This document discusses data communications and some of its key components. It explains that data communications involves the exchange of data between two devices via some transmission medium. The five components of data communication are the message, sender, receiver, transmission medium, and protocols. It also outlines the four fundamental characteristics of an effective data communications system: delivery, accuracy, timeliness, and data flow (simplex, half-duplex, full-duplex). Finally, it discusses some important network criteria such as performance, reliability, and security.