A computer network connects computers and devices using wired and wireless communication channels. It allows for sharing of resources and information. Wired networks use physical cables to connect devices, while wireless uses technologies like terrestrial microwave, communication satellites, and wireless LANs. Computer networks can be classified based on their physical extent, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and metropolitan area networks (MANs), which connect devices within a building, across cities, and within a city, respectively. Virtual private networks (VPNs) extend private networks over public ones.