Systems & Networks Concepts
11 concepts · Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 · 11 prerequisite connections
This family view narrows the full concept map to one connected cluster. Read it from left to right: earlier nodes support later ones, and dense middle sections usually mark the concepts that hold the largest share of future work together.
Use the graph to plan review, then use the full concept list below to open precise pages for definitions, examples, and related content. That combination keeps the page useful for both human study flow and crawlable internal linking.
Concept Dependency Graph
Concepts flow left to right, from foundational to advanced. Hover to highlight connections. Click any concept to learn more.
Connected Families
Systems & Networks concepts have 10 connections to other families.
All Systems & Networks Concepts
Bits and Bytes
A bit is a single binary digit (0 or 1), the smallest unit of digital data. A byte is a group of 8 bits that can represent 256 different values (0 to 255), enough to encode one text character. All digital storage and communication is measured in bits and bytes.
Hardware & Software
Hardware is the physical components of a computer (processor, memory, storage, peripherals) that you can touch. Software is the set of instructions (programs) that tell hardware what to do. Together they form a complete computing system—hardware provides the capability, and software provides the purpose.
Computing System
A complete, functioning combination of hardware, software, and data that processes information and performs tasks. Computing systems follow the input-process-output model: they receive data, process it according to programmed instructions, and produce results.
Operating System
System software that manages hardware resources (processor, memory, storage, devices) and provides services for application programs. The operating system acts as the intermediary between the user and the hardware, handling tasks like multitasking, file management, and device communication.
Storage
Storage is the part of a computing system that keeps data over time, even when the power is turned off. Files, photos, apps, and operating systems all live in storage devices such as SSDs, hard drives, and flash memory.
Network
A group of interconnected computing devices that can communicate and share resources with each other. Networks range from small local area networks (LANs) connecting devices in one building to wide area networks (WANs) spanning cities or countries, up to the global internet.
Internet
A global network of interconnected computer networks that communicate using standardized protocols (TCP/IP). The internet is decentralized—no single authority controls it. It connects billions of devices worldwide by routing data as packets through a shared infrastructure of cables, routers, and wireless links.
Packet
A small unit of data transmitted over a network, containing both the data payload (the actual information) and routing information in headers (source address, destination address, sequence number). Large messages are split into many packets, sent independently, and reassembled at the destination.
Protocol
A set of rules that define how data is formatted, transmitted, and received over a network. Protocols specify message formats, sequencing, error handling, and authentication so that devices from different manufacturers can communicate reliably.
Encryption
Encryption is the process of transforming readable data into an unreadable form so only someone with the right key can recover the original message. It is used to protect stored files, passwords, and data moving across networks.
Parallel Computing
Parallel computing is the practice of dividing work so multiple processors, cores, or computers can perform parts of the computation at the same time. It is useful when one large task can be separated into smaller tasks that can run together.