Now, just having a transmission pathway should not suggest that communication is automatic, because in order for two systems to communicate, they must be able to understand each other. Data cannot simply be exchanged. The data that is received must be understood. So, the true goal of computer networking is not just to exchange data, but also to be able to understand and use the data that has been received.
So, to quickly summarize a network, there are four things that must be present:
- two or more indivdual systems
- something to share (ex: data)
- a physical pathway or transmission medium
- rules of communication or protocols