Hardware, Networking, and Databases

About this course

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Explore the essential building blocks of IT with this all-in-one course on hardware, networking, and databases. By the end of this course, you’ll gain a robust understanding of computer components, networking systems, and modern database concepts, setting a strong foundation for IT support and systems management. Your journey begins with Computer Hardware, where you’ll uncover the inner workings of CPUs, RAM, motherboards, and storage devices. You’ll also learn about peripheral devices, display hardware, and BIOS configuration, which are essential for IT technicians working with computing systems. Next, you’ll dive into Networking, starting with fundamental concepts like packet transmission, protocols, and network devices. The course covers configuring wireless routers, exploring connection types, and understanding internet service options to help you navigate networking technologies confidently. Finally, you’ll tackle Databases, where you’ll learn the core principles of data management. Explore modern database types, master SQL queries to add, retrieve, and modify data, and understand table design to store relational data efficiently. This course is designed for beginners and aspiring IT professionals. No prior experience is needed—just a passion for technology. Whether you’re pursuing IT support, networking, or data management roles, this course will equip you with essential, practical skills.