Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach

Few networking textbooks start where students already are: with the applications they use every day. Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by Keith Ross does exactly that, and this computer networking top-down approach paperback is a new copy published by Pearson Education.

The text runs to 720 pages and is written for adult and further education readers. It treats computer networks as a technical subject but lays the material out in an order that is easy to follow, moving from the top of the network stack downward.

Why the top-down order matters

Many courses begin with cables, signals and hardware. This book reverses that. Readers meet networking through the application layer first, then work down toward the lower layers, so each new idea connects to something they have already seen.

Who should buy this copy

It suits undergraduates on a computer networks course, self-taught developers who want to understand what happens when their code sends data, and IT staff filling gaps in their knowledge. At 720 pages it is a full course text, not a short primer.

Condition and format

This is a new paperback. The edition number is not given here, so if your instructor has named a particular edition, compare the cover and title page against your syllabus before you order.

Book details

• Title: Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach
• Author: Keith Ross
• Publisher: Pearson Education
• Pages: 720
• Format: Paperback (new)

Questions buyers ask

What does “top-down” mean in this networking book?

It means the book begins with the application layer that users and programmers see, then works down through the lower layers of the network.

Is this book suitable for a first networking course?

Yes. It is written for adult and further education readers and lays concepts out in an easy-to-follow order, which is why it works as a course text.

Which edition is this?

No edition number is stated for this listing. If your course requires a specific edition, check the details with us before you buy.

How many pages does it have?

The paperback runs to 720 pages.

Where do you ship?

We ship within the USA, and delivery takes 5 to 7 working days.