Computer networking is a huge domain, and covering every aspect of networking is not the main objective of this book. We will, however, try to explain a few fundamentals of computer networking wherever this knowledge will need to be applied. Unlike the serial interface approach, where a point-to-point connection is required between devices, the network-based approach provides distributed access to resources. Specifically in hardware applications where a single hardware unit is required to be accessed by multiple endpoints (for example, in a personal computer, mobile phone, or remote server), the computer network stands superior.

In this section, we will cover the basics of networking and hardware components that enable networking in Arduino. Later in this chapter, we will use the Arduino library and a built-in example to demonstrate how remote access to Arduino using your local network works.