ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Channel (communications)

A channel in communications is like a special way of sending messages or information from one place to another. It's like using a special tunnel just for your message to travel through.

For example, imagine you want to send a letter to your friend who lives far away. You could choose to send the letter through regular mail or you could use a special mail service that guarantees your letter will arrive faster. That special mail service is like a channel that makes sure your message gets to its destination quickly and safely.

In the same way, when you use a phone or the internet to talk to someone far away, you are using a channel to send your message. This channel helps your message travel quickly and reliably so your friend can hear what you have to say.

Channels can be made up of many different things, like wires, radio signals, or even light. Each type of channel has its own advantages and disadvantages, just like different mail services might have different prices or speeds.

So, think of a channel like a special messenger that helps your message get to where it needs to go, quickly and safely.