# 🌐 What Is Networking? An Overview for Beginners

**Networking** is the backbone of modern communication. Whether it’s accessing a website, printing a document over Wi-Fi, or chatting on your phone, computer networking enables everything to talk to each other.

## 🧩 What Is a Network?

A **network** is a collection of devices (computers, servers, switches, routers) connected together to share resources and data.

### Types of Networks:

– **LAN (Local Area Network):** Covers small areas (home, office, school lab).

– **WAN (Wide Area Network):** Covers large distances (e.g., the Internet).

– **PAN (Personal Area Network):** Covers a few meters (e.g., Bluetooth).

## 🔢 IP Addressing & Devices

Every device in a network needs an **IP address** (like a phone number) to send and receive data.

– **IPv4:** 192.168.1.10 (most common)

– **IPv6:** Modern version, handles more addresses

Common device types in a network:

– **Client:** Your PC, phone, laptop

– **Server:** Hosts files, websites, databases

– **Router:** Directs traffic between networks

– **Switch:** Connects devices within a LAN

## 📡 Wired vs Wireless Networks

– **Wired:** Uses Ethernet cables (faster, more reliable)

– **Wireless:** Uses Wi-Fi (flexible, convenient)

Home setups often combine both. For instance, your router may use Wi-Fi for phones and Ethernet for a desktop.

## 🏗 The OSI Model (7 Layers)

The **OSI model** helps us understand how data flows in a network.

| Layer | Function                    |

|——-|—————————–|

| 7. Application | Interface for users (e.g., browsers) |

| 6. Presentation | Data format, encryption |

| 5. Session | Start/stop data sessions |

| 4. Transport | Reliable delivery (TCP/UDP) |

| 3. Network | Routing, IP addressing |

| 2. Data Link | MAC addresses, switches |

| 1. Physical | Cables, radio signals |

Most of us work mainly with layers 1–4.

## 📦 TCP/IP Stack (Practical Model)

The **TCP/IP model** is used in real-world networking. It’s simpler:

– **Application**

– **Transport (TCP/UDP)**

– **Internet (IP)**

– **Network Access (Ethernet/Wi-Fi)**

TCP handles reliable delivery. IP handles addressing. DNS, HTTP, FTP, SSH, and others all sit on top of this stack.

## 🛠 Basic Networking Tools

– `ping`: Check connectivity

– `ipconfig` / `ifconfig`: View IP address

– `tracert` / `traceroute`: View path to destination

– `netstat`: View active connections

– `nslookup`: Resolve domain names

## 🧠 Why Networking Matters

Everything in cybersecurity, cloud, DevOps, and system administration depends on networking. Whether you’re setting up a home lab or managing a datacenter, a solid grasp of networking concepts is a must.

## 📚 What’s Next?

In the next articles, we’ll explore:

– Home lab setup with a basic router/switch topology

– How firewalls and NAT work

– Introduction to DNS and DHCP