Elements of Data Communication Data or information can be exchanged very well from one place to another in the process of data communication. A data communication system usually consists of five components. The five basic elements of data communication are- 1. Source 2. Sender 3. Medium 4. Recipient 5. Destination 1. Sources: In the case of data communication, the devices from which data is generated are called sources. For example - computer , telephone etc. This data can also be a message. Messages are created through these sources. Messages can be of different types. Such as- text , picture , audio / sound , video etc. 2. From : Data from source cannot be sent directly to anyone. For this the sender is required. The device used to send data from source to recipient is called sender. For example - modem. The data is sent by connecting the modem to the computer device. 3. Medium : The path through which data is transmitted from one place to another or from one computer to another. Such as cable (twisted pair , coaxial cable , fiber optic cable) , public telephone line , radio wave , microwave , satellite , wireless and modem etc. 4. Customer or Recipient : The device through which data is received is called customer or recipient. Modem is used as customer or recipient. The modem connects to the computer and converts the computer's analog signal into a digital signal. 5. Destination: The last device on which the data is sent is called the destination. Servers , personal computers, etc. are used as destinations.