Quiz: Network and Threading Basics V2

Local Area Network (LAN)

A network that connects computers within a small geographic area (like a home, school, or office) so they can share data and resources

Ethernet

A wired networking technology where multiple devices share a common cable and send data as electrical signals

MAC Address (Media Access Control)

A permanent, unique hardware identifier assigned to each network device, used to ensure data reaches the correct device on a local network

CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access)

A protocol where devices listen to the network before sending data to avoid transmitting at the same time as others

Exponential Backoff

A collision-handling method where a device waits increasingly longer random time intervals before retrying transmission after each collision

Switch

A networking device that intelligently sends data only to the intended device, reducing collisions and improving efficiency

Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection per unit of time (usually measured in bits per second)

Circuit Switching

A communication method that establishes a dedicated, continuous connection between two devices for the entire duration of a transmission

Message Switching

A method where entire messages are sent from node to node, being stored and forwarded at each step until reaching the destination

Packet Switching

A method where data is broken into small packets that travel independently across the network and are reassembled at the destination

Hop Count

The number of intermediate devices (like routers) a packet passes through on its way to its destination

ARPANET

The first large-scale packet-switched network, developed in the late 1960s, which laid the foundation for the modern Internet

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A network that spans large geographic areas and connects multiple LANs, often operated by Internet Service Providers

Router

A device that forwards data packets between different networks, choosing the best path for them to travel

Traceroute

A diagnostic tool that shows the sequence of routers a packet travels through to reach a destination

Internet Protocol (IP)

A set of rules that defines how packets are addressed, formatted, and routed across networks

IP Header

The portion of a packet that contains important routing information, including source and destination IP addresses

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

A fast, connectionless transport protocol that sends data without guaranteeing delivery, order, or duplication protection

Port Number

A numerical label used to identify a specific application or service running on a device

Checksum

A calculated value used to detect errors in transmitted data by verifying its integrity

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

A reliable transport protocol that ensures data is delivered accurately and in the correct order using acknowledgments and retransmissions

ACK (Acknowledgment)

A confirmation message sent by the receiver to indicate successful receipt of data

Domain Name System (DNS)

A hierarchical system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses used by computers

Top-Level Domain (TLD)

The highest level in the domain name hierarchy, such as .com, .org, or .gov

Second-Level Domain

The main, unique name registered under a top-level domain (e.g., "google" in google.com)

Subdomain

An additional prefix to a domain that helps organize or separate services (e.g., "drive" in drive.google.com)

OSI Model

A conceptual framework that divides network communication into seven layers, each with a specific role

Physical Layer

The layer responsible for transmitting raw bits as electrical, optical, or radio signals over physical connections

Data Link Layer

The layer that packages raw bits into frames and controls how devices access the physical medium

Frame

A structured group of bits that includes data and control information for transmission at the data link layer

Network Layer

The layer responsible for determining paths and routing packets from source to destination across multiple networks

Packet

A formatted unit of data that includes both payload and addressing information for transmission across networks

Transport Layer

The layer that manages end-to-end communication, ensuring data is delivered reliably or efficiently using protocols like TCP or UDP

Session Layer

The layer that establishes, maintains, and terminates communication sessions between applications

Presentation Layer

The layer that translates, encrypts, and compresses data so it can be properly understood by different systems

Application Layer

The layer that provides network services directly to end-user applications like web browsers and email clients

Client-Server Architecture

A model where client devices request services or data from centralized servers that are always available

Peer-to-Peer Architecture

A model where devices communicate directly with each other, sharing resources without a central server

Hybrid Architecture

A system that combines elements of both client-server and peer-to-peer models

Process

A running instance of a program, with its own memory and system resources managed by the operating system

Thread

A lightweight unit of execution within a process that shares memory and resources with other threads in the same process

start() Function

A method that begins a new thread’s execution by calling its run() method in parallel with other threads

run() Function

The method that contains the code executed by a thread when it runs

join() Function

A method that pauses the current thread until another thread has finished executing

Context Switching

The process where the CPU saves the state of one process or thread and switches to executing another

Atomic Operation

An operation that executes completely without interruption, ensuring no other process can see it in a partially completed state