A computer network or data network is a  that tele communication  allows  to exchange . In computer networks, networked computing devices pass data to each other along data connections. Data is transferred in the form of packets. The connections () between nodes are established using either  or . The best-known computer network is the .

Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called . Nodes can include  such as , as well as . Two such devices are said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other.

Computer networks support  such as access to the , shared use of , , and fax machines, and use of  and  applications. Computer networks differ in the  used to transmit their signals, the  to organize network traffic, the network’s size,  and organizational intent.