Computer Networks MCQs

Question 1

What is the main difference between TCP and UDP?

Accepted Answer

TCP is connection-oriented and guarantees reliable delivery, while UDP is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery

Answer

UDP is connection-oriented, while TCP is connectionless

Answer

Both protocols guarantee reliable delivery in exactly the same way

Answer

TCP is used only for streaming video, while UDP is used only for web browsing

Question 2

What is the purpose of DNS in computer networking?

Accepted Answer

To translate human readable domain names into IP addresses

Answer

To encrypt data sent over the internet

Answer

To assign IP addresses to devices automatically

Answer

To route traffic between different subnets

Question 3

What is the primary function of a firewall?

Accepted Answer

To monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules

Answer

To physically connect two different networks together

Answer

To speed up internet connection by caching web pages

Answer

To assign domain names to IP addresses

Question 4

What does DHCP stand for and what does it do?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, which automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network

Answer

Direct Hardware Connection Protocol, which links devices physically

Answer

Domain Host Configuration Process, which registers domain names

Answer

Data Handling Communication Protocol, which encrypts network traffic

Question 5

What is the purpose of the three-way handshake in TCP?

Accepted Answer

To establish a reliable connection between a client and server before data transfer begins

Answer

To terminate a connection safely after data transfer

Answer

To encrypt data before it is sent over the network

Answer

To compress data packets for faster transmission

Question 6

What is the difference between a MAC address and an IP address?

Accepted Answer

A MAC address is a fixed hardware identifier for a network interface, while an IP address is a logical address that can change based on the network

Answer

An IP address is fixed to hardware, while a MAC address changes with the network

Answer

Both addresses refer to exactly the same thing

Answer

A MAC address is used only for wireless devices

Question 7

What is the main purpose of Network Address Translation (NAT)?

Accepted Answer

To allow multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address

Answer

To assign a unique domain name to every device on a network

Answer

To encrypt traffic between two networks

Answer

To physically extend the range of a wireless network

Question 8

What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?

Accepted Answer

HTTPS encrypts data in transit using SSL/TLS, while standard HTTP sends data without encryption

Answer

HTTP is only used for images, while HTTPS is only used for text

Answer

HTTPS is slower and less secure than HTTP

Answer

There is no meaningful difference between the two protocols

Question 9

What is the function of a router in a computer network?

Accepted Answer

To forward data packets between different networks based on their destination IP address

Answer

To physically connect two computers using a single cable

Answer

To assign domain names to websites

Answer

To store website content locally for faster access

Question 10

What is bandwidth in the context of computer networks?

Accepted Answer

The maximum rate at which data can be transferred over a network connection in a given amount of time

Answer

The physical distance data must travel between two devices

Answer

The total number of devices connected to a network

Answer

The time delay between sending and receiving a data packet

Question 11

What is the purpose of a subnet mask in IP networking?

Accepted Answer

To divide an IP address into a network portion and a host portion

Answer

To encrypt IP addresses for security

Answer

To assign a unique MAC address to a device

Answer

To convert a domain name into an IP address

Question 12

What is the purpose of ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)?

Accepted Answer

To map an IP address to its corresponding MAC address on a local network

Answer

To translate domain names into IP addresses

Answer

To assign IP addresses automatically to new devices

Answer

To encrypt traffic on a wireless network

Question 13

What is the primary difference between a hub and a switch?

Accepted Answer

A hub broadcasts incoming data to all connected devices, while a switch sends data only to the intended recipient device

Answer

A switch broadcasts data to all devices, while a hub is more selective

Answer

Both devices behave identically in modern networks

Answer

A hub can only connect wireless devices

Question 14

What is latency in networking terms?

Accepted Answer

The time delay between sending a data packet and it arriving at its destination

Answer

The total amount of data that can be sent over a connection

Answer

The number of devices connected to a single router

Answer

The physical length of a network cable

Question 15

What is the purpose of the Transport layer in the OSI model?

Accepted Answer

To manage end-to-end communication and ensure reliable data transfer between devices

Answer

To physically transmit raw bits over a communication medium

Answer

To translate domain names into IP addresses

Answer

To manage the physical routing of packets across networks

Question 16

What does the term 'packet switching' refer to in networking?

Accepted Answer

Breaking data into small packets that are transmitted independently and reassembled at the destination

Answer

Sending an entire file as a single continuous stream without breaking it up

Answer

Physically switching cables between two devices

Answer

Encrypting data before it leaves the source device

Question 17

What is the function of the Application layer in the OSI model?

Accepted Answer

It provides the interface through which end user applications interact with network services, such as web browsers using HTTP

Answer

It handles the physical transmission of electrical signals

Answer

It manages routing decisions between networks

Answer

It converts data into binary format

Question 18

What is a VPN primarily used for?

Accepted Answer

To create a secure, encrypted connection over a public network, often to protect privacy or access restricted resources

Answer

To permanently increase internet connection speed

Answer

To assign static IP addresses to all devices on a network

Answer

To physically extend a wired network using fiber cables

Question 19

What is the purpose of a checksum in network data transmission?

Accepted Answer

To detect errors that may have occurred during data transmission by comparing calculated values

Answer

To encrypt data before sending it over the network

Answer

To compress data to reduce transmission time

Answer

To assign a priority level to network packets

Question 20

How many layers does the OSI model have?

Accepted Answer

Seven

Answer

Five

Answer

Four

Answer

Six

Computer Networks MCQ Questions