Here’s a glossary of Networking terms and abbreviations, covering protocols, hardware, topologies, security, performance metrics, and enterprise concepts:
🌐 NETWORKING GLOSSARY
A
ACL / Access Control List – Rules controlling network traffic access.
AD / Active Directory – Microsoft directory service for user and device management.
API / Application Programming Interface – Interface for software to interact with network services.
ARP / Address Resolution Protocol – Maps IP addresses to MAC addresses.
Asymmetric Routing / Path Variation – When outbound and inbound packets take different paths.
B
Bandwidth / Data Transfer Capacity – Maximum rate of data transmitted.
Baud Rate / Symbol Rate – Number of signal changes per second.
Bridging / Network Link – Connecting two network segments.
Broadcast / One-to-All Communication – Message sent to all devices on a network.
BGP / Border Gateway Protocol – Routing protocol for Internet backbone traffic.
C
CIDR / Classless Inter-Domain Routing – Flexible IP addressing and subnetting.
Client / Network Device – Device requesting services from server.
Crossover Cable / Direct Device Link – Cable type for connecting similar devices.
Cloud Networking / Internet-Based Infrastructure – Networking resources hosted online.
Circuit Switching / Dedicated Path Communication – Data sent via reserved path.
D
DNS / Domain Name System – Resolves human-readable names to IP addresses.
DHCP / Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol – Automatically assigns IP addresses.
DMZ / Demilitarized Zone – Network segment exposed to public, isolated for security.
Duplex / Communication Direction – Full-duplex (two-way simultaneous) or half-duplex.
Default Gateway / Router Address – Device providing access to other networks.
E
Ethernet / Wired LAN Standard – Common network protocol using twisted-pair or fiber.
Edge Device / Network Boundary Device – Router, firewall, or gateway at network edge.
Encapsulation / Packet Wrapping – Placing data inside headers for transport.
Extranet / Restricted Network – Extends intranet to select external users.
Endpoint / Network Node – Device connected to network.
F
Firewall / Network Security Device – Controls incoming/outgoing traffic.
Fiber Optic / Light-Based Transmission – High-speed, long-distance cabling.
Frame / Data Packet Unit at Layer 2 – Ethernet unit of transmission.
FTP / File Transfer Protocol – Transfers files over network.
Flooding / Broadcast Storm – Excessive traffic overwhelming network.
G
Gateway / Protocol Translator – Connects different networks or protocols.
Gigabit Ethernet / High-Speed LAN – Ethernet standard supporting 1 Gbps.
GUI / Graphical User Interface – Interface for network management tools.
Group Policy / Network Configuration Control – Rules applied to users and devices in AD.
GRE / Generic Routing Encapsulation – Tunnel protocol for VPNs.
H
Hub / Basic Network Device – Repeats incoming signals to all ports.
HTTP / Hypertext Transfer Protocol – Protocol for web communication.
HTTPS / Secure HTTP – Encrypted web communication via TLS.
Host / Device on Network – Any computer, server, or endpoint.
Hop / Node Traversal – Passing through a network device en route to destination.
I
IP / Internet Protocol – Layer 3 addressing system.
IPv4 / IPv6 / Address Standards – 32-bit and 128-bit IP addressing.
ICMP / Internet Control Message Protocol – Network diagnostics and error reporting (e.g., ping).
ISP / Internet Service Provider – Provides Internet access.
Intrusion Detection / IDS – Monitors network for malicious activity.
J
Jitter / Latency Variation – Fluctuation in packet arrival times.
Jam / Network Interference – Collision or congestion causing communication failure.
JSON / Network Data Format – Common structured data for APIs.
Just-In-Time Provisioning / Network Automation – Dynamically assigns resources.
Jump Host / Intermediate Gateway – Used for secure remote access.
K
Kernel / Network Stack – OS component managing network traffic.
Keystream / Encryption Sequence – Used in network encryption protocols.
Key Exchange / Secure Connection Setup – Process of sharing encryption keys.
Kbps / Kilobits per Second – Data transfer speed measurement.
KVM / Keyboard-Video-Mouse Switch – Device for managing multiple servers.
L
LAN / Local Area Network – Small, localized network.
Latency / Delay – Time data takes to reach destination.
Load Balancer / Traffic Distribution Device – Distributes network requests across servers.
Loopback / Local Network Test – 127.0.0.1 test for network stack.
Link Aggregation / Bonding – Combining multiple connections for higher throughput.
M
MAC Address / Media Access Control – Unique identifier for network interfaces.
Modem / Modulator-Demodulator – Converts digital data to signals for transmission.
Mesh Network / Multi-Node Topology – Nodes interconnect for redundancy and coverage.
MTU / Maximum Transmission Unit – Largest packet size allowed on a network.
Multicast / One-to-Many Communication – Efficient distribution to multiple devices.
N
NAT / Network Address Translation – Maps private IPs to public IP.
Network Topology / Layout – Arrangement of nodes: star, ring, mesh, bus.
Netmask / Subnet Mask – Defines network portion of an IP address.
NTP / Network Time Protocol – Synchronizes clocks over network.
Node / Device on Network – Any connected device or endpoint.
O
OSI Model / Layered Networking – 7-layer model (Physical to Application).
OpenFlow / SDN Protocol – Enables software-defined network control.
Overlay Network / Virtual Network – Runs on top of physical network.
Ospf / Open Shortest Path First – Link-state routing protocol.
Out-of-Band Management / Separate Network Control – Network management outside main traffic.
P
Ping / Network Test – Checks connectivity and latency.
Packet / Small Data Unit – Basic unit of data transmitted.
PoE / Power over Ethernet – Supplies power through network cable.
Proxy Server / Traffic Intermediary – Routes requests on behalf of client.
Port / Endpoint Number – Identifies network service on device.
Q
QoS / Quality of Service – Prioritizes traffic for reliability.
Queue / Packet Scheduling – Organizes packets for transmission.
QuickConnect / Fast Network Access – Technology for rapid connectivity.
Quad-Play / Integrated Services – Internet, phone, TV, mobile in one network.
Query / Network Request – Asking server for information.
R
Router / Network Traffic Device – Directs packets between networks.
Routing Table / Path Information – Maintains routes to destinations.
RADIUS / Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service – Centralized authentication.
Redundancy / Backup Paths – Duplicate paths for reliability.
RF / Radio Frequency – Wireless communication spectrum.
S
Server / Network Service Provider – Provides data or resources.
Subnet / Network Segment – Dividing network for management and security.
Switch / Layer 2 Device – Forwards traffic based on MAC addresses.
SMTP / Simple Mail Transfer Protocol – Sending emails over network.
SNMP / Simple Network Management Protocol – Monitors and manages network devices.
T
TCP / Transmission Control Protocol – Reliable, connection-oriented protocol.
UDP / User Datagram Protocol – Fast, connectionless protocol.
Topology / Network Layout – Physical/logical network arrangement.
TLS / Transport Layer Security – Encrypts network communication.
Throughput / Effective Data Rate – Amount of data successfully delivered.
U
UDP / User Datagram Protocol – Low-latency, connectionless transport protocol.
URL / Uniform Resource Locator – Web address used over networks.
Uplink / Data Transmission to Network Core – Sending data from device to network.
Unicast / One-to-One Transmission – Standard device-to-device communication.
VPN / Virtual Private Network – Secure connection over public network.
V
VLAN / Virtual Local Area Network – Logical network segment within physical network.
VoIP / Voice over IP – Telephone communication over network.
Virtualization / Network Abstraction – Multiple virtual networks on single physical infrastructure.
VPC / Virtual Private Cloud – Isolated cloud network.
VLAN Tag / Traffic Identifier – Marks packets belonging to specific VLAN.
W
WAN / Wide Area Network – Network spanning large geographic area.
WiFi / Wireless LAN – Wireless networking standard.
WEP / Wired Equivalent Privacy – Legacy WiFi security protocol.
WPA / WiFi Protected Access – WiFi security protocol.
Wireless Bridge / Link Between LANs – Connects two LANs wirelessly.
X
X.25 / Legacy Packet-Switching Protocol – Early WAN protocol.
XDR / Extended Detection and Response – Network security monitoring.
XML / Data Configuration Format – Used in network device setup.
XOR / Parity Calculation – Error detection in networking.
XaaS / Everything as a Service – Networked cloud service delivery.
Y
Yagi Antenna / Directional Antenna – Focused wireless signal.
Yield / Network Efficiency – Percentage of effective throughput.
Yottabyte / Extremely Large Data Unit – 1,000 ZB.
YAML / Configuration Format – Network device configuration file.
Your Network / User-Defined Network – Private network for individual use.
Z
ZigBee / Low-Power Wireless Protocol – Often used for IoT alongside networks.
Zero-Day Exploit / Vulnerability – Unpatched network security flaw.
Zone / Segmented Network Area – Part of network with specific rules or services.
Zoning / SAN Segmentation – Dividing storage area networks.
ZTP / Zero-Touch Provisioning – Automatic network device setup.
Published 17th Feb 2026