The Internet is the backbone of everything we build as developers. From clicking a link to pushing code, it connects it all. In this article, we’ll break down what the Internet really is and explain the terms every coder should know

🌐 What is Internet ?

The Internet, as the name suggests, stands for interconnected networks , a global system of interconnected computers or computer networks. It enables large-scale data transfer and information exchange across the world.

🕰️ History of the Internet

The Internet started in the late 1960s with a project called ARPANET, made by the U.S. government to help researchers share information safely. In 1991, it became public with the launch of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee. It changed how people access and share information around the world.

🏠 How Does the Internet Reach Your Home ?

In the case of mobile networks, the Internet is transmitted wirelessly through nearby cellular towers. For home broadband connections, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) deliver internet access via optical fiber cables or telephone lines. Globally, the Internet travels through underwater optic cables that stretch across oceans, carrying data between countries and continents.

🧠✨ Some Important Internet Jargons and Terminologies:-

Term	Brief Explanation
Client	A device like a phone, tablet, or computer that asks for something from a server like when your browser asks to open a website.
Server	A computer or a powerful system that stores websites, apps, and files and sends them when clients ask for them.
IP Address	Internet Protocol Address is a unique number like an address for every device on the internet . It helps computers know where to send and receive data.
DNS	Domain Name System is like a phonebook of the internet! It translates human-friendly domain names (like example.com) into IP address (like 192.168.1.1).
ISP	Internet Service Providers are companies like Jio or Airtel that bring internet to your home. They also give your device an IP address.
HTTP	Hypertext Transfer Protocol are set of rules that decide how websites send and receive data . It’s how web pages reach your browser.
HTTPS	A safer version of HTTP. It locks your data with encryption so that things like passwords stay private.
TLS	Transport Layer Security is a security guard for your internet connection . It makes sure your chats with websites are safe and private.
TCP	Transfer Control Protocol breaks your data into tiny packets, sends them in order, and rebuilds them correctly on the other side.
URL	Uniform Resource Locater is the web address you type to open a website like the internet’s version of a home address.
Web Browser	An app like Chrome, Edge or Firefox that helps you visit and explore websites.
Session	a temporary interaction between the user and a website or an app that last long as the user is active.
Cookies	Tiny memory units used by websites to remember your login status, language, or preferences.
Header	Extra information sent with data on the internet like labels on a package, telling what’s inside and how to handle it.
Cache	is a storage space that temporarily saves data so it can be quickly accessed later, speeding up websites and apps.
Payload	The main content of a data packet like the actual message, while the header is label of the envelope containing payload.

🧭 What happens when you enter a URL in a web browser ?

🔗 You type a URL (like https://www.example.com) into your web browser.
🧠 The browser checks if it already knows the IP address. If not, it sends a request to a DNS server usually provided by your ISP asking for the IP address of that domain.
🌍 The DNS server looks up the domain name and replies with the correct IP address.
🧑‍💻 Now your browser (acting as the client) uses that IP address to send a request to the website’s server.
📡 This request travels through your ISP’s network, possibly across various routers and cables, to reach the destination server.
📦 The request and response follow internet rules like HTTP/HTTPS and TCP, ensuring the message is delivered correctly and securely.
🖥️ The server receives your request, processes it, and sends back the necessary data like the website’s code, text, and images.
🌐 Your browser receives this data and displays the website on your screen — all of this usually happens in just a few seconds.

I hope this article gave you a basic idea of how the Internet works 🌐 and made it easier to understand some of its jargon 💬. Thanks for reading all the way through 🙌—keep learning 📚, stay curious 🤔, and explore more every day 🚀.

"The more you learn, the better you build 💡. Stay connected 🔗. Keep growing💻”.

How Does the Internet Work? An Easy Explanation

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