The internet is a vast web of connectivity, that links billions of computers worldwide. But beneath its surface lies a world of intricate mechanisms and concepts that make it all possible. In this blog post, we'll embark on a journey to unravel the essential components and workings of the internet, simplifying the complex into digestible pieces. Step by step, let's explore networks, ISPs, IP and MAC addresses, URLs, DNS, and the web.
The Backbone of Connectivity: Networks
A network is like the foundation of internet connectivity. Imagine it as a series of cables connecting computers, allowing them to communicate and share data. Think of your home network, which connects your devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets, and printers. This network can be wired, where physical cables link everything together, or wireless, where devices connect through invisible signals.
But networks don't stop at your home. They grow and expand, much like connecting pieces in a giant puzzle. Your home network might extend to your workplace network, linking your office devices with every other employee's. Then, these networks further connect to more extensive networks within your city, country, or even spanning continents. This intricate web of interconnections gives birth to the vast and intricate network we call the Internet.
So, how do we achieve wireless connectivity and seamless internet access? This is where Internet Service Providers (ISPs) come into play.
The Role of ISPs
ISPs are like the architects of our digital world. They take care of the nitty-gritty physical work, enabling us to enjoy wireless internet access. ISPs build the essential infrastructure, including the physical cables buried beneath the ground. They also set up network masts and towers that transmit signals to provide internet connectivity, whether you're at home, in the office, or on the go.
Imagine ISPs as the bridge between your devices and the colossal network of networks. They've already laid down the groundwork, connecting millions of computers around the world. These ISPs not only link you to the Internet but also connect to other ISPs and networks, creating a vast, seamless web of connectivity.
So, when you connect wirelessly to the Internet, remember that it's ISPs who've made it all possible. They've put in the effort to create the physical connections and provide network infrastructure, allowing you to access the digital realm from wherever you are. Some examples of popular ISPs include Comcast, MTN, Airtel, and Verizon, each providing internet services to millions of users across the globe.
Client-Server Relationship
Your computer, like every device connected to the internet, operates within a client-server model. While we've covered the intricate network of connections and the role of ISPs, it's crucial to understand how your computer interacts with the internet. When you open a web browser and enter a URL like "www.altschoolafrica.com," your computer becomes a client, sending a request to a server that hosts Altschool's website. As you already know, your ISP helps you to send this request to the Altschool's server. This server is directly connected to the internet and houses the web page you wish to access. It processes your request and returns the web page data to your computer, which then displays it in your browser. This client-server interaction is how we navigate the web and access information on the Internet.
Navigating the Internet: IP and MAC Addresses
For computers to find each other on the vast internet, they need unique identifiers. Enter Internet Protocol (IP) and Media Access Control (MAC) addresses.
IP Address
Think of an IP address as a computer's home address on the internet. It's a unique number like 147.8.72.1. When you visit a website like google.com, your computer needs to know the IP address of Google's server (e.g., 172.217.6.46) to send and receive data.
But how does your computer know these IP addresses? That's where DNS comes in.
DNS (Domain Name System)
DNS is like an internet phone book that maps human-readable domain names (e.g., google.com or altschoolafrica.com) to IP addresses. This translation from domain names to IP addresses happens whenever you type a web address into your browser.
When you enter Google.com on your browser, your computer queries a DNS server, asking, "What's the IP address of Google.com?" The DNS server responds, "The IP address of Google.com is 172.217.6.46." Your computer then sends requests to that IP address, and Google.com responds.
Millions of DNS servers worldwide cooperate to keep this translation process seamless, making sure you can access websites using memorable domain names.
MAC Address
A Media Access Control address or MAC address acts like a name tag for devices on a local network. Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are permanent and unique, usually hard-coded by manufacturers. They look like 80:44:2F:59:4:3.
When you send or receive data on a network, you need both IP and MAC addresses. The IP address directs data across the internet, while the MAC address specifies which device on the local network should receive or send the data.
For example, sending an email from your laptop to your friend's laptop requires both their IP and MAC addresses. Your laptop uses the internet to reach its IP address but relies on the MAC address to identify the device on its local network.
The Dance of Data: How Computers Communicate
Computers on the internet converse by sending and receiving packets of data. A packet contains source and destination IP addresses, source and destination MAC addresses, data (text, images, audio, video), and rules or protocols for handling the packet.
These packets traverse various routers, functioning as traffic controllers, directing them based on their IP addresses. Routers connect different networks, forming the backbone of the internet. While packets may not always take the same route or arrive in order, various protocols ensure their reliability, security, and efficiency:
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): Ensures ordered, error-free packet delivery, managing speed and congestion.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol): Faster but less reliable, ideal for applications prioritizing speed over precision, such as video streaming or online gaming.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): Dictates how web browsers and servers communicate, facilitating the request-response model.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure): Ensures secure data exchange, protecting against eavesdropping and tampering.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Allows file transfers from remote servers, popular for large file transfers and website updates.
The World of the Web
The web is not the same thing as the internet. The Internet is simply the physical network of interconnected computers and devices that enables data exchange and communication while the Web, short for the World Wide Web, is a subset of the Internet consisting of multimedia content (web pages) linked together through hyperlinks, accessible via web browsers using protocols like HTTP or HTTPS. While the internet offers diverse ways to connect (e.g. email, chat, and file transfer platforms), the web stands as one of the most familiar.
Web servers, like digital librarians, host websites containing multimedia content (text, images, audio, video). These web pages are structured with HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), defining their appearance and layout.
Web browsers act as our windows into this world. They display web pages and can execute scripts like JavaScript for interactivity.
To navigate the web, you use URLs (Uniform Resource Locators)—web addresses which comprise different parts:
Protocol: Inform the browser which protocol to use (e.g., http or https).
Domain Name: Identifies the web server (e.g., google.com or altschool.com).
Path: Specifies the web page (e.g.,
/searchor/about). For instance, https://www.altschoolafrica.com/about instructs the browser to use HTTPS, contact the altschool.com server, and request the "/about" web page.
A domain name is a unique identifier for a website. Registerable through ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), domain names typically include a suffix, known as a top-level domain (TLD), indicating the site's type (e.g., .com for commercial, .edu for educational, .org for organizational).
Are you surprised we navigate the web using URLs and not IP addresses? Don't be. Remember our discussion on DNS and how they make it easier for us to access the web using human-readable text (URLs) instead of IP addresses? Well, that's it. While it's possible to access web servers using their IP addresses e.g. you can access Google.com using 172.217.6.46 (go ahead and type 172.217.6.46. in your browser to see). It is just not sustainable to remember all the IP addresses of tens of websites we frequently visit.
Wrapping It Up
In this exploration, you've learned how computers find one another, communicate, and access information in this vast digital realm. The internet, much like a grand orchestra, harmoniously blends its components to create the interconnected world we rely on today. To delve deeper into this fascinating world of internet technology and connectivity, I recommend exploring other reputable resources.
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