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Difference Between Computer Network and Data Communication

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Computer Network: A computer network is a group of computer systems and other computing hardware devices that are linked through communication channels. A Computer Network enables file sharing across the network. It helps the web information to traverse more easily and conveniently. It allows the sharing of software and operating systems on remote systems. Based on the area of networking, Computer Networks are of several types. 

Data Communication: When we communicate, we are sharing information. This sharing can be local or remote. Between individuals, local communication usually occurs face to face, while remote communication takes place over distance. Both analog and digital data can be transferred through mainly these two processes. Analog data is continuous while digital data is discrete in nature. Below is a table of differences between Computer Network and Data Communication: 

The differences is as illustrated in the below table as shown below as follows: 

Computer Network Data Communication
Computer Network is best known to transfer the data and information across different geographies. We can easily communicate and transfer the data across different nodes through Data Communication.
It is a subset of Data Communication. One of the mediums used for data communication is a computer network.

Components of Computer Network-

Some of the important components of computer network are given below:

  • Clients
  • Servers
  • Transmission Media
  • NIC (Network Interface Card)
  • Network Operating System
  • Hub
  • Switch
  • Shared Data
  • Connecting Devices
  • Routers
  • Protocol Suite
  • Cables and others.

Components of Data Communication-

Important components of data communication are given below:

  • Sender
  • Receiver
  • Message
  • Transmission Media
  • Protocol

The exchange of data takes place in the following types:

  1. Simplex Mode 
  2. Half-Duplex Mode
  3. Full-Duplex Mode

Types of Computer Network-

  1. Local Area Network (LAN) 
  2. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
  3. Wide Area Network (WAN)
  4. Personal Area Network (PAN)
  5. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
  6. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Computer networks have different types of architectural layers for example client-server, peer-to-peer, or hybrid. Data Communication usually have 3 architectural designs and can be useful in the multi nodes transmission across different regions and areas.
In Computer Network, performance testing is more preferred than Data Communication. Data Communication doesn’t help in any data binding process and direct interrelated testing for the communication parameter is a little bit difficult than networking.
The purpose of communication and resource sharing is achieved by multiple computers linked through transmission media. Through the network, we can transmit the data signal from one point to another.
Large community support provides by computer networks and extensive documentation libraries. Data Communication also has one of the largest community supports.
A two-way binding process can be done through computer network and thus it is a little bit complicated and less preferable than Data Communication in terms of routing perspective. It doesn’t provide any data binding and has a simple and trouble-free approach towards routing than Computer Network.
The different set of transmission methodologies across different locations and regions through Computer Network. There are 3 layers of transmission approaches and different sets of wireless methodologies for the Data Communication.
In different cities and locations, computer network offers template for different geographies. The performance can be based on the layers of networking. The different magnetic multimedia and three layers of structures used by the Data Communication. The twisted pair cable can be used to transfer across different layers and cables and communication performance depends on the same.

Last Updated : 03 Aug, 2022
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