Internet

The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It connects millions of people around the world, allowing them to share information and communicate instantly. The Internet is made up of many smaller networks, including private, public, academic, business, and government networks, all linked together through electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies.

It carries a wide variety of information services and resources, such as the interlinked hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, discussion groups, internet telephony, streaming media, and file sharing. The Internet has transformed many traditional ways of communicating and accessing information, including telephone, radio, television, paper mail, newspapers, and print publishing. This transformation has led to the creation of new media such as email, online music, digital newspapers, news aggregators, and websites for audio and video streaming.

The origins of the Internet go back to research in the 1970s that aimed to allow sharing of computer resources and develop ways for computers to talk to each other. This research was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the United States Department of Defense and involved universities and researchers in the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Today, the Internet has no single controlling authority. Different networks set their own rules, and organizations like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) help manage technical standards and address systems.

Terminology

The word Internet originally appeared in 1945 and is now the most common way to talk about the global system of connected computer networks. It can sometimes be written with a capital "I," but many guides suggest using a lowercase "i" instead.

People often use the words Internet and World Wide Web as if 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 look up something online. The Internet also has many other services besides the Web, 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 started working on ways to share computer resources. They developed ideas for connecting computers together, which led to the creation of ARPANET, a network that connected universities and research institutions.

The 1970s saw ARPANET grow and connect more places. By the 1980s, standards were created that allowed different networks to work together as one. The 1990s brought the World Wide Web, making the Internet easy to use for everyone. Today, the Internet connects billions of people around the world for communication, information, and entertainment.

Social impact

The Internet has enabled new forms of social interaction and activities. It has become an important area of study in understanding how people communicate and form relationships online.

Between 2000 and 2009, the number of Internet users globally rose from 390 million to 1.9 billion. By 2010, 22% of the world's population had access to computers, with many people using the Internet for activities like reading blogs and watching videos. By 2018, Asia had the most Internet users, with China and India leading the way.

The Internet offers flexibility for work and learning. People can access educational materials, from preschool resources to advanced research, from anywhere. It supports virtual universities and distance education, allowing researchers to collaborate and share findings more easily.

Entertainment has also grown on the Internet. People enjoy games, streaming videos, and music. Platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and Apple Music have changed how we watch shows and listen to music. Multiplayer games create communities where players of all ages come together.

The Internet supports remote work through tools like video calls and groupware. It also enables philanthropy, allowing people to support causes online through websites like DonorsChoose and Kiva. Collaborative software makes it easier for teams to work together, share ideas, and manage projects. The Internet also supports cloud computing and remote work technologies.

Social media has had a big impact on psychology. Some people behave differently online than in person, and there are concerns about harassment and cyberbullying. Children can face dangers like meeting people they meet online or sharing personal information. Many parents use Internet filtering to protect their children.

Businesses use the Internet for selling products and advertising. E-commerce has grown a lot, changing how people shop and work. While it brings economic benefits, it can also lead to inequality and affect small businesses.

The Internet has become important in politics. It helps organize campaigns and movements, like the Arab Spring. Governments use the Internet for services, making it easier for citizens to access information and services. However, there are concerns about Internet censorship and surveillance.

Some groups use the Internet to spread extreme ideas or support terrorist activities, raising concerns for governments 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 global collection of documents, images, multimedia, and other resources connected by hyperlinks. Web browsers like Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Google Chrome let users move from one web page to another. These pages can include text, pictures, videos, and interactive content. Email is also an important way to send messages online, similar to mailing letters.

Governance

The Internet is a global network made up of many different networks that connect together without a central leader. It works because of agreements and rules made by groups of experts.

One important group is the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This group creates the basic rules that all Internet devices follow, such as 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 properly around the world. There are also regional 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 relies on a mix of hardware and software to connect people and information. It uses devices like routers and different types of connections, such as cables and wireless signals, to send data around the world. The Internet works because many networks join together, allowing messages to travel even though they may pass through many different kinds of equipment.

Internet service providers help connect homes, schools, and businesses to the Internet. Some big companies can talk directly to each other, while smaller ones buy access from larger providers. People can get online using several methods, like broadband through cables in their homes, Wi-Fi in public places, or cellular telephone networks. Many websites and services are hosted in special buildings called data centers, which keep everything running 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. It can send data in order or just send pieces quickly.
• 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, but we’re running out. IPv6 can handle many more addresses and is being used more now to keep up with the growing number of devices online.

Security

The Internet can be a dangerous place because people sometimes try to do bad things like stealing information or causing trouble. They might use special programs called malware, which can hurt computers in many ways. These programs include things like computer viruses and ransomware that can lock you out of your own computer until you pay money.

Some governments also watch what people are doing online. For example, in places like North Korea and Mainland China, they control what websites people can visit. This is called Internet censorship. Some countries work with Internet companies to block certain websites, especially ones that might be harmful.

Performance

The Internet is a big, 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 a lot of energy to keep everything running. Researchers have tried to figure out just 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. Some studies suggest that watching videos online uses a big part of this energy, which adds up to a lot of carbon dioxide each year.