In data communications, what is the difference between communication and transmission when describing how information and signals move between devices?

Introduction / Context:
In networking and data communications, terms such as communication and transmission are often used together, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. Exam questions sometimes ask for the difference to check conceptual clarity. Communication is a broader concept that includes the entire process of exchanging information and understanding, while transmission is a narrower term that focuses on the physical or logical sending of signals or data bits across a medium.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are working with the general theory of data communications.
• Entities may be computers, devices, or people using the network.
• The communication process includes encoding, sending, receiving, and interpreting messages.
• Transmission focuses mainly on delivering the bits or signals across a channel.

Concept / Approach:
Communication is about the transfer of information and the achievement of understanding between sender and receiver. It involves message creation, encoding, transmission, reception, and decoding into meaningful information. Transmission is a subset of this process that deals only with the act of sending the encoded message over a communication channel, such as copper wire, fibre optic cable, or radio waves. Therefore, a correct answer must mention that communication is the complete information exchange, while transmission is the physical or logical sending of data across a medium.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Think of a simple example: a user sends an email. Communication is the entire process of composing the message, sending it, receiving it, and understanding its content. Step 2: Transmission in this example is the part where the email data is broken into packets and sent across network links as electrical or optical signals. Step 3: Communication therefore includes both higher level semantics and lower level mechanical delivery. Step 4: Option a captures this distinction by stating that communication is overall exchange of information and transmission is specifically the physical sending of signals or data. Step 5: Option b incorrectly restricts communication to wired and transmission to wireless, which is not a standard distinction. Step 6: Options c and d either misstate roles such as encryption or claim there is no difference, so they do not match textbook definitions.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many networking textbooks explain that communication systems include sources, transmitters, channels, receivers, and destinations. Transmission is considered one stage, particularly the process of sending signals over the channel. For example, in the OSI model, communication covers all seven layers, from physical signalling to application layer protocols, while transmission is focused on the physical and data link layers. This layered view supports the idea that communication is broader and transmission is a part of it.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b is wrong because both wired and wireless networks involve communication and transmission; the terms are not segregated by medium type. Option c incorrectly makes communication equal to encoding and transmission equal to encryption, which are two separate operations not tied directly to those words. Option d is incorrect because technical literature consistently uses communication and transmission with slightly different scopes, even though everyday language may blur them.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to treat the two terms as perfect synonyms and miss the nuance that communication emphasises meaning and understanding while transmission emphasises delivery of signals. Another mistake is to think that transmission automatically implies long distance or high speed, when it can also describe very simple, short range links. Understanding the distinction helps in clearer reasoning about system design, where you can separate concerns such as reliable transmission of bits from higher level protocols that manage sessions or user messages.

Final Answer:
Communication refers to the overall exchange of information and meaning between two or more entities, while transmission refers specifically to the physical sending of signals or data over a medium.