What is the Internet?

The Internet changed the world in every possible way, be it social, political, economic, or technological. It has made the world a smaller place by bringing people together from all over the world. It has made the world a global village.

Nowadays, it is hard to imagine a world without the Internet. It has become an integral part of our lives. It has changed the way we communicate, the way we shop, the way we learn, the way we play, the way we work, even the way we think.

We are so dependent on the Internet that we can't even imagine our lives without it.

For people before the Internet, it would be like magic to be able to communicate or share information with someone on the other side of the world. But now, it is just a matter of seconds.

In this article, you will learn about the Internet, its history, how it works, and anything and everything about it.

what is internet

    Table of Contents

  1. Define Internet
  2. History of Internet
  3. How does the Internet Work?
  4. Internet Protocols
  5. Internet Services and Applications
  6. Internet vs World Wide Web
  7. Conclusion

Define Internet

The Internet is a global network of billions of computers and other electronic devices connected to each other through a common protocol called Internet Protocol (IP).

The Internet is a network of networks connecting billions of computers worldwide, allowing them to send and receive data from each other.

It carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer, and the interlinked web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web.

define internet

Let's understand the concept of the Internet in simple terms.

Let there be 2 computers, A and B, and connect them with a cable. These two computers can now send, receive, and request data from each other. Suppose A has a file that B wants to access, then A can send that file to B through this cable and vice-versa.

connecting two computers

Similarly, you can connect 3, 4, 5, or any number of computers with each other and they can share data with each other.

We have created a small network of computers. Internet is a network of such networks, but it uses many different ways to connect computers with each other like optical fiber, radio waves, satellite, etc.

Each computer on the Internet has its own unique address, just like houses on a street have different house numbers. This address helps the computers find each other and know where to send or receive information.

In simple terms, the Internet is like a big digital neighborhood where computers chat, share, and collaborate, making the world a much smaller and more connected place.

History of Internet

The Internet is a relatively new technology. It was invented in the late 1960s, but it wasn't until the early 1990s that it became popular.

In 1983, ARPANET adopted TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) as its standard. TCP/IP is a set of rules that governs how data is transmitted over the Internet.

The Internet was originally developed by the United States Department of Defense to connect their computers and share information with each other.

The first computer network was created in 1969 by the United States Department of Defense. It was called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).

It was a huge success and soon other countries started to develop their own networks. In 1983, ARPANET adopted TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) as its standard.

By the late 1980s, ARPANET was replaced by NSFNET (National Science Foundation Network). It was a network of networks that connected academic users together.

The World Wide Web (WWW) was invented in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee. It was a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet.

By the early 1990s, the Internet was opened to the public and it became popular. In 1995, NSFNET was decommissioned and the Internet became a commercial network.

Since then, the Internet has grown exponentially and has become an integral part of our lives.

History of Internet
History of Internet

How does the Internet Work?

Working of the Internet is a very complex process. It involves many different devices, technologies, and protocols at different levels.

We will try to understand the workings of the Internet in simple terms.

Internet Protocols

Internet Protocol is a set of rules that determines how data is transmitted over the Internet. It is the foundation of the Internet and allows devices to communicate with each other.

It provides addressing and routing information that helps in transmitting data packets across the Internet.

The most common Internet protocols are TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP, IMAP, and more.

Internet Services and Applications

Applications and services are what makes the Internet so useful. If we start listing all the applications and services that are available on the Internet, it will take forever. So, we will only discuss the most popular ones.

Internet Services and Applications
Internet Services and Applications

Internet vs World Wide Web

The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

The Internet is the underlying infrastructure that enables global connectivity and communication between devices, while the World Wide Web is a collection of interconnected documents and resources accessible via the Internet.

In simple terms, the Internet is the network, and the World Wide Web is a service or application that runs on top of that network.

InternetWorld Wide Web
DefinitionA global network connecting devices worldwide.A collection of interconnected web pages and resources accessible via the Internet.
InfrastructurePhysical network of interconnected devices.Virtual space consisting of websites and web pages.
ConnectivityEnables devices to connect and communicate with each other.Provides access to websites and online content.
ProtocolsTCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, FTP, etc.HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP, IMAP, etc.
PurposeFacilitates data transmission and communication across networks.Allows users to access and interact with information on the web.

Conclusion

The Internet is a platform that connects billions of computers, sharing information and resources with each other. We are so dependent on the Internet that if the Internet stops working for a day, it will cause a huge loss to the world economy.

The Internet has been evolving evolving since its birth and it will continue to evolve in the future. Every day, new technologies are being developed to make the Internet faster, more secure, and more reliable.

You will be surprised to know that only 5% of the internet is visible to the public. The rest 95% is hidden in the deep web and dark web. The deep web is the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines like Google, Bing, etc. and can only be accessed through special technologies and softwares.