How the Internet Works: A Simple Guide for Non-IT People
The internet is one of the most amazing inventions of human history.
It allows us to communicate, learn, work, play, and access a wealth of information from anywhere in the world. But how does it actually work? How do our devices connect to each other and exchange data across vast distances? In this article, we will explain the basic concepts and principles behind the internet in a simple and easy-to-understand way on how data travels.
What is the internet?
The internet is not a single thing, but a network of networks. It is a collection of millions of computers, servers, routers, cables, satellites, and other devices that are able to communicate with each other using a common set of rules called protocols. These protocols define how data is formatted, transmitted, and received over the network.
The internet is also not owned or controlled by anyone. It is a decentralized system that relies on the cooperation and collaboration of many different organizations, such as governments, universities, companies, and individuals. Anyone can join the internet as long as they have a device that can connect to it and follow the protocols.
How does data travel on the internet?
When we use the internet, we are sending and receiving data, such as text, images, audio, video, etc. Data is the information that we want to share or access on the network. But how does data travel from one device to another on the internet?
The answer is: in small pieces called packets. A packet is a segment of data that has a header and a payload. The header contains information about the packet, such as its source, destination, size, type, etc. The payload contains the actual data that we want to send or receive.
For example, if you want to send an email to your friend, your device will break down your email into several packets. Each packet will have a header that tells where it came from (your device) and where it is going (your friend’s device). The payload will contain a part of your email message.
Why do we need packets?
Because it is more efficient and reliable to send data in small pieces than in one large chunk. Packets can take different paths to reach their destination, depending on the availability and capacity of the network. If one path is congested or broken, packets can switch to another path. If some packets are lost or corrupted along the way, they can be retransmitted or corrected by the receiving device.
How do devices find each other on the internet?
To send and receive packets on the internet, devices need to have unique identifiers called IP addresses. An IP address is a series of numbers that represents the location of a device on the network. For example, 172.217.14.206 is an IP address of one of Google’s servers.
However, IP addresses are not very user-friendly or memorable. That’s why we use domain names instead. A domain name is a human-readable name that corresponds to an IP address. For example, google.com is a domain name that points to 172.217.14.206.
To translate domain names into IP addresses, we use a system called DNS (Domain Name System). DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It stores and updates the mappings between domain names and IP addresses. When you type google.com in your browser, your device will ask a DNS server for the IP address of google.com. The DNS server will respond with 172.217.14.206, and your device will use that IP address to connect to Google’s server.
How do devices communicate with each other on the internet?
To communicate with each other on the internet, devices need to use protocols that define how data is formatted, transmitted, and received over the network. There are many protocols for different purposes and layers of communication.
One of the most important protocols is TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). TCP ensures that data is sent and received reliably and in order on the internet. TCP divides data into packets and assigns sequence numbers to them. It also acknowledges the receipt of packets and retransmits missing or corrupted packets.
Another important protocol is HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). HTTP defines how web browsers and web servers communicate with each other. HTTP uses requests and responses to exchange data over the internet. A request is a message that a web browser sends to a web server to ask for something, such as a web page or an image. A response is a message that a web server sends back to a web browser to provide what was asked for.
For example, when you visit itacute.com in your web browser, your browser will send an HTTP request to itacute.com’s web server asking for the home page. The web server will then send back an HTTP response with the HTML code of the home page. Your browser will then render the HTML code and display the web page on your screen.
How does the internet work in practice?
To illustrate how the internet works in practice, let’s look at a simple example of how you can access this article on your device.
- You type itacute.com in your web browser and hit enter.
- Your device asks a DNS server for the IP address of itacute.com. The DNS server responds with 136.62.256.179.
- Your device establishes a TCP connection with itacute.com’s web server at 136.62.256.179.
- Your device sends an HTTP request to the web server asking for the article on how the internet works.
- The web server sends back an HTTP response with the HTML code of the article.
- Your device receives the HTML code and renders it on your screen.
- Your device also requests and receives other resources, such as images, stylesheets, and scripts, that are needed to display the article properly.
- You read and enjoy the article.
Conclusion
The internet is a complex and fascinating system that enables us to connect and communicate with each other across the world. It works by using packets, protocols, IP addresses, domain names, DNS, TCP, HTTP, and other technologies that we have briefly explained in this article. We hope that this article has helped you understand the basics of how the internet works and appreciate its wonders.
Further reading
If you want to learn more about how the internet works, here are some additional resources that you can explore:
