The Basics of Data Communication

Data communication is the essential component that connects us the devices and services that we depend on in our interconnected digital world. It includes a variety of techniques and methods that control how information is transferred from one location to another. Understanding how this works helps us design efficient and reliable networks that can reap the benefits of increased connectivity, including see it here improved efficiency in business, higher productivity, and improvements in automation.

The basic concept of data communication is the transmission of data from one computer to the other via an intermediary or channel. This can be accomplished via a wire cable or satellite signal, radio frequency or wirelessly. The sender is the person or device that transmits data, and the receiver is the computer that receives the data. In a network of data communication more than two computers may be involved in the process of communication.

Multiplexing and demultiplexing are effective communication technologies that permit multiple signals to be sent across a medium simultaneously, optimizing the bandwidth used and reducing costs. Both processes require special hardware which can combine and separate signals. Custom integrated circuits are commonly used to perform this function and are present in a variety of communications products that include phones, computers and printers.

Full-duplex communication is a type of data transmission that permits simultaneous two-way communication within a pair of devices. This type of communication is more complicated than simplex transmission because it requires the ability to send and receive data simultaneously.