AP CSP: Essential Internet Concepts and Network Principles

Internet

A large collection of interconnected computing devices. It is a global network of interconnected computer networks that uses standard protocols.

Computing Device

A physical artifact that can run a program. Examples include computers, tablets, servers, routers, and smart sensors.

Computing System

A group of computing devices and programs working together for a common purpose.

Computer Network

A group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data. It is a type of computing system.

Connection Medium

The appropriate means for transmitting a digital signal. This includes copper wire, fiber optic cable, or radio wave transmission.

Router

A device that forwards data packets to parts of a computer network.

Client

Typically the end-user device or software (like a web browser) that initiates communication by sending a request to the server.

Server

A fully automated program running on a remotely located computer that manages access to a centralized resource and processes the client's request, sending the appropriate response back.

Browser

Application software that retrieves, presents, and traverses information resources. It interprets the HTML information received from the server to render the text and images onto the user's screen.

Webpage

A document (often formatted in HTML) that is requested from a server and displayed by a browser.

Process

The client initiates a request (e.g., clicking a link) → The request is routed to the remote server → The server generates the content (e.g., HTML) → The server transmits the content back through the network → The client's web browser interprets the HTML and renders the webpage.

Packet

A block of data transmitted across a network. All information is broken into these small units for transmission.

IP Address

A unique numerical identifier for a device on a network. It is used to identify and locate a device for communication.

Domain Name System (DNS)

A database that maps a URL (or web address) into an IP Address.

Redundancy

The inclusion of extra components that can be used to mitigate the failure of a system if other components fail.

Fault-Tolerance

When a system can support failures and still continue to function.

Scalability

The ability to add more devices easily without any negative consequence to time performance.

Bandwidth

A measure of bit rate—the maximum amount of data (measured in bits per second) that can be sent in a fixed amount of time.

Latency

The time elapsed between the transmission and the receipt of a request.