Unveiling the Secrets of the Internet: Ultimate Beginner’s Guide!

What is the Internet

The internet is a vast network of wired and wireless connections that link computers and other similar devices worldwide.” – rising creator

Table of Contents:

Introduction:

Most people know how to use the Internet but don’t fully understand how it works. Likewise, electricity in your home. You use electricity every single day, but you might not understand the basics and mechanism behind it. So, if the electricity grid is difficult to understand, then the Internet must also seem impossible to comprehend.

Right? Wrong! In the next few minutes, I will put you in the top ten percent of people who understand how the Internet works. What is the Internet? How it works, and many more.

Now, let me explain.

Whenever most people think of the Internet, this is what comes to their mind: “The Internet is all about a website or the World Wide Web (www) in general.” Let me know if you too feel the same.

I have heard people say, “My internet is not working”. Whenever the website goes offline and fails to display a web page due to a server error, possibly due to server maintenance or a technical fault on the server side.

So, many people have a limited understanding and often refer to the Internet as just a webpage rather than recognizing what it truly is.

This fuzzy picture of the Internet has been developed and circulating for decades because of the people who are more concerned about job security than education. Unfortunately, the fuzzy imagination about the internet is wrong.

The World Wide Web (WWW), webpage, and website are not synonymous with the Internet, though they share a common interest.

What is the Internet?

The internet (sometimes also referred to as the net) is a network of wired or wireless communication systems connecting various devices across the globe, not limited to outer space.

So, the internet is simply a network of wires (maybe copper fiber optics and occasionally beamed through satellites and cell towers to provide wireless communication to modern-day cellphones and computers.) actually buried underground, undersea, and connected to different computers throughout the globe.

The internet is used to transmit an unlimited range of information, which helps to establish communication between devices as long as both devices are connected with the help of a server.

Definition of the Internet from top sources.

Definition of the Internet in English by Wikipedia, Webopedia, and Oxford Dictionaries.

Wikipedia Definition: The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link devices worldwide. Source

Webopedia Definition: The Internet is generally defined as a global network connecting millions of computers. More than 190 countries are linked to exchanges of data, news, and opinions. Source

Oxford Dictionaries Definition: An international computer network connecting other networks and computers from companies, universities, etc. Source

You may also read more about the definition and meaning of the Internet from other online sources, such as Whatis.com, Dictionary.com, Techopedia.com, Cambridge English Dictionary, Merriam, etc.

What is a Web Server?

A server is a special type of computer connected directly to the internet. A web server stores web pages and various files on its hard drive and processes them when requested by users via a personal computer and a web browser connected to the internet.

Every server has a unique internet protocol or IP address, just like a postal address. IP addresses help computers find each other. The IP address is numerical, for example, 120.124.256. Can you remember this address? Certainly not! So before you twist your tongue while saying it aloud, you may also call it by its name, for instance, Google, Facebook, etc.

Is Your Computer a Web Server?

Sorry, no! It is not because the computer you and I use normally is not connected directly to the Internet. Computers we regularly use are clients because they connect to the internet through an intermediary service provider.

Whenever your friend tries to access a file on your computer from their own device connected to the internet, they won’t be able to retrieve it unless your computer is set up as a server or your friend uses specialized software.

Your friend’s and your computer should be connected to a server before you can exchange files. Let me make it more clear. I have a desktop at home, and now I want to retrieve a web page from Google’s web server. What do I need to do?

Steps to Follow:

  1. Connect my computer to the Internet.
  2. Open a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc).
  3. Type the URL of Google (https://www.google.com/) in the address bar of a web browser.

My computer connects to Google’s web server through the Internet; it queries for the particular webpage you are looking for, and Google’s web server executes it. As a result, you will see a Google web page on the monitor of your computer or a display screen of your device, such as a smartphone, iPad, etc.

Let me tell you that a web server is responding to your inquiry by providing the webpage you are currently reading on the screen of your device. Surprising! You may be. Right? This is how things work while surfing the internet.

Sending an Email

How to send an email using gmail

So, how does it work when you want to connect with a friend by sending them an email? Let’s say your friend’s email address is friend@gmail.com, created through Gmail. You also have a Gmail account but with a different address, such as myself@gmail.com (since no two email addresses can be identical). If you’re interested in creating a new email account, you can register one through Gmail or any other email service provider. What’s the next step?

Steps to Follow:

  1. You will connect my computer to the Internet.
  2. Open a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc).
  3. Type the URL of Gmail (https://www.google.com/gmail) in the address bar of a web browser.
  4. Fill out the email form and send it to friend@gmail.com

As soon as you press the send button, the email you have just sent goes to the web server of Gmail.

Now, what will your friend need to do to retrieve the email that you’ve just sent?

  1. Your friend connects his computer to the Internet.
  2. Opens a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc).
  3. Type the URL of Gmail (https://www.google.com/gmail) in the address bar of a web browser and visit Gmail’s web server.
  4. The web page opens on his monitor, and your friend retrieves the email that you had sent earlier.

How is Communication Established on the Internet?

When a computer connects to a server, which is a specialized, high-powered computer designed to manage network resources, it can establish a communication link through either a physical wired connection or a wireless signal.

In a wired connection, the data travels along cables to the server, ensuring a stable and direct path for information exchange. In a wireless setup, signals travel through radio waves, such as Wi-Fi. This allows devices to connect over a certain range without physical cables.

Once connected, the computer can send requests, receive data, and interact with the server, enabling activities like browsing websites, accessing files, or using applications hosted on the server.

Who Provides the Internet?

Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides the Internet.

Most internet access providers charge a set fee per day, month, or year, and in return, they provide us access to services like surfing web pages, uploading, downloading, watching movies, sending messages, listening to audio, etc. The fee usually includes how many services you want to use.

The use of internet services is measured in bytes, megabytes, gigabits, etc. For instance, if you use 1000 megabytes of bandwidth, you may be charged Rs. 100 or any other denomination as per the company’s plan. So, for additional use, you need to pay more. However, these days most Internet service providers offer unlimited access to the Internet by paying a certain amount fixed by them.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Internet is a huge, complex network that links devices all over the world, allowing us to easily access information, interact, and carry out a myriad of digital tasks. The Internet is not just an “online collection of websites,” but rather a complex network of wired and wireless technologies that includes cell towers, communications satellites, and fiber optics. Servers are sophisticated computers that store and process files, emails, and web pages for user access. They are used to convey data.

All of our online actions, including sending emails, streaming videos, and fetching web pages, depend on these servers and the protocols that guide our requests. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) enable our everyday interactions with the Internet by charging us a charge, either based on data use or a flat rate for unlimited access.

Mastering the Internet’s mechanics—its framework, transmission procedures, and service provision—places us amongst the few who understand the fundamental technology that underpins our Internet-based experiences. With such information, we acquire an understanding of how online activities are backed, allowing us to make more educated decisions regarding the use of the internet, data plans, and browsing habits.

Resources:

If you want to learn more about the history of the Internet, you may ask questions by dropping your questions at google.combing.com, etc.

  1. When did the Internet start?
  2. When did people start using the net?

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