Twisted pair cable, specifically Category 5e or Category 6, is commonly used for home networking due to its affordability, ease of installation, and sufficient bandwidth for most home applications.

A router serves multiple purposes in a home network. It connects to the internet, allows multiple devices to share files and printers, and controls network traffic to ensure efficient data transfer.

802.11n, also known as Wi-Fi 4, is commonly used in modern home networks due to its improved speed and range compared to previous standards.

A firewall's primary function is to protect the home network from unauthorized access by monitoring incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocking suspicious activity.

Star topology is commonly used in small home networks because it provides a central connection point (usually a router) to which all devices are connected. This simplifies network management and troubleshooting.

A network switch allows multiple devices to connect to the internet and communicate with each other by providing multiple ports for wired connections.

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) is commonly used to secure wireless networks due to its improved security features compared to previous protocols like WEP.

A modem (modulator-demodulator) is responsible for converting digital signals from a computer into analog signals that can be transmitted over a telephone line or cable connection, allowing devices to connect to the internet.

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is used to identify a specific device on a home network. It is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to the network.

A DNS (Domain Name System) server translates human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into machine-readable IP addresses, allowing devices to communicate with each other on the internet.

A router is responsible for assigning IP addresses to devices on a home network through a process called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

A network extender (also known as a Wi-Fi extender or repeater) is used to extend the range of a wireless network by amplifying and retransmitting the wireless signal, allowing devices to connect to the network even when they are far from the main router.

A cable connection, which uses a coaxial cable, is commonly used to connect a home network to the internet due to its high-speed data transfer capabilities.

A VPN allows users to securely access a private network, such as a home network, over a public network, such as the internet, by creating an encrypted connection.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is commonly used to transfer files between devices on a home network, allowing users to share files easily and efficiently.