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Explains network protocols with common examples such as TCP, IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, and IMAP, then introduces major network types including PAN, LAN, and WAN.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/teaching-guide-fundamentals-of-computer-networks-version-10-september-2025/622811/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/teaching-guide-fundamentals-of-computer-networks-version-10-september-2025/622811.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Indoniesian Boy","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-06","2026-10-20",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",5,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is a computer network and what purposes do networks serve?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A computer network links two or more devices to communicate and share resources. 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For example:  \n• the Hypertext Transfer protocol ([HTTP](HTTP)) is used for accessing websites  \n• SMTP is used for accessing email  \n• Wi-Fi is a set of standards based on the IEEE 802.11 protocols (Knowledge of Wi-Fi is not required for the AQA GCSE 8525 specification) .  \nStudents should be able to:  \n• define the term network protocol  \n• explain the purpose of common network protocols.  \nCommon network protocols  \nStudents should know what each protocol is used for. For the GCSE exam, the first bullet point in the following table is sufficient – subsequent bullet points provide more technical detail which may help students to understand the purpose of common network protocols.  \n\n| Protocol | What the protocol is used for |\n| --- | --- |\n| TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) | • Whenever reliable communication over a network is needed, e.g. browsing websites, sending emails, downloading files.\u003Cbr>• Splits data into packets and ensures they are delivered correctly and in the right order. |\n| IP (Internet Protocol) | • Handles packet routing and addressing across networks.\u003Cbr>• Adds source and destination IP addresses to data packets so they can be routed to the correct destination. |\n| [HTTP](HTTP) (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) | • Accesses and loads web pages: [HTTP](HTTP) is used to retrieve content from web servers so a browser can display webpages to users.\u003Cbr>• Data transmission is not secure.\u003Cbr>• A client sends an [HTTP](HTTP) request, the server responds with the requested data (e.g. HTML, references to resources like images and style sheets/CSS files) .\u003Cbr>• Transfers data to the server, e.g. when submitting online forms. |\n| [HTTPS](HTTPS) (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) | • Provides an encrypted version of [HTTP](HTTP)[ ](HTTP)for more secure web browsing and transactions.\u003Cbr>• Uses encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS to protect data. |\n| SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) | • Sends outgoing emails from a client (like Outlook, Mail or Gmail) to a mail server.\u003Cbr>• Transfers emails between mail servers.\u003Cbr>• SMTP is only used for sending emails not for receiving or retrieving them. |\n| IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) | • Retrieves incoming emails from a mail server.\u003Cbr>• Emails are stored on the ser","cbCail8xc9Dhn5bw","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCail8xc9Dhn5bw","pdf",282987,17,"English","# Computer networks\n## Network protocols\n## Common network protocols\n# Types of computer network\n## Personal Area Network (PAN)\n## Local Area Network (LAN)\n## Wide Area Network (WAN)","[{\"question\":\"What is a computer network and what purposes do networks serve?\",\"answer\":\"A computer network links two or more devices to communicate and share resources. Networks enable sharing resources, collaboration, access to services, increased efficiency, and centralized security management.\"},{\"question\":\"What is a network protocol?\",\"answer\":\"A network protocol is a set of rules and standards that governs how data is transmitted and received over a computer network. It ensures communication happens in a defined way across devices.\"},{\"question\":\"What do TCP, IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, and IMAP each handle?\",\"answer\":\"TCP supports reliable communication by splitting data into packets and ensuring correct delivery order. IP handles addressing and routing with source and destination IP addresses. HTTP loads and retrieves web content, while HTTPS provides encrypted and more secure web browsing using SSL/TLS. SMTP sends outgoing emails between mail servers, and IMAP retrieves incoming emails from the server and syncs them across devices.\"}]","Teaching guide - Fundamentals of computer networks - Version 1.0 - September 2025 | PDF",1792467127,43]