Basics of IT networking

Welcome! I am so excited to help you dive into the world of IT networking. Before we look at how data actually travels across the globe, I would love to hear a little about what brings you here today.

I have some tech background but need to brush up on networking.

Awesome, that tech background will definitely give you a head start! Let's get right into the foundational blueprint of how everything connects.

Your path

Network Devices and Hardware

Networking Models (OSI and TCP/IP)

Fundamental Protocols

The Essence of a Network

At its most basic level, a computer network is just a collection of interconnected devices that communicate with each other to exchange data and share resources. It exists for one primary reason: to allow information to flow efficiently between different points without physical barriers. Every network, whether it's the global internet or just your smart TV talking to your home Wi-Fi, is made up of two fundamental building blocks: and links.

Two identical circular nodes positioned horizontally and connected by a single straight line.

Think of the nodes as the destinations (like houses) and the links as the paths connecting them (like roads).

Now that we have the absolute simplest picture of a network in mind, let's explore how these devices are organized. Should we look at how they share responsibilities using different architectures, or would you prefer to zoom in on the different types of networks like LAN and WAN?