Computer Science 12 (ATAR) Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for Computer Science 12 (ATAR) covering networking concepts.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

A communications standard that enables applications and devices to exchange data packets over networks reliably, ensuring data receipt verification.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

A connectionless communications standard for exchanging data packets over networks without establishing a connection, confirming receipt, or checking for errors.

IP Address (Internet Protocol address)

A numerical label assigned to a device connected to a computer network using the Internet Protocol for communication.

IPv4

An IP addressing system deployed in 1983 that uses 32-bit addresses represented by four 8-bit fields (octets) separated by periods.

IPv6

An IP addressing system deployed in 1999 that uses 128-bit addresses represented by eight 16-bit hexadecimal fields separated by colons.

Public IP Address

An IP address that identifies a device to the wider internet, assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and is unique across the entire internet.

Private IP Address

An IP address used within a private network to connect securely to other devices within that network, assigned by routers or network address translators (NATs).

MAC Address (Media Access Control address)

A unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller to identify physical hardware in a network, designating the physical location of a device.

Subnet

A network inside a network that makes networks more efficient by allowing traffic to travel shorter distances.

Subnet Mask

An address is like an IP address used internally within a network to route data packets to the correct location.

Collision Domain

A section of a network where packet collisions can occur when two or more data packets try to occupy the same network channel simultaneously.

Port Number

A way to direct a TCP/UDP connection to a specific process (application or software), identifying the purpose of a connection.

OSI Model

Open Systems Interconnection model, a conceptual model that standardizes the communication functions of a telecommunication or computing system without regard to its underlying internal structure and technology, split into seven abstract layers.

DoD TCP/IP Model

Defense Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol model, a condensed version of the OSI model with four layers, serving as the basis for the internet.

Packet

The basic unit of communication between a source and a destination in a network, into which data is broken for transmission and reassembled at the destination.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

A common type of copper cabling used in telephone wiring and local area networks (LANs).

Fiber Optic Cable

A cable that transfers information via pulses of light through glass or plastic threads, offering higher speeds and lower latency compared to UTP.

Wireless Connection

A connection that uses Radio Frequency (RF) signals between nodes in a network, providing ease of access and broad coverage, with standards like Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11).

Router

A device that connects two or more networks or subnetworks, managing traffic by forwarding data packets to their intended IP addresses.

Gateway

A device that connects two networks with different transmission protocols, translating between them, such as a VoIP gateway.

Switch

A network switch connects devices within a network (LAN) and forwards data packets using MAC addresses.

Wireless Access Point (WAP)

A device that allows Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network, forming a wireless local-area network (WLAN) and managing communication using MAC addresses.

Firewall

A network security system that restricts internet traffic in, out, or within a private network via packet filtering based on predetermined security rules.