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 of172.217.167.142
). - 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.