Computer Networks by Striver

Computer networks allow devices and applications to exchange data, from loading a website to sending a message or streaming a video. This playlist explains how that communication works, following data through the protocols, devices, and decisions that connect one system to another.

The syllabus covers 15 modules, 148 learning items, and 36 quizzes, moving from network fundamentals to routing, transport protocols, security, and performance. It also includes situation-based explanations that help connect individual concepts to complete network flows.

What You Will Learn

Begin with network types, packets, and the OSI and TCP/IP models. Learn how transmission media, network devices, MAC addresses, Ethernet, and VLANs support communication, then explore IP addressing, subnetting, CIDR, IPv6, and routing.

Study TCP and UDP, connection setup, reliability, flow control, and congestion control. Continue with HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, DHCP, NAT, APIs, WebSockets, and the protocols involved when applications communicate over the internet.

You will also cover network security, encryption, certificates, TLS, and Wi-Fi. Later lessons examine latency, bottlenecks, rate limiting, load balancing, and CDN caching to explain how networks behave under different conditions.

Follow the Journey of a Request

When you open a website, several parts of the network work together. A name needs to be resolved, packets need a route, a connection may need to be established, and the browser and server need to exchange data securely.

Use these connections to understand what happens when DNS fails, why a connection becomes slow, or how a CDN delivers an image or video. The aim is to explain the role of each layer and identify where a problem might occur.

Connect Concepts and Check Your Understanding

Use the topic quizzes and situation-based lessons to revisit concepts together and explain the reasoning behind each step.

• Trace how data is encapsulated, transmitted, and received across network layers.
• Work through IP addressing, subnetting, and routing decisions.
• Compare TCP and UDP and explain when each is suitable.
• Connect DNS, HTTP, TLS, cookies, sessions, and tokens to application behaviour.
• Reason about network failures, security, latency, and traffic management.

Who Is This Playlist For?

This playlist is suitable for students learning computer networks, learners preparing for campus placements, and developers strengthening their understanding of how applications communicate. No previous networking knowledge is required. Basic familiarity with computers and programming will help you connect the concepts to software you use or build.

Prepare for Computer Networks Interviews

By the end, you should be able to explain network layers, addressing, routing, and application protocols with practical examples. For computer networks interview preparation, practise tracing a request from start to finish, comparing protocol choices, and reasoning about failures and performance. These skills help you answer conceptual and scenario-based networking questions during technical interviews.