Class 12 CS – Key Differences (Exam
Ready)
HTML vs XML
Basis HTML XML
Purpose Display data Store/transport data
Tags Predefined User-defined
Case sensitivity Not case-sensitive Case-sensitive
Error handling Ignores small errors Strict (errors stop parsing)
Focus Presentation Data structure
HTTP vs HTTPS
Basis HTTP HTTPS
Security Not secure Secure (encrypted)
Port 80 443
Encryption No Yes (SSL/TLS)
URL prefix http:// https://
Use case General browsing Secure transactions
TCP vs UDP
Basis TCP UDP
Connection Connection-oriented Connectionless
Reliability Reliable Unreliable
Speed Slower Faster
Error checking Yes Minimal
Use case Web, Email Streaming, Gaming
Client vs Server
Basis Client Server
Role Requests service Provides service
Control Less control More control
Examples Browser Web server
Full
Protocol Name Short Explanation (The "70/70" Definition)
Form
Transmission Control Connection-oriented; ensures reliable data delivery
TCP
Protocol using a 3-way handshake.
Responsible for addressing and routing packets across
IP Internet Protocol
network boundaries.
Connectionless; faster than TCP but unreliable (used
UDP User Datagram Protocol
for streaming/gaming).
Standard protocol used for transferring files between a
FTP File Transfer Protocol
client and a server.
Simple Mail Transfer Used specifically for sending emails from a client to a
SMTP
Protocol server.
Used for receiving emails by downloading them from
POP3 Post Office Protocol (v3)
a server to a local device.
HyperText Transfer The foundation of data exchange on the web; used to
HTTP
Protocol fetch HTML documents.
Encrypted version of HTTP using SSL/TLS for secure
HTTPS HTTP Secure
transactions.
Used to establish a direct connection between two
PPP Point-to-Point Protocol
nodes (e.g., PC to ISP).
Dynamic Host Automatically assigns dynamic IP addresses to
DHCP
Configuration Protocol devices on a network.
Voice over Internet Allows voice communication and multimedia sessions
VoIP
Protocol over IP networks (e.g., WhatsApp calls).
Full
Term Short Explanation
Form
Uniform
The unique web address used to identify a resource on the
URL Resource
internet.
Locator
Domain Name The "Phonebook of the Internet"; translates domain names
DNS
System ([Link] to IP addresses.
Media Access A permanent 48-bit physical address assigned to a NIC by the
MAC
Control manufacturer.
Network Hardware component that allows a computer to connect to a
NIC
Interface Card network.
Personal Area Smallest network type; used for communication between
PAN
Network personal devices (Bluetooth).
Local Area Connects devices within a small geographical area like a single
LAN
Network building or office.
Metropolitan
MAN Connects devices across a city or a large campus.
Area Network
Wide Area Connects devices over long distances, such as countries or
WAN
Network continents (The Internet).
eXtensible
A markup language used to define custom tags for
XML Markup
storing/transporting data.
Language
Full
Term Short Explanation
Form
Standard security technology for establishing an
SSL Secure Sockets Layer
encrypted link.
Transport Layer
TLS The modern, more secure successor to SSL.
Security
Free and Open Source Software that is both free to use and provides the
FOSS
Software source code for modification.
Software where the source code is available to the
OSS Open Source Software
public for use or modification.
Intellectual Property Legal rights given to creators for their inventions or
IPR
Rights artistic works.
Level 1: The Physical Level
Hardware: Repeaters and Hubs.
What happens: It deals with raw bits (0s and 1s) and electrical signals. It doesn't
understand "addresses"; it just pushes signals through the wire.
Level 2: The Data Link Level
Hardware: Switches and Bridges.
What happens: This level understands MAC Addresses. It ensures data gets to the
right physical machine on the local network.
Level 3: The Network Level
Hardware: Routers.
What happens: This level understands IP Addresses. It decides the "Route" data
takes to get from one city (or network) to another.
Feature *args (Single Asterisk) **kwargs (Double Asterisk)
Full Name Non-Keyword Arguments Keyword Arguments
Data Type Receives data as a Tuple (). Receives data as a Dictionary {}.
Pass values directly: func(1, 2,
Input Style Pass values as pairs: func(a=1, b=2)
3)
When you don't know how When you don't know how many
Use Case
many items the user will send. named parameters the user will send.