Data communication is the transfer of information from one point to another via a network. It could be a wireless or wired medium, like optical fibers or copper wires, or a computer bus. The electromagnetic signal used to transfer information can change in frequency or speed.
In the field of data communication the most challenging task is transmitting data over long distances. This is because signals that travel through long conductors are susceptible to noise or electrical distortion that can corrupt the original data.
Error detection plays a vital role in successful data communication. This is accomplished by adding a number of checksums to the data packets which make up a transmission, and comparing the sum to all the packets at the destination. If the sum is equal to zero, then there were no errors in the data transmission.
It is vital to maintain a high data transmission rate for an accurate and reliable transmission. This can be achieved by ensuring that the data is transferred on an unrestricted medium from interference or by sending redundant data to prevent loss due to momentary interruptions.
Effective data communication is crucial for a variety of applications, such as traffic information chat services, file downloads, and Internet-based services. Traffic data, for instance can provide real-time estimates of traffic to motorists and pedestrians on the road, which can assist them in making better decisions.