computer network: Is a set of computers connected together for the purpose of sharing resources. The most common resource shared today is connection to the Internet. Other shared resources can include a printer or a file server.

Packet: is a formatted unit of data carried by a packet-switched network. A packet consists of control information and user data, which is also known as the payload.

 local area network:is a computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most often, a LAN is confined to a single room, building or group of buildings, however,

wide area network:A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area.

node:A node is a device or data point in a larger network. ... In networking a node is either a connection point, a redistribution point, or a communication endpoint.

media access control: is a network data transfer policy that determines how data is transmitted between two computer terminals through a network cable. 

IP Address:a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.

Bus topology: is a network topology in which nodes are directly connected to a common half-duplex link called a bus.

ring topology: is a network topology in which each node connects to exactly two other nodes, forming a single continuous pathway for signals through each node - a ring.

network token:a token is a series of bits that circulate on a token-ring network. When one of the systems on the network has the "token," it can send information to the other computers. 

star topology:is an implementation of a spoke–hub distribution paradigm in computer networks.

tree topology: is a hybrid network topology in which star networks are interconnected via bus networks.

protocol: a set of rules or procedures for transmitting data between electronic devices, such as computers.

Peer-Peer Architecture:is a commonly used computer networking architecture in which each workstation, or node, has the same capabilities and responsibilities.

Client/Server Architecture: is a computing model in which the server hosts, delivers and manages most of the resources and services to be consumed by the client.