Networking is a crucial area in computer science and software development. Understanding networking concepts can help in various aspects of software engineering, especially when developing applications that communicate over a network. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of key networking concepts: 1. Basic Networking Concepts Network: A collection of interconnected devices that can communicate with each other. IP Addressing: Definition: A unique identifier for a device on a network. IPv4: 32-bit address divided into four octets (e.g., 192.168.1.1). IPv6: 128-bit address designed to address the limitations of IPv4 (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). Subnetting: Definition: Dividing an IP network into smaller sub-networks. Purpose: Efficiently manage IP addresses and improve security and performance. Network Topologies: Star: All devices are connected to a central hub or switch. Bus: All devices share a single communication line. Ring: Devices are connected in a circul