2. What is a network?

At home, your computer might be connected to its own printer and scanner. This works well as you are the only person who will be using them. Much of the time though, they probably aren't being used and just lie idle. A computer which isn't connected to a network is known as a 'stand-alone'

In a school or an office, it would cost a lot of money for every computer to have its own printer and for the majority of the time, like your printer at home, it wouldn't be used.

By joining computers together to form a network, they are able to share one printer. This means that more money can be spent buying a better quality printer and that the printer is being used much more of the time.

As well as sharing hardware, a network allows computers or users to share software and data.

A computer connected to a network is known as a 'work-station'