We start with the typical overview of the protocol stack and then provide more detail on each layer. We leave out whole chunks of the protocol suite, most of the theory behind them, and discussions of their implementation. In the conclusion, we suggest some books for interested readers. At its most basic level, a computer network is simply a series of connections between computers which allow them to communicate. The content, scope, size, speed, and reliability of the network varies depending on its protocols and implementation.
Protocols are pre-established means of communication.
Each layer corresponds to a different facet of communication. In implementations, programmers often blur the layers for increased performance. This is where device drivers for different interfaces reside. The second, the network layer, is responsible for figuring out how to get data to its destination. Making no guarantee about whether data will reach its destination, it just decides where the data should be sent.