Reseaux

Réseaux, from the French word for nets, is a term used across disciplines to denote interconnected elements that form a system. In information technology, a network is a set of devices connected by communication links that enables data exchange and resource sharing. Networks are categorized by geographic scope (local area networks, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and the Internet) and by access method (wired and wireless). Core concepts include topology (such as star, mesh, or ring layouts), protocols (for example TCP/IP and Ethernet), addressing, routing, and security.

In sociology, social networks describe the patterns of relationships among actors such as individuals, groups, or organizations. Nodes represent actors and edges denote ties like friendship, collaboration, or influence. Network analysis examines properties such as centrality, density, clustering, and community structure to understand communication, diffusion, and resilience.

In biology and artificial intelligence, networks arise as neural or metabolic networks. Neuronal networks model interconnected neurons in the brain, while artificial neural networks are computational models that learn from data through layered units and algorithms such as backpropagation. Transportation and logistics also rely on network models, where nodes are hubs and edges are routes, used to study flow, efficiency, and vulnerability.

The term reflects a unifying idea: systems defined by interconnections rather than isolated components. Understanding networks involves both their structure (topology) and their dynamics (flows, protocols, learning).