WHAT IS ACTUALLY MENT BY A NETWORK //Network | Definition of Network

A network is a collection of computers, servers, mainframes, network devices, peripherals, or other devices connected to one another to allow the sharing of data. An example of a network is the Internet, which connects millions of people all over the world

Computer networks have a variety of uses that many would see as essential today, including the following:

• file sharing, which enables users to share data files through a network;
• application sharing, which enables users to share applications through a network;
• hardware sharing, which enables users in a network to share hardware devices, such as printers and hard drives;
• client-server model, which enables data to be stored on servers, where end-user devices -- or clients -- can access that data;
• voice over IP (VoIP), which enables users to send voice data through internet protocols;
• communication, which can include video, text, and voice;
• e-commerce, which enables users to sell and buy products over the internet; and
• gaming, which enables multiple users to play together from various locations.

Network devices use a variety of protocols and algorithms to specify exactly how endpoints should transmit and receive data. For example, the Ethernet standard establishes a common language for wired networks to communicate, and the 802.11 standard does the same for wireless local area networks WLAN