A network is simply a group of connected devices that can share resources. Think of it like a study group. You and your friends are the devices, and the notes you pass back and forth are the resources. For your computers, phones, and printers to communicate effectively, they need a shared set of rules.

This set of rules is called a protocol It's like a language that all devices on the network agree to speak. Without protocols, a message sent from an iPhone wouldn't make any sense to a Windows PC. They ensure that data sent from one device is understandable to another, no matter who manufactured them.