A computer network is a collection of connected computing devices that communicate and share resources. Connections can be physical wires or cables, or wireless using radio waves or infrared signals. Basic components of a network include terminals, communication channels, computers, software, processors, and devices like modems and multiplexers. There are different types of networks including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the Internet. Networks rely on protocols like TCP/IP to transmit data and packet switching to route messages between nodes.