Internet

The Internet (or internet) is the global system of connected computer networks. It uses special rules called the Internet protocol suite to help devices talk to each other. The Internet links millions of people worldwide. It lets them share information and talk right away. It is made of many smaller networks, like private and public ones. These networks are joined together using wireless and optical networking technology.

The Internet has many kinds of services and things you can use. These include the World Wide Web (WWW), which has pages you can click through, electronic mail, discussion groups, internet telephony, streaming media, and file sharing. The Internet changed how we talk and get information. It changed things like telephone, radio, television, paper mail, newspapers, and print publishing. Because of the Internet, we now have email, online music, digital newspapers, and websites for audio and video streaming.

The Internet began in the 1970s. Researchers wanted computers to share resources and talk to each other. This work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the United States Department of Defense. They worked with universities and researchers in the United Kingdom and France. Today, no one group controls the Internet. Different networks make their own rules. Groups like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) help with technical standards.

Terminology

The word Internet started being used in 1945. It is the most common way to talk about the global system of connected computer networks. Sometimes people write it with a capital "I," but many guides say to use a lowercase "i" instead.

People often use the words Internet and World Wide Web like they mean the same thing. But the Web is just one part of the Internet. It includes all the pages and information you see when you use a web browser to search for something online. The Internet also has many other services, like electronic mail and discussion groups.

History

Main articles: History of the Internet, History of the World Wide Web, and Protocol Wars

In the 1960s, computer scientists began finding ways to share computer tools. They worked on linking computers, leading to ARPANET, a network that joined universities and research centers.

In the 1970s, ARPANET expanded and reached more places. By the 1980s, rules were made so different networks could work together. The 1990s introduced the World Wide Web, making the Internet simple for everyone to use. Today, the Internet links billions of people worldwide for talking, learning, and fun.

Social impact

The Internet has created new ways for people to connect and do things together. It is important for studying how people talk and make friends online.

The Internet has grown very fast. Many people around the world now use it to read blogs and watch videos. Asia has the most users, with China and India leading the way.

The Internet makes work and learning easier. People can find lessons for little kids or advanced research from anywhere. It helps with online schools and lets researchers share their work faster.

Entertainment is bigger online now. People play games, watch videos, and listen to music. Places like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and Apple Music have changed how we enjoy shows and music. Games bring players together from all ages.

The Internet helps people work from home using video calls and groupware. It lets people help others through sites like DonorsChoose and Kiva. Tools make it simple for teams to share ideas and plan work. The Internet also helps with cloud computing and working away from office.

Social media changes how some people act. There are worries about harassment and cyberbullying. Kids can be at risk by meeting people online or sharing too much information. Many families use tools to keep kids safe online.

Businesses sell things and advertise online. E-commerce has grown fast, changing shopping and jobs. It helps the economy but can make it harder for small shops.

The Internet is important for politics. It helps organize events and movements, like the Arab Spring. Governments use it to give services to people. But there are worries about Internet censorship and watching too closely.

Some groups use the Internet to share extreme ideas or support bad activities, which worries leaders and communities.

Applications and services

The Internet carries many applications and services, including the World Wide Web, social media, electronic mail, mobile applications, multiplayer online games, Internet telephony, file sharing, and streaming media services.

The World Wide Web is a big collection of documents, images, multimedia, and other resources linked together. Web browsers like Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Google Chrome help you move between web pages. These pages can have text, pictures, videos, and fun interactive parts. Email is a way to send messages online, just like mailing letters.

Governance

The Internet is a global network of many different networks that connect together. It has no single leader. It works because of rules made by groups of experts.

One important group is the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This group makes the basic rules for all Internet devices, like how to send and receive information. Another group, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), helps make sure that every website and email address is unique and works well everywhere. There are also groups that help manage parts of the Internet in different areas of the world, like Africa, North America, and Europe.

Infrastructure

See also: List of countries by number of Internet users and List of countries by Internet connection speeds

The Internet uses hardware and software to connect people and information. It uses devices like routers and different ways to send data, such as cables and wireless signals. The Internet works because many networks join together, letting messages travel across the world.

Internet service providers help connect homes, schools, and businesses to the Internet. Some big companies connect directly, while smaller ones buy access from larger providers. People can get online in several ways, like broadband through cables in their homes, Wi-Fi in public places, or cellular telephone networks. Many websites and services are kept in special buildings called data centers, which help everything run smoothly.

Internet Protocol Suite

The Internet standards describe a framework called the Internet protocol suite, also known as TCP/IP. This is a set of rules that help different computers talk to each other. It has four main layers, or levels:

• The application layer is where apps like web browsers work. It uses special ways to send and receive information, like HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for websites and HyperText Markup Language (HTML) for web pages.
• The transport layer connects apps on different computers, making sure information gets where it needs to go.
• The Internet layer helps computers find each other using IP addresses and send traffic between different networks.
• The link layer connects computers that are close to each other, like in a home or office, using technologies such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and DSL.

The most important part of this system is the Internet Protocol (IP). IP helps connect different networks together, making the Internet possible. There are two versions of IP: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 was used first and can handle about 4.3 billion addresses. IPv6 can handle many more addresses and is being used more now.

Security

The Internet can be a risky place because sometimes people try to do bad things. They might try to steal information or cause trouble. They can use special programs called malware. These programs can hurt computers. Some types of malware are computer viruses and ransomware.

Some governments watch what people do online. For example, in places like North Korea and Mainland China, they decide which websites people can visit. This is called Internet censorship. Some countries work with Internet companies to block websites that might be harmful.

Performance

The Internet is a large, mixed network, and its speed can change a lot depending on where you are and how you're connected. Sometimes, things happen that can make the Internet stop working for a little while, like when underwater cables get damaged.

The Internet also uses energy to keep everything running. Researchers have tried to learn how much power it needs, and they found it can be hard to measure exactly. Even so, they agree the Internet uses less than two percent of all the energy people use around the world. This includes power for computers, phones, servers, and all the equipment that helps send information over the Internet.