Data And Computer Communications by William Stallings is a popular textbook that gives readers a comprehensive overview of the data and computer communications field. Summary Of The Book The merging of data communication and computer science has led to many changes in the technological and related fields. This book attempts to cover the different aspects of data as well as computer communications. It covers the fundamental topics related to the architecture and technology of this subject. The book focuses on contemporary technology and lays emphasis on the fundamentals. In detail, Stalling explores the important areas of local area networking, protocol design, wide area networking, and data communications. The book is divided into 6 sections. It begins with an Overview and goes on to cover WAN, Internet And Transport Protocols, Internet Applications, LAN, and Data Communications.  Part I of the book covers Data Networking, Data Communications And The Internet, Data Transmission, Data Link Control, Communication Techniques of Digital Data, and Multiplexing. It also covers Protocol Architecture, Internet-Based Applications, Tcp/Ip, Spread Spectrum, Signal Encoding Techniques, Guided And Wireless Transmission. The second section details the Wide Area Networks and covers Circuit Switching, Packet Switching, Cellular Wireless Networks, and Asynchronous Transfer Mode. The next section on Local Area Networks begins with an overview to the LAN and focuses on High-Speed and Wireless LANs. The section on Internet And Transport Protocols focuses on the Transport Protocols, Internetwork Operation, and Internetwork Protocols. The final section on Internet Applications covers Network Security, Internet Applications of Electronic Mail, the World Wide Web, Network Management, Internet Directory Service, and Multimedia. The book has a modular format that is helpful for a reader to design a personal course easily. The larger sections are divided into smaller parts that make it easy for the students to understand the concepts. Stalling has repeatedly emphasized the principles of error control, multiplexing, and flow control. This edition of Data And Computer Communications was published in 2007. About William Stallings William Stallings is an experienced computer consultant and writer. Some of his other books include Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles, Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance, Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice, Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, and Computer Security: Principles and Practice. Dr. Stallings has over 20 years of experience as a technical manager and technical contributor. He has served many government agencies, technology vendors, and firms. He did his Ph.D in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was awarded the Text and Academic Authors Association to his credit. He currently works as an independent consultant.