Okay kiddo, so let me explain what stratum means! Think of it like a layer of cake that is made up of different levels. In computers, stratum stands for a layer of communication between devices that helps them work together.
For example, let's say your computer wants to connect to the internet. It needs to communicate with a device called a router, which is like a traffic cop directing information around. The router might be connected to another device called a switch, which directs information to different parts of a network. And that switch might be connected to another switch, and so on.
All of these devices create different layers, or strata, of communication. Stratum 1 is the layer closest to the original source of information, like a GPS satellite or an atomic clock. Stratum 2 would be the devices that communicate with the stratum 1 devices, and so on.
Each layer helps to keep the information organized and flowing smoothly. It's like each layer of cake keeping everything together and in its place. And that's what stratum means in the world of computers!