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AQA GCSE Computer Science · 8525
AQA 8525 Check the specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
A computer network is two or more computers connected together to share data and . The connection allows the computers to communicate rather than work entirely independently.
Data is information represented in a form a computer can process, such as the contents of a document or an image. A resource is something a computer can use, such as a printer, software or a stored file. Sharing means making that data or resource available to other computers through the network.
The computers need a connection through which they can send and receive data. This can be wired, using cables, or wireless, for example using Wi-Fi. Both can form a computer network: a physical cable is not essential.
Two computers sitting next to each other do not form a network simply because they are in the same room. What matters is that they are connected so that data and resources can be shared.
Connected computers can exchange data through a wired or wireless connection.
Imagine two school computers connected together. A pupil working on one computer can send a document to the other through the connection. The document's data passes between the computers; the pupil does not need to carry it between them on a USB drive.
A printer made available through the network is an example of a shared hardware resource. Both computers can send it work to print. These examples show the two ideas at the heart of the definition: connected computers and sharing data or resources.
A computer network is two or more computers connected together to share data and resources.
In a definition, include both the connection between two or more computers and the purpose of sharing data and resources.
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Last updated
Computer network
Two or more computers connected together to share data and resources.
Resource
Hardware, software or files that can be made available for computers to use, such as a shared printer.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Computer Science
Computer network
Two or more computers connected together to share data and resources.
Resource
Hardware, software or files that can be made available for computers to use, such as a shared printer.