Have you ever wondered, when you click on an URL or type any website address on your browser you get exactly same data what you are looking for?

Do you thinks its a magic? or you have some basic information about it? Let’s dive deep into the world of internet and see how actually the things work behind the scene…..

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Let's first understand the terminologies to gain insight and full picture of the internet working

Web Browser

Web browser is nothing but an application/software or program which helps to browse the internet and search anything over the internet. Eg.. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave

Server

This term is very conflicting and many people don’t exactly know the real meaning of server. The name itself suggests that it might be anything whose primary role is to serve. This means server just a computer whose size varies as per their usage that remains running 24/7 and contains all the data you have pushed into it which is served at the time of your need.

You can create your own server also and keep how much data you want in that server which can be accessed any time you want at your comfort.

IP Address (Internet Protocol)

It is basically an address of device over the internet, here machine refers to your laptops, computers, mobile phones etc.. Think of it like a home address. Just as your home address helps the post office deliver mail to your house, an IP address helps the internet deliver data to the correct device.

Example: 192.168.1.34 - This is a format of an IP address and there are two types of IP address (IPV4 and IPV6) this format represents IPV4 address but lets not go deep into types because you may get confused but just know that there are limited number of addresses in IPV4 so IPV6 was discovered.
Just visualize If the internet is a city, IP addresses are like house numbers. Without them, data packets (like letters) wouldn’t know where to go.

Domain Name

A domain name is the human-readable version of an IP address. It’s easier to remember google.com than 142.250.190.78. To remember the IP address it was difficult for humans so domain name came in picture.

Domain names are like contact names in your phone. Instead of memorizing phone numbers (IP addresses), you save names (domain names) to call someone.

Routing: The "Highway System" of the Internet

Routing is the process of directing data packets from one device to another across the internet. Routers are devices that act like driver of a bus, deciding the best path for data to travel.

When a request is sent by an user to google.com router is the main player which plays vital role to guide the data to travel through multiple networks to reach the google server.
Routing is like driving from your home to a destination. You take different roads (networks) and intersections (routers) to reach your destination.

DNS (Domain Name System): The "Phonebook of the Internet"

When a URL is typed by an user, the computer doesn’t understand words like google.com or xyz.com —it needs the IP address to find the server hosting the website. DNS does this translation. So basically DNS is a system which translates the domain names like facebook.com, flipkart.com to their IP address where their server is hosted.

Example: You type google.com, and DNS returns 142.250.195.14

ISP (Internet Service Provider): The "Road Builder"

An ISP is the company that provides you with internet access. They own the infrastructure (like cables and routers) that connect you to the internet.

Now we have understood the terminologies used in the internet so let’s check out a flowchart to

visualize how data transfers over the network.

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Let’s understand what is happening here

Understanding the methodologies of request and response over the internet.

You Type a URL: You type google.com in your browser. This is like writing a letter to a friend.
DNS Lookup: Your computer asks the DNS (phonebook) for the IP address of google.com. DNS returns 142.250.190.78. This is like looking up your friend’s address.
Send the Request: A request is sent from your computer to 142.250.195.14 through your ISP. This is like dropping the letter in a mailbox.
Routing: Routers guide your request through the internet, hopping from one network to another. This is like the postal service sorting and delivering your letter through different post offices.
Server Response: Google’s server receives your request, processes it, and sends back the webpage data. This is like your friend receiving the letter and sending a reply.
Display the Page: Your browser receives the data and displays the Google homepage. This is like reading the reply from your friend.

This article explains how the internet works when you access a website. It covers key concepts such as web browsers, servers, IP addresses, domain names, routing, DNS, and ISPs. By understanding these components, you'll gain insight into how data is requested and received over the internet, from typing a URL in your browser to viewing a webpage.

Conclusion

The internet is a team effort where IP addresses, domain names, and routing work together to link the world. When you click a URL, your request travels through DNS, ISPs, and many routers to get to its destination and show the webpage on your screen.

Every click relies on a complex system—a mix of technology and engineering that keeps the internet fast, reliable, and easy to use. It shows that even in the digital age, the magic of connection is based on simple but strong foundations.

This version is brief and powerful, leaving the reader amazed by how the internet works. Let me know if you want any more changes! 😊

Understanding the backbone of internet : IP address, Domain name and routing

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