Data Communication & Computer Networks – Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture on data communication, computer networks, network types, topologies, and devices.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A high‐speed network that covers a small geographic area such as a room, building, or campus and is designed for sharing resources like printers and files.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A network that spans large geographic areas (cities, countries, the world) by interconnecting multiple LANs; the Internet is the largest example.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A high-speed network that covers a city or town, typically connecting several LANs via fiber-optic links.

Network Topology

The physical or logical arrangement of nodes and cables in a computer network.

Bus Topology

A topology in which all nodes share a single backbone cable that carries data; both ends are terminated.

Backbone Cable (Bus)

The central single cable in a bus topology to which all nodes attach.

Terminator (Networking)

A device at each end of a bus that absorbs signals to prevent reflection and network errors.

Star Topology

A topology where all nodes connect to a central hub or switch that manages traffic.

Ring Topology

A topology in which each node connects to exactly two others, forming a closed loop for token-based data transfer.

Token Passing

The access method used in a ring network where a special frame (token) grants transmission rights.

Tree Topology

A hybrid structure combining star segments onto a bus backbone, resembling a branching tree.

Mesh Topology

A topology where every node has a direct link to every other node, providing multiple routes for data.

Hybrid Topology

A network design that integrates two or more different topologies (e.g., star + ring).

Communication Device

Any electronic hardware used to send, receive, or route data between networked devices.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

An adapter card or built-in chipset that connects a computer to a LAN.

Hub

A basic central connection point that broadcasts incoming packets to all connected devices.

Switch

An intelligent hub that forwards packets only to the destination port based on MAC address tables.

Modem

Device that modulates digital signals into analog for transmission over telephone lines and demodulates incoming analog back to digital.

Modulation

Process of converting digital signals into analog form for transmission.

Demodulation

Process of converting received analog signals back into digital form.

Router

A device that connects multiple networks and forwards data packets along the best path based on routing tables.

Gateway

A device that connects networks using different protocols, translating data formats between them.

Bridge

Device that connects and filters traffic between two similar network segments, reducing unnecessary traffic.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Common copper cabling used to connect nodes to a hub or switch in a star LAN.

Leased Line

A dedicated private telecommunication circuit used to connect distant sites in a WAN.

Microwave Link

Line-of-sight wireless transmission used for long-distance, high-bandwidth WAN connections.

Satellite System (Networking)

An orbiting relay used to connect geographically distant sites, often part of WAN infrastructures.

Data Transmission Rate

The speed at which data travels, measured in bits per second (e.g., 10 Mbps–1 Gbps for LANs).

Central Device (Hub/Switch)

The node in a star topology that all others connect through for data transfer.

Token

A special control frame that grants permission to transmit in a ring network.

Segment (Network)

A portion of a network, often a star cluster, connected to others via a backbone or bridge.

Bus (in Tree Topology)

The main cable that links multiple star segments in a tree network.

Route (Mesh Topology)

A possible path that data can take between two nodes; mesh provides many alternatives.

Fault Tolerance

The ability of a network (e.g., mesh) to continue operating when a component fails.

Network Traffic

The flow and volume of data packets moving across a network.

Token Ring Acknowledgment

Confirmation sent by the destination node to the sender after receiving data in a ring network.

Star Dependence

The vulnerability of a star network to the failure of its central hub or switch.

Hybrid Flexibility

The design advantage of mixing topologies to tailor performance, expansion, and management needs.