A computer network is a group of computers and devices connected together so they can talk and share things.
Think of it like a team that works together. The devices use cables or Wi-Fi to send messages back and forth.
Lots of different devices can be on a network: laptops, phones, printers, game consoles, and more.
And all kinds of information travels across it: messages, pictures, videos, and files. It is like a digital highway for information.
At home or school, your devices connect to a network so you can learn, play, and create together.
Remember: a network connects devices, they talk and share, it can use cables or Wi-Fi, and it helps us all stay connected.
What to remember
- A network connects computers and devices.
- They use cables or Wi-Fi to talk and share.
- All kinds of info travels across it: messages, pictures, files.
- Networks help us learn, play, and stay connected.
Words to know
- Network
- A group of connected computers and devices.
- Wi-Fi
- A way to connect without cables, using radio waves.
- Device
- A computer, phone, printer, or console on the network.
- Router
- The device that links a network together and to the internet.
For grown-ups
A computer network links devices so they can exchange data, over wired or wireless links through switches and routers. The internet is the giant network of networks. At home this is your router plus connected devices, and it underpins everything from Wi-Fi to DNS to security.
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