What is a network?
Without data pathways connecting networks of computers, computing would a very solitary enterprise. A network is a set of interconnected computers that can exchange data and share resources with each other. Typical networks include company and home networks. By definition, networks contain two or more devices. Devices are linked via wired (fiber optic) or wireless (Wi-Fi) technologies which transmit information.
The main function of networks is to share computing resources: including data, files, printers, internet access, and applications. Networking enables collaboration and the ability to exchange information at extremely high velocities. Networking also enables resources like memory and storage to be shared between high-performing computers.
Now, there are communication protocols, which are rules and formats that define how data should be transmitted between computers in a network, including TCP/IP and HTTP, which ensure that data is received between two computers and in some cases that the data is transmitted with encryption. Different communication protocols have different properties that ensure information confidentiality and integrity in their own ways.
Networks can be viewed from multiple scales. A network can be a home network, with a few devices like your router, laptop, PC, TV, and phone. The network at a company is the full set of workstations, tablets, phones, servers, printers, machinery, and networking devices. Networks can be partitioned so that only certain computers can talk to each other… in order keep access to key machines private. The network of the internet is a giant set of interconnected networks of enterprises, individuals, and government entities.
We can use networks to play video games at home, and connect to others via multiplayer. We can also use networks to connect high-performance computers in order to build and execute Artificial Intelligence projects.
Networks are the infrastructure through which we connect our world.
Sources:
https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/network
https://www.sdxcentral.com/resources/glossary/network/