What is Telnet in Computer Network? Everything You Should Know

In the computer networking world, several devices can require the ability to communicate over a distance with one another. Various network protocols were invented to make this possible.

Telnet is one of the oldest and most famous ones. Before we can have a clear understanding of what is telnet, it is imperative to be well aware of what constitutes telnet and why telnet dominated networking in the early years.

Telnet was developed so as to enable users to connect to another computer remotely and execute commands as though they were in front of that computer.

Despite the fact that its use is no longer popular because it was deemed to be insecure in many aspects, learning about Telnet remains important because it helps in understanding the basic understanding of how remote communication can be achieved.

What is Telnet

Telnet is a remote network protocol which allows a user to connect to the other computer through a TCP/IP network via a command-line interface. After connecting, the user is able to issue the commands to the remote system and reply in real time.

In simple terms, what is telnet in computer network environments? It is a text-based mode of communication which is in text, client-server in which one system assumes the role of the client and the other the server.

The common uses of Telnet in the past consisted of:

• Accessing remote servers
• Managing network devices
• Leveraging connectivity problems.

However, since Telnet was not an encryption technique, it has been declared not to be safe nowadays on the networks.

How Telnet Works?

Understanding how telnet works becomes easy when explained step by step instead of technical jargon.

Upon the connection of a Telnet, the following process occurs:

• The user initiates a Telnet client in his/her system.
• The client requests to be connected to a remote server.
• The server accepts Telnet on port 23.
• The user enters login credentials.
• Client typed commands are forwarded to the server.
• The server processes such commands and returns results.

All the communication between the client and the server occurs in plain-text, meaning that anybody who intercepts the information can easily read it.

What is the Use of Telnet

The What is use of telnet question becomes clearer when we look at its practical applications during its peak usage.
Telnet was commonly used for:

• Distributed management of servers.
• Set-up of routers and switches.
• Determining the activity of a given service or port.
• Getting to know command-line networking.

Telnet was an easy-to-use tool and thus became a brand name among students and network administrators.

What is Use of Telnet in Real-World Scenarios?

The question of what is use of telnet is still applicable to day-to-day situations. Even though Telnet is no longer suggested to be used in a secure setting, there are controlled environments where it still finds application.

It has some real-life applications, such as:

• Network learning and classroom learning.
• This is the bug of open ports in servers.
• Working with legacy systems
• Checking the availability of the email or web server.

Telnet is also commonly disabled in the production settings because it can be used to compromise the security of the environment.

Advantages of Telnet

Even though Telnet was outdated, it had some unique strengths that could be considered as an excellent tool for learning:

• Very easy to set up and use
• Little resources of the system are needed.
• Helps introduces the beginners to the concept of client-server communication.
• Convenient for testing a network base.
• The above benefits justify why Telnet is a constituent of networking symbabuses.

Disadvantages of Telnet

The drawbacks of Telnet exceed its advantages in the new networks.

Key limitations include:

• No encryption of data
• The passwords and the usernames are transmitted in plain text.
• Very susceptible to being hacked and the data intercepted.
• Inappropriate on the unsecured networks.

Due to such problems, telnet must not be used to perform sensitive operations.

Telnet vs SSH (Brief Comparison)

Telnet and SSH are more or less the same, but highly differing in terms of security.

Telnet: The communication is not encrypted, it is insecure, and it is old-fashioned.
SSH: Industry standard, secured, encrypted communication.

The encryption and authentication capabilities have led to the replacement of Telnet in nearly all working environments.

Is Telnet Still Used in 2026?

No, but in a few cases. Telnet continues to find application in the year 2026 as an educational tool, for testing of network services, and also in support of the past systems. In real-life applications, secure protocols such as SSH are always suggested.

Conclusion

Telnet is an outdated concept on modern secure networks, but it is an essential component in knowing the basics of computer networking.

The understanding of how Telnet is functioning will make learners value the development of protective communication protocols in current use.

FAQs

Q1. Is Telnet secure?

No. Telnet lacks security as it does not validate the data being sent over it.

Q2. What replaced Telnet?

Telnet was ousted by SSH because it had strong security features.

Q3. Can Telnet still be used today?

Yes, however, to learn, to test, or to have legacy systems.

Q4. Why is Telnet still taught?

It is because it makes learners gain knowledge of the fundamentals of remote communication.