What is data communication? What are the main components of data communication?
Data communication refers to the exchange of data between two or more networked or connected devices. These devices, such as personal computers, mobile phones, or laptops, must be capable of sending and receiving data over a communication medium.
The main components of data communication include Sender, Receiver, Message, Communication Media, and Protocols. The Sender is a device capable of sending data over a network, while the Receiver is a device capable of receiving data. The Message is the information to be exchanged, which can be in the form of text, image, audio, or video.
Communication Media is the path through which the message travels between source and destination, either wired or wireless. Lastly, Protocols are the set of rules that need to be followed by the communicating parties to have successful and reliable data communication.
Explanation
The answer is derived from Section 11.1, which defines data communication, and Section 11.2, which details the five components. The definition highlights the exchange of data between networked devices. The components are explicitly listed in the text as Sender, Receiver, Message, Communication Media, and Protocols, each defined by its role in the communication process.