Subnets
A subnet (short for subnetwork) is a logical subdivision of an IP network that divides a larger network into smaller, more manageable segments. It improves network performance, security, and organization by grouping devices based on location, function, or security requirements. Subnets are defined using subnet masks or CIDR notation to allocate IP addresses efficiently within a network.
Developers should learn about subnets when designing, deploying, or troubleshooting networked applications, especially in cloud environments, data centers, or distributed systems. They are essential for implementing network segmentation to enhance security (e.g., isolating sensitive data), optimizing traffic flow to reduce congestion, and managing IP address allocation in large-scale infrastructures like AWS VPCs or Kubernetes clusters.