The Internet
The internet is a global network of networks.
About this topic
The Internet is a global network of networks that connect billions of devices using agreed rules called protocols. It is the infrastructure, made of cables, routers, wireless links and servers, that carries data. It is not the same as the Web, which is just one service that runs on it, alongside email, video calls and online games.
Every device has an IP address, and data is broken into small packets that travel across routers, each deciding the next hop, and are reassembled at the destination. The main protocols are TCP and IP together, with TCP making sure data arrives correctly and in order. The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as a phone book, turning names like example.com into IP addresses. Undersea fibre-optic cables carry most intercontinental traffic.
Sending a message to a friend overseas may involve many networks within a fraction of a second. A common misconception is that the Internet is owned by one company; it is run by many cooperating organisations and standards bodies. Another is that data travels in a straight line as one piece, whereas packets can take different routes. Its design is decentralised, which makes it resilient.
Key ideas
- Routers move packets
- IP addresses identify devices
- Protocols like TCP/IP
Quick check
Use cases: where The Internet helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The Internet before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall The Internet without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how The Internet changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain The Internet in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Computing ideas run phones, search engines, games and the wider internet.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Internet?
The internet is a global network of networks.
What will I learn in The Internet?
Routers move packets. IP addresses identify devices. Protocols like TCP/IP.
Is The Internet part of Computer Science?
Yes. It is one of 80 Computer Science topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The Internet lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The Internet?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.