How the Internet Works

This is my first article: A Guide to Understanding Internet Functionality.

🛜 What is the Internet?

The internet is a "Network-to-Network Connection." It is a global network of interconnected computers and servers that communicate with each other using standardized communication protocols (such as TCP/IP). It enables the sharing of information, resources, websites, internet social services, intermediate service platforms, emails, videos, games, online payments, social media platforms, and services across the world. Think of the internet as a vast digital highway connecting everything, everywhere.

⏱️Brief History of the Internet ?

Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and Its Role in the Development of the Internet.

• 1969: ARPANET was launched as a project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The first message was sent from UCLA to Stanford University. The intended message was "LOGIN," but the system crashed after sending "LO" due to a technical fault.

• 1971: Multiple computers were connected to ARPANET, establishing the first network of interconnected machines. In the same year, Ray Tomlinson implemented the first email program on ARPANET, enabling messages to be sent between users on different hosts. He also introduced electronic mail and developed the virtual network protocol TCP/IP, with Vinton Cerf playing a key role.

• 1974: The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) was introduced, thanks to the efforts of Vinton Cerf and Bob Kahn. This protocol became the foundation for the modern Internet.

• 1980: Universities and research institutions began using the Internet more extensively. The National Science Foundation (NSF) created the NSFNET, a backbone network that expanded connectivity.

• 1990: ARPANET was decommissioned. During this period, the existing wired connections were replaced with fiber optic technology, greatly increasing speed and capacity.

• 1991: Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, which greatly simplified Internet use and access.

• 1990–2000: This era is known as Web 1.0, characterized by static web pages and limited user interaction. Data was primarily read-only, and companies could sell user data to advertisers, raising privacy concerns.

• 1993–1995: Public access to the Internet surged with the advent of web browsers like Mosaic and Netscape, making browsing easier for everyone.

• 2000–Present: The Internet became widely accessible through broadband, mobile networks, Wi-Fi, and cloud computing, transforming communication and commerce.

• 2001: Web 2.0 emerged, emphasizing user-generated content, social media, and data sharing. However, during this period, many companies started selling user data to advertisers and third parties, leading to increased privacy issues and data commercialization.

• Present: The concept of Web 3.0 is emerging, focusing on decentralization, semantic understanding, and user control over data. Technologies like blockchain aim to reduce data selling and increase privacy, enabling users to own and monetize their personal data.

• Web 5.0: Not fully developed yet, but proposed by some visionaries like Jack Dorsey, Web 5.0 aims to create a more human-centric, emotionally intelligent Internet. It envisions enhanced privacy, data ownership, and decentralized identities, reducing the current reliance on data selling and centralized control.

🎗️Main Components:

• The Internet consists of several key components that work together to connect us all.

🖥️How the Internet World System Works (Request-Response Cycle):

Client Sends Request: The user's browser sends an HTTP request to the web server.

Server Processes & Responds: The server processes the request and sends back an HTTP response with a status code.

Status Codes Indicate Result:

• Success (e.g., 200 OK)

• Client error (e.g., 404 Not Found)

• Unauthorized (e.g., 401 Authentication)

• Server error (e.g., 500 Internal Server Error)

📟Internet Jargon: Important Terminologies

🌐What happens when you click a link and a webpage loads?

1. You open a web browser like Chrome or Firefox.

2. You click a link or type a website address (URL).

3. The browser asks the DNS server for the website’s IP address.

4. The DNS responds with the IP address.

5. The browser connects to that IP using TCP (and TLS if HTTPS).

6. It sends a request for the webpage.

7. The server finds the page and responds with the website data.

8. The browser reads the response, loads the page, and shows it on your screen.

🖥️How the Internet World System Works (Request-Response Cycle):

Client Sends Request: The user's browser sends an HTTP request to the web server. Server Processes & Responds: The server processes the request and sends back an HTTP response with a status code. Status Codes Indicate Result: Success (e.g., 200 OK) Client error (e.g., 404 Not Found) Unauthorized (e.g., 401 Authentication) Server error (e.g., 500 Internal Server Error)

🌟 This is my first blog! 😊

And there you have it—the amazing journey of the Internet explained! 🚀As you explore the online world, take a moment to appreciate the complex system of networks, rules, and technologies that keep us connected. 🌐In the next post, we’ll look at how DNS servers work and what's inside them. 🔍

Stay curious and connected! ✨