Since the internet was introduced in 1983, it has changed our lives. While it has become a permanent component of our day-to-day lives, few people know how the internet works.
Many people believe that the internet is something we were able to harness out of thin air. Sadly, it is simply not that exciting. Internet comes from many wires buried in the ground. These wires can be satellites, fiber optic cables, or cellular networks. So instead of walking through a cloud of internet, you just step on it.
Here’s How It Works:
Servers & Clients
Servers are computers that have a direct connection to the internet. When two servers are connect to the same wire, they are able to communicate information to one another.
Clients, however, differ from servers since they have an indirect connection to the internet via a server provider. Our personal laptops, desktops and cell phones are considered to be clients.
IP Addresses & Routers
A unique code is assigned to everything connected to the internet, called an I.P. address. I.P. Addresses help computers find each other. I.P. Address codes are a combination of numbers but can be simplified to make them easily searchable. So, instead of typing Google’s entire address, you can simply search for ‘google.com’
Routers are where two or more functions of the internet intersect. Routers connect you with servers that house files we know as webpages. Your I.P. address can go through over ten routers to reach a single website. While traveling through routers, your I.P. address is wrapped in layers until it connects to your desired server. As the server sends back the information, the same routers unwrap it to ensure it gets back to you and not someone else on the same internet connection.
Example: Sending a Picture via Email
Say you have just adopted a puppy. Your grandmother absolutely adores puppies and asks you to send her a picture via email. Your computer connects to your server provider and grants you access to the internet. Now, your computer connects to the email provider’s server and sends back the files to load up the webpage. The webpage is broken down to send, then reassembled as you receive. As you press send, the cycle starts over again as your grandmother views the picture of your adorable new puppy.
Closing
The internet is not as complicated as it may seem. It is simply establishing connections.
