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PREFACE








            In  class  XI,  we  learned  the  basics  of  computer  systems  and  core  concepts  of  programming  with  a  focus  on
            documentation.  To  process  the  organisational  data  efficiently,  we  learnt  about  database  management  systems
            (DBMS) and structured query language (SQL) that enable us to store and retrieve the data with ease.

            A lot of data is generated daily from various sources, like Indian satellites sending data to multiple departments,
            social  media,  e-commerce,  and  financial  transactions.  Educational  institutions,  hospitals,  governments,  and
            organisations also contribute to this data pool, which must be analysed for informed decision-making. Python’s
            Pandas,  developed  by  Wes McKinney,  is a  popular  open-source  tool  for  tabular  data  analysis. The  two  data
            structures, Series and the Data Frames, provided by Python, enable us to process business data, and these topics
            are covered in the first two chapters. Matplotlib—a comprehensive library for creating beautiful plots is discussed in
            Chapter 3.

            In Chapter 4, we review the DBMS concepts studied in Class XI and learn some advanced features of SQL that enable
            us to answer queries on data aggregates. Towards this end, we provide several examples involving mathematical,
            date, and text functions. In Chapter 5, we demonstrate the power of SQL in expressing the organisational constraints
            and answering queries involving multiple tables.
            Modern computing devices, such as smartphones, are seamlessly interconnected through local networks and the
            Internet. In the final stretch of our book, encompassing Chapters 6 and 7, we embark on a journey to unravel the
            intricate realm of computer networking. This exploration spans a spectrum of essential topics, including transmission
            media, encompassing wired and wireless technologies. Along the way, we will encounter diverse network devices,
            explore various network topologies and protocols, and unveil the world of web services, including HTTP, FTP, and
            the robust framework of TCP/IP.

            While automation of services has made our lives comfortable, serious concerns have been raised about the security
            of IT infrastructure and the privacy rights of individuals. In Chapter 8, we discuss these issues and related laws
            enacted to address security and privacy concerns.


            ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
            We  are  grateful  to  Drashti  Varshney  and  Nimish  Kumar,  undergraduate  students  at  Dyal  Singh  College  of  the
            University of Delhi,  Mr. P.K. Hazra, Dr. Manoj Agarwal and Dr. Neeraj Kumar Sharma, colleagues at the University of
            Delhi for reviewing different sections of the book.

            We are grateful to the Orange Book team, especially Ms. Nidhi Gupta, who was readily available for help during
            the book’s preparation. Last but not least, we would like to express our gratitude to our family members for their
            support and patience.

                                                                                                   Naveen Kumar
                                                                                                      Ankit Rajpal

                                                                                                    Sheetal Rajpal
                                                                                                     Mohini Arora





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