Internet
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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The Internet, commonly so called, is a system of many interconnected computer networks worldwide. These networks are connected using a protocol (technical standard) called TCP/IP, which defines how data is divided into packets and transmitted until it reaches its destination.
The Internet is not the same thing as the Web (World Wide Web). The Web is one service that runs on the Internet, while other services such as email, file transfer, and voice calls over the network also run on the same underlying infrastructure.
Brief history
The origins of the Internet lie in government and university research projects that began in the United States in the late 1960s, particularly the ARPANET network. In the 1970s, the TCP/IP protocols were adopted as a standard, making it possible for different networks to interconnect. In the early 1980s, following the creation of the Web and the opening of commercial use, usage expanded significantly.
How it works
Data transmitted over the Internet is divided into small packets. Each packet carries the IP address of the sender and the recipient. Devices called routers direct packets along different routes, and once they arrive at their destination they are reassembled. The DNS system translates domain names, for example names consisting of letters, into IP addresses made of numbers.
Governance and layers
No single body owns the Internet. The technical layers are largely developed by open organizations such as the IETF, while the allocation of IP addresses and top-level domain names is managed through arrangements involving ICANN and regional bodies that assign addresses. Actual connectivity is provided by internet service providers that enter into interconnection agreements.
Social impact and challenges
The Internet has transformed media, commerce, education, and government operations. At the same time it is associated with issues including digital divides (unequal access), personal data protection, electronic security, spread of misinformation, and government measures to restrict or regulate use.