecommunication services.
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Network topology refers to the arrangement of different elements (links, nodes, etc.) in a computer network. It is crucial for determining the performance, scalability, and fault tolerance of the network infrastructure.
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Bandwidth refers to the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path, crucial for determining the speed and efficiency of network communications. It is a critical factor in the performance of networks, impacting everything from internet browsing to streaming and data-intensive applications.
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Latency refers to the delay between a user's action and the corresponding response in a system, crucial in determining the perceived speed and efficiency of interactions. It is a critical factor in network performance, affecting everything from web browsing to real-time applications like gaming and video conferencing.
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Network security involves implementing measures to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of computer networks and data. It encompasses a variety of technologies, devices, and processes to defend against unauthorized access, misuse, malfunction, modification, destruction, or improper disclosure of network resources.
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Packet switching is a method of data transmission where data is broken into smaller packets and sent over a network independently, allowing for efficient use of bandwidth and reducing transmission latency. This approach contrasts with circuit switching, where a dedicated communication path is established for the duration of the session.
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Routing is the process of selecting paths in a network along which to send data packets, ensuring efficient and reliable communication between devices. It involves the use of algorithms and protocols to determine the best path based on factors like network topology, traffic load, and link costs.
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A network interface is a hardware or software component that connects a computer to a network, enabling communication with other devices. It plays a crucial role in data exchange, handling the physical and Data Link Layers of the OSI model to ensure seamless network operations.
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Load balancing is a method used to distribute network or application traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed, thereby improving responsiveness and availability. It is critical for optimizing resource use, maximizing throughput, and minimizing response time in distributed computing environments.
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An optical circulator is a passive non-reciprocal device that directs light from one port to the next in a sequential manner, typically used in optical communications to direct signals without interference. It utilizes the Faraday effect to achieve isolated unidirectional transmission, playing a critical role in enhancing network functionality in various optical systems.
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