Networks- The Internet

Networks- The Internet

Networks - The Internet

Introduction to the Internet

  • The Internet is a global network of networks that offers a variety of information and communication facilities.
  • It functions through the use of a series of protocols, mainly the TCP/IP suite.
  • This internet network is a gigantic infrastructure that connects computers and networks all over the world.
  • The key component of the internet is the IP address, a number that uniquely identifies each computer on the internet.

The World Wide Web (WWW)

  • Though often used interchangeably with ‘internet’, the World Wide Web is not the internet. Instead, it is a service provided by the internet.
  • The WWW is an information-sharing model built on top of the internet. It uses the HTTP protocol to transmit data.
  • It was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

  • ISPs (Internet Service Providers) play a crucial role in connecting homes and businesses to the internet.
  • They provide the services needed to connect to the internet and enable their customers to send and receive data electronically.

URL and Domain Names

  • URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) are addresses used to access web pages. They include HTTP or HTTPS, the domain name, and likely the path to a specific web page.
  • Domain Names form part of URLs. They replace an IP address with a series of characters (e.g., www.google.com instead of 172.217.167.142).
  • The Domain Name System (DNS) is a protocol that translates domain names into IP addresses, which are machine-friendly.

Search Engines

  • Search engines are software systems designed to carry out web searches on the internet based on search queries.
  • They deliver a list of results, known as Search Engine Results Pages (SERP), which can be websites, images, videos, or other types of files.

Key Points to Remember

  • The internet is a vast network of networks around the world, and it operates on the TCP/IP suite.
  • The World Wide Web is a service provided by the internet, primarily using the HTTP protocol.
  • ISPs help you connect to the internet and are responsible for transmitting data.
  • URLs and Domain Names are crucial components of web addresses.
  • Domain Name System (DNS) translates readable domain names into machine-friendly IP addresses.
  • Search engines facilitate the process of finding specific information on the internet by returning a list of results based on queries.