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How does the Internet work?

The Internet is not just a network of websites and applications that we use every day. Behind his work is a complex system of technologies and processes that allows billions of devices around the world to exchange data instantly. Let's look at how this happens.

Each device connected to the Internet has a unique IP address - something like a digital "home address". When you send a request to visit a website, your computer uses this address to find the right server. However, instead of memorizing complex numeric addresses, we use domain names such as google.com . This is where DNS (Domain Name System) comes into play, a system that translates domain names into IP addresses so that devices can find each other.

The Internet uses many protocols for data transmission, but two of them are the most important — TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol). TCP/IP is the backbone of the entire Internet. IP is responsible for routing data packets from the sender to the receiver, and TCP ensures that data is transmitted completely and in the correct order. Imagine a postman who knows how to deliver a letter (IP) and checks that the letter has reached the recipient safely (TCP).

When you send data over the Internet, it is not transmitted as a single block. Instead, the data is broken down into small chunks called packets. Each packet is transmitted over the network separately, and may even take different routes before reaching the target. On the recipient side, these packets are put back together to restore the original data.

The Internet is a network of networks, and data is constantly circulating between them. Special devices — routers - are used to find the shortest path from the sender to the recipient. Routers analyze the destination addresses of packets and send them further across the network until they reach the target. This is similar to how drivers choose the fastest route to their destination by focusing on road signs.

When you enter a URL in the browser, your request is transmitted via the HTTP protocol (HyperText Transfer Protocol). HTTP is a set of rules that defines how browsers and servers should communicate. HTTPS is a more secure version of HTTP that uses encryption to protect the data transferred between you and the website.

Websites and applications run on servers — powerful computers that process requests and send data to users. When you visit the site, your computer (client) sends a request to the server, and the server responds by sending the necessary information. This process happens instantly thanks to the protocols and routing described above.

The Internet is an amazingly complex and powerful system that combines many technologies and processes. IP addresses and DNS help devices find each other, TCP/IP protocols control data transmission, and routers route packets over the network. These basic components work together to ensure reliable and fast operation of the global network, which we take for granted in everyday life. Understanding these basics helps to better understand how the Internet works and how important the technologies that make it work are.

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