IoT connects physical devices (sensors, cameras, thermostats) to the internet and collects data from them. 29 billion IoT devices are expected by 2030. Protocols: MQTT (lightweight, publish-subscribe, ideal for sensors), HTTP/REST, CoAP, Zigbee, Z-Wave (for smart home), LoRaWAN (long range, low power).
Industrial IoT (IIoT) is widely used in factories, agriculture, and logistics. Predictive maintenance prevents failures based on sensor data. Smart city — traffic management, waste collection optimisation, water usage monitoring. IoT security is the biggest challenge: weak passwords, unencrypted channels, and large numbers of unique devices. Edge computing — processing data close to the device — saves latency and bandwidth.
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