What is the Internet?

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The internet is a vast system of interconnected computer networks that facilitate communication and exchange of information across different locations. It allows users to access and share a wide range of documents, including text, images, audio, and video files, which are often formatted in HyperText Markup Language (HTML).
The internet offers various communication channels, such as email and chat services, that enable people to connect with each other from different parts of the world in real-time. It also provides online shopping platforms, music streaming services, gaming websites, and other forms of entertainment that have become an integral part of modern life.
The internet also offers various opportunities for businesses to advertise their products and services to a global audience through online advertising. This has become an effective and popular means of marketing, as it allows businesses to reach their target audience more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional marketing methods.
Moreover, the internet has revolutionized the way people learn and acquire knowledge. It offers various online courses, tutorials, and educational resources that are accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This has made education more accessible and affordable, as learners no longer have to be physically present in a classroom to access educational resources.
Overall, the internet has transformed the way people live, work, communicate, and access information, and its impact on society continues to grow.


World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a popular internet service that has revolutionized the way we access and share information. It is built on a set of rules known as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), which allows web developers to create and format web pages with text, images, and other multimedia elements. HTML uses tags to define the structure and content of a web page, and links to other web pages and resources.
In order to access web pages on the World Wide Web, a client computer (such as a web browser) sends a request to a server computer that hosts the requested web page. The server responds with the requested web page using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a set of rules that governs the communication between client and server.
Web servers store web pages and other web resources (such as images, videos, and documents) that are accessed by client computers over the internet. When a client requests a web page, the server responds with the HTML code for the page, along with any other resources that the page needs to display correctly.
The World Wide Web has had a profound impact on the way we access and share information. It has made it easy for people all over the world to access a vast array of information on almost any topic imaginable, and has enabled businesses and organizations to connect with customers and stakeholders in new and innovative ways. The HTML language and HTTP protocol are key technologies that underpin the World Wide Web, and they continue to evolve and improve as the web itself evolves.

Client Server Relationship.

Fig. 1 - Client Server Relationship


Browsers

Browsers are software applications that are designed to retrieve, present, and navigate information resources on the internet. They allow users to access various types of internet resources such as web pages, images, videos, and other files. Some of the most popular web browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari.
When a user enters a web address or clicks on a link, the browser sends a request to the server for the corresponding web page. The server responds by sending the HTML code for that page to the browser, which then processes the HTML and displays the content in a visually appealing format. The browser also processes other web technologies such as JavaScript and CSS to enhance the display of the web page.
In addition to displaying web pages, browsers also provide several features such as bookmarks, history, and extensions. Bookmarks allow users to save links to their favorite web pages for quick access later, while history keeps track of the websites that have been visited. Extensions are add-ons that provide additional functionality such as ad-blockers, password managers, and language translators.
Overall, browsers are essential tools for accessing and navigating the vast amount of information available on the internet. They provide users with a seamless and user-friendly way to access and interact with web resources.


Using the Internet

In order to use the internet, you need to connect to it and for this you need the following:

  1. A computer
  2. A broadband modem ( cable and ADSL) or a modem with a phone line. Note that broadband is much faster than phone line.
  3. An Internet connection
  4. An Internet account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP)- (a company that provides Internet access.)
  5. A browser software such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, ...


How Does the Internet Work

When a user types a web address, or URL (Uniform Resource Locator), into the browser, the browser sends a request to the Domain Name System (DNS) server to translate the human-readable domain name (e.g. www.mywebsite.com) into an IP address. The DNS server looks up the IP address associated with the domain name and sends it back to the browser.
Once the browser has the IP address, it sends a request to the server at that IP address, asking for the web page associated with the URL. The server responds with the requested web page, which is sent back to the browser.
In some cases, the requested web page may be stored on multiple servers, in which case the browser will retrieve the page from the closest or fastest server using a content delivery network (CDN) system.
Once the web page is retrieved, the browser interprets the HTML code and renders it as a visual page on the user's screen, displaying any text, images, videos, and interactive elements that are contained in the page's code.


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