endsystem

Endsystem refers to a computer or device that is at the edge of a network, meaning it is the origin or destination of network traffic. It is the endpoint of a communication path. Examples of endsystems include personal computers, servers, smartphones, tablets, and network-attached storage devices. They are also sometimes referred to as hosts.

Endsystems are responsible for running applications that generate or consume data. When a user browses the web, sends an email, or streams a video, it is the endsystem that initiates or receives these actions. The endsystem then uses network protocols to package data into packets and send them across the network to another endsystem, or it receives packets from the network and uses the protocols to reassemble the data for the application to use.

In contrast to network infrastructure devices like routers and switches, which are responsible for directing traffic between different parts of a network, endsystems are the devices that ultimately interact with the user or perform the primary function of data creation or consumption. The concept of endsystem is fundamental in understanding network communication, as it defines the boundaries of the network and the entities that utilize its services.