How to Learn Computer Networking as a Beginner

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Tech strategist Dan Rubianes explains the best way to launch or further your career in networking
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Are you considering a new career path? Computer networks play a fundamental role in many aspects of our daily lives, from our homes to workplaces to public spaces. If you're interested in learning about how data is transferred and how computers and other devices connect to each other, computer networking is a great topic to explore. Though computer networking may seem confusing, you can start learning key concepts and frameworks by starting with the basics and then taking your learning further. We spoke with several tech specialists to find out the most effective ways to learn the basics of computer networking, whether you're a beginner or just looking to expand your technical skillset.

How can I learn computer networking?

Tech strategist Dan Rubianes recommends getting hands-on experience by buying a couple of refurbished computers, a switch, and a firewall, and setting up your own home network. Also, taking online courses, watching videos, and learning key concepts are great ways to build a foundation for a career in networking.

Section 1 of 2:

Learning Computer Networking

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  1. Step 1 Sign up for an online course.
    There are numerous online courses available (some free, others paid), including plenty that are geared toward beginners who know nothing about networking. These courses will provide you with opportunities to try hands-on projects and receive feedback on your work, and most don’t require any experience. You can pick a program that best suits your learning goals.[1]
  2. 2
    Set up a home network. All the tech specialists we spoke to agree that hands-on experience is a great way to learn computer networking. "You absolutely need to engage with networking to really get the concepts," explains Rubianes. "Just buy a couple of refurbished computers, a switch, and maybe even a firewall, and build your own network and experiment."[2]
    • Hands-on experimentation is also how computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido learned networking. "When I really wanted to figure out how networking worked, I got 2 computers and a little $10 networking switch, plugged both computers into the switch, and tried to get them to communicate," he says. "If you can get that basic understanding of sharing files between two computers over a switch, you can do networking."[3]
    • When it comes to setting up your home lab, professional technologist Stan Kats recommends looking into the big network vendors for inexpensive or free evaluation tools to get familiar with their products. For example, Cisco has trials and demos of their secure firewall and cloud-based network management tools.[4]
    • For help setting up your first network, check out our guides on How to Network Computers, How to Create a LAN, and How to Set Up a Shared Network Drive.
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  3. Step 3 Watch educational networking videos.
    Oppido recommends watching videos on YouTube to learn computer networking and other computer concepts. Whether you're just looking for general overviews or you want to hear a better explanation of a particular concept, you're bound to find thousands of videos from experienced network operators and engineers. Videos can be an extremely useful way to visually see and learn how networking is implemented, optimized, and scaled.[5]
  4. Step 4 Take in-person classes.
    If in-person classes relevant to computer networking are available and accessible near you, they can be another great option to dive further into the field of computer networking. You can try going to the website of the local institution where you’d like to take in-person classes and look up their course offerings, which are often listed online.
    • If you are a university student, you may be able to take relevant classes as part of your tuition even if it’s not your main field of study. You could even audit a course (attending a class without receiving a grade) if you have less time or don’t want to negatively impact your GPA. However, you should check with your college about the specific policies.[6]
    • If you’re not a college student, you may still be able to take classes through your local college on a course-by-course basis (for instance, as an extension student), but you will likely have to pay for them—again, check with your institution about what options are available to you.[7]
  5. Step 5 Read books about networking.
    Aside from structured courses and videos, many books and websites provide detailed and useful information about computer networking. These materials can either serve as a jumping-off point or a way to supplement what you have learned through other means.
  6. 6
    Aim to get certified. Having a goal is a great way to learn something new. Certifications like CompTIA Network+ (vendor-neutral) and CCNA (Cisco) are entry-level certifications meant to help you start or advance your career in the IT industry. The exams can be quite involved, so studying for them will give you a solid foundation in networking basics, troubleshooting, cabling, configuration, subnetting, and more.[8]
    • "CompTIA Network+ will expose you to more advanced technologies and help you understand how the pieces interconnect a little bit better," says Kats.[9]
    • There are plenty of resources online to help you study for both certifications, whether you want to try a structured class, a book (like the official CCNA certification guide and practice test), ask ChatGPT or your preferred AI chatbot some questions, or just watch videos on your own time.
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Section 2 of 2:

Key Concepts and Terms

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  1. Step 1 Computer networking
    In simple terms, a computer network is two or more computers connected to share data and resources. Devices on a network can be connected with wires or Wi-Fi. There are many types of networks, which serve different purposes and are used in different contexts.[10]
    • How a network works: When a computer or device on the network sends some sort of data, such as an email message, to another device, the data is broken into small units called packets, which are directed to their destination over network equipment like routers, switches, and access points.
    • Data is transferred by different protocols, the most common being TCP/IP. TCP/IP is a data transfer protocol that breaks data into smaller packets, transfers them to their destination, and then reassembles them once they arrive.
  2. Step 2 LAN (Local Area Network)
    A LAN connects computers over shorter distances or smaller areas, such as a school or office building. For example, if you have home internet service, you likely have a router or access point to which your devices (e.g., your computer, your phone, your smart TV) connect. All these devices, and the router they connect to, are a part of the same LAN.
    • A Wi-Fi network is also called a WLAN.
  3. Step 3 WAN (Wide Area Network)
    A WAN is a series of interconnected LANs and other networked devices that can communicate with one another across major geographical distances. In simple terms, a WAN is a network of networks–for example, the internet is a WAN and connects billions of devices worldwide! Another example of WAN usage is when a main office connects with branches around the country.[11]
  4. Step 4 MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
    A MAN connects computers within a metropolitan area like a city. They are usually bigger than LANs but smaller than WANs. Since they are smaller than WANs, they tend to be faster. Cities and governments typically manage MANs⁠, for instance, to monitor traffic and handle accidents.[12]
    • Like WANs, MANs are also made of interconnected LANs.
    • Larger universities and governments may also be considered MANs.
  5. Step 5 PAN (Personal Area Network)
    A PAN is used to serve just one individual, like yourself; for example, if your phone or tablet is connected to wireless headphones via Bluetooth, or your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone, this makes up a PAN. PAN networks usually use Bluetooth because it provides convenient, short-range communication.
    • A PAN does not involve a router.[13]
    • PANs can be either wired (e.g. through USB) or wireless (e.g. Bluetooth).
  6. Step 6 IP address (Internet Protocol address)
    An IP address is a unique number that identifies a host (device) on a TCP/IP network. When one device sends data to another, it includes the sender's IP address, as well as the IP address of the device that receives the data.[14]
    • You can think of an IP address as being like a mailing address.
    • There are 2 types of IP addresses:
      • IPv4 address: These addresses are in a dotted/decimal format, such as 192.168.0.1.
      • IPv6 address: These IP addresses are separated by colons (:) and are much longer than IPv4 addresses. For example, 2001:DB8::2F3B:2AA:FF:FE28:9C5A.
  7. Step 7 Router
    A physical or virtual device that sends info between nodes and networks in the form of data packets. Routers direct traffic (data) from one device to another so that information can reach its destination in the best way. Routers should be distinguished from switches, which send information between nodes in a single network.[15]
    • For example, when you load a website in your browser, your request is sent through a series of routers, all of which are configured to direct requests in the most efficient way.
  8. Step 8 Node
    A node is a connection point inside a network that receives, sends, creates, and stores data. A node can process and send information to any other node. Every node has its own address, which may be an IP address or a MAC address.[16]
    • For example, computers, printers, switches, routers, and modems are all nodes.
  9. 9
    MAC address (Media Access Control address) A MAC address is a hardware-specific address that's used to identify a network interface–for example, your computer's wireless network interface and the Ethernet interface both have unique MAC addresses. Unlike an IP address, which identifies your device globally across a WAN, a MAC address is more commonly used to identify a device on a local network.[17]
  10. Step 10 P2P (peer-to-peer) architecture
    In computer networking, architecture means the physical and logical framework of the network. Under the first type, which is called P2P, multiple computers are “peers” and can communicate with one another without going through a central hub.[18]
  11. Step 11 Client-server architecture
    In contrast to P2P, a client-server architecture involves multiple devices connecting to a central server. For example, when you load a website in your browser, your computer is the "client," and you're sending a request to a "server." The server then provides the client with the item (in this case, the website) they requested.[19]
    • Using the internet in any way, such as sending an email, refreshing Instagram, and loading an app on your smart TV, are all examples of your device being a client requesting information from a server.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I learn networking on my own?
    Luigi Oppido
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over 7 years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Yes. One way you can see how computer networking works is by plugging 2 computers into a network switch. Use one of the computers to look at files on the other computer, and practice adjusting the workgroup, shared folders, and network settings.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How can I learn the basics of networking?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Study N+ to learn the basics.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.edx.org/learn/computer-networking
  2. ↑ Dan Rubianes. Tech Strategist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Stan Kats. Professional Technologist. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/auditing-a-class/
  7. ↑ https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/5B1F1DAF/What-s-an-Extension-Program/
  8. ↑ https://www.comptia.org/en-us/blog/is-comptia-network-worth-it-benefits-cost-comparison/
  9. ↑ Stan Kats. Professional Technologist. Expert Interview
  1. ↑ https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-computer-network
  2. ↑ https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/topics/networking/what-is-a-wan-wide-area-network.html
  3. ↑ https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-computer-network
  4. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/network-fundamentals/2-network-types-topologies
  5. ↑ https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/networking-a-complete-guide
  6. ↑ https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/networking-a-complete-guide
  7. ↑ https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/networking
  8. ↑ https://www.netgear.com/hub/network/what-is-mac-address/
  9. ↑ https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/architecture/peer-peer-p2p
  10. ↑ https://www.coursera.org/articles/client-server-architecture

About This Article

Dan Rubianes
Co-authored by:
Dan Rubianes
Tech Strategist
This article was co-authored by Dan Rubianes and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Dan Rubianes is an IT Business Leader and the Founder and CEO of Cloudience based in Phoenix, AZ. Dan has over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, cloud security, compliance and modernization. He is the author of the book Email Invasion and the creator of an online security course “Cybersecurity for Healthcare” on the security awareness website LearnComply.com. Cloudience provides Managed IT Services to businesses, with the promise of reducing downtime, increasing productivity, securing data, meeting regulatory compliance, and providing their clients with a competitive edge. Dan is trained as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and holds certifications in Microsoft, Google, Sophos, Sonicwall, Fortinet, A+ and multiple Cybersecurity and Cloud domains. This article has been viewed 136,957 times.
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Co-authors: 15
Updated: August 6, 2026
Views: 136,957
Categories: Computer Networking
Article SummaryX

1. Understand what computer networking is.
2. Know the different components of a wireless connection.
3. Learn how Ethernet works.
4. Connect a computer to Wi-Fi.
5. Always use a password to protect your computer.

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