Internet & Web Basics

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a global network of billions of interconnected devices — computers, smartphones, servers, and more — that communicate using a shared set of rules called protocols. It is not owned by any single company or government; it is a decentralized, collaborative infrastructure.

The Internet is the network of networks. The Web is just one service that runs on top of it.

Internet vs The Web

• The Internet — The physical and logical infrastructure (cables, routers, protocols). It also carries email, streaming, gaming, VoIP, etc.
• The World Wide Web (WWW) — A system of web pages and links that runs over the internet using HTTP/HTTPS.

How the Web Works (Step by Step)

When you type https://example.com and press Enter:

• 1. DNS Lookup — Your browser asks a DNS server to translate the domain name into an IP address (e.g., 93.184.216.34).
• 2. TCP Connection — Your browser opens a connection to the server using the TCP/IP protocol.
• 3. TLS Handshake — If HTTPS, an encrypted tunnel is established to keep data private.
• 4. HTTP Request — Your browser sends a GET request asking for the webpage.
• 5. Server Response — The server replies with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
• 6. Rendering — Your browser parses these files and displays the page visually.

Key Protocols & Technologies

• IP (Internet Protocol) — Assigns addresses to devices and routes data packets.
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) — Ensures reliable, ordered delivery of data.
• UDP — Faster but less reliable; used for video calls and gaming.
• HTTP / HTTPS — The protocol for requesting and receiving web content. HTTPS adds encryption via TLS.
• DNS (Domain Name System) — The "phone book" of the internet, translating names to IP addresses.
• HTML, CSS, JavaScript — The three core technologies that build every web page.

Clients and Servers

• Client — Your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari). It requests resources.
• Server — A powerful computer that stores websites and sends them to clients on demand.
• API (Application Programming Interface) — A way for services to communicate. When an app checks the weather, it calls a weather API.

Important Web Concepts

• URL (Uniform Resource Locator) — A web address like https://example.com/page?id=1
• IP Address — A unique number identifying a device (e.g., 192.168.1.1 for local, or a public IP for the internet)
• Bandwidth — The maximum data transfer rate of a network (measured in Mbps or Gbps)
• Latency — The delay between sending and receiving data (measured in milliseconds)
• Cookie — A small file stored in your browser that websites use to remember you
• Cache — Stored copies of web content that speed up repeated access

What's Next?

Dive deeper into how networks function with Computer Networks, or learn to build your own web pages starting with our HTML Tutorial.