Computer network
A system of interconnected hosts communicating via protocols and hardware.
A computer network is a group of communicating computers and peripherals known as hosts, which exchange data via communication protocols facilitated by networking hardware. Hosts are identified by network addresses, and may also have hostnames mapped to addresses using a hosts file or a name server such as Domain Name Service. The physical medium includes wired media like copper cables and optical fibers, as well as wireless radio-frequency media. The arrangement of hosts and hardware is known as the network topology.
- first_known_network
- 1940
- first_network_creator
- George Stibitz
- key_early_concept
- packet switching
- key_early_inventors
- Paul Baran and Donald Davies
- common_modern_example
- global Internet
Lore & Background
The first computer network was created in 1940 when George Stibitz connected a terminal at Dartmouth to his Complex Number Calculator at Bell Labs in New York. In the late 1950s, a network of computers was built for the U.S. During the 1960s, Paul Baran and Donald Davies independently invented packet switching; Davies' hierarchical network design included high-speed routers and the end-to-end principle, implemented in the NPL network in 1968–69.
Reader's Guide
Computer networks underpin nearly all modern digital communication, from the global Internet to embedded networks in electronic devices. Networks support applications such as the World Wide Web, digital video and audio, storage servers, printers, and email. Many applications have only limited functionality unless connected to a network.
Did You Know?
- The first computer network was created in 1940 by George Stibitz, connecting a terminal at Dartmouth to his Complex Number Calculator at Bell Labs.
- Paul Baran and Donald Davies independently invented packet switching in the 1960s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a computer network?
A computer network is a collection of interconnected devices—called hosts—that exchange data using standardized communication protocols and supporting hardware. These hosts can be linked through physical media such as copper cables, optical fibers, or wireless radio-frequency signals.
Who is credited with creating the first computer network?
George Stibitz is recognized as the creator of the first known network, dating back to 1940. His pioneering work laid the groundwork for the interconnected systems that would later define modern computing.
What is packet switching and who developed the concept?
Packet switching is the foundational idea of breaking data into small, independently routed packets that are reassembled at the destination. The concept was independently developed by Paul Baran and Donald Davies during the early era of networking research.
How do hosts on a network identify and locate each other?
Each host is assigned a unique network address, and human-readable hostnames can be mapped to those addresses through a local hosts file or a name server such as DNS. This addressing system is what allows devices to find and communicate with one another across the network.
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