Internet Basics — Study Notes

1. Introduction

The Internet is a vast global network that connects millions of computers and devices across the world. It allows us to share information, communicate with people anywhere, watch videos, shop online, study and play games. The word "Internet" comes from "interconnected networks", because it joins many smaller networks together into one giant network. Today, the Internet has become one of the most important tools of our daily life.

To use the Internet, we need a device such as a computer or smartphone, a connection such as Wi-Fi or a data plan, and a browser to view web pages. This chapter explains what the Internet is, the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web, how we connect to the Internet, the common terms such as URL, HTTP and browser, and how to search for information safely. These basics help us understand how the online world works.

2. The Internet and the World Wide Web

Many people use the words Internet and World Wide Web as if they are the same, but they are different. The Internet is the physical network of cables, satellites and devices that connects computers all over the world. The World Wide Web, often called the Web, is a service that runs on top of the Internet and lets us view documents called web pages through browsers. The Web is just one of many services of the Internet, along with email, file sharing and video calling.

A website is a collection of related web pages, and a web page is a document that can contain text, images, videos and links. The first page of a website is called the home page. Web pages are linked to one another through hyperlinks, which we click to jump from one page to another. A group of related web pages is stored on a web server, which is a powerful computer that sends the pages to users when they request them through their browser.

3. How We Connect to the Internet

There are several ways to connect a computer to the Internet. A broadband connection uses a cable or a fibre optic line and is fast and reliable, making it popular for homes and offices. A dial-up connection uses a telephone line but is very slow and is rarely used today. Mobile Internet uses cellular networks so that smartphones can access the Internet anywhere within the network range. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that connects devices to the Internet without cables, using a router.

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is the company that provides the Internet connection to homes and businesses, such as local telecom companies. Every device connected to the Internet has a unique address called an IP address, which is used to find and identify it on the network. IP stands for Internet Protocol. The modem is a device that converts the digital signals of the computer into signals that can travel over the telephone or cable line, and vice versa.

4. Browsers, URL and HTTP

A web browser is a software application used to access and view web pages on the Internet. Common browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Safari. When we type an address in the browser, it sends a request to the web server, which responds by sending the web page, and the browser displays it. Browsers also store visited pages so that we can use the Back and Forward buttons and view our history.

Every web page has a unique address called a URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator. For example, in the address https://www.example.com/index.html, the "https" is the protocol, "www.example.com" is the domain name, and "index.html" is the specific file name. The protocol HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, and HTTPS is its secure version that encrypts the data. The domain name is the human-friendly name of a website, while the actual numeric address is the IP address.

5. Searching and Communicating on the Internet

The Internet holds billions of web pages, and to find what we need we use a search engine. A search engine is a website that helps us find information by typing keywords. When we enter a query, the search engine looks through its index and shows a list of relevant results. Popular search engines include Google, Bing and Yahoo. To get good results, we should use clear and specific keywords, and we should always check that the sources we use are reliable.

The Internet offers many ways to communicate. We can send emails, chat using instant messaging, make video calls, and share posts on social media platforms. Online learning is also possible through educational websites and video tutorials. However, we must use the Internet responsibly: we should not share personal information with strangers, we should not open unknown links, and we should verify information before believing or sharing it. Safe and smart use of the Internet keeps us protected and productive.

Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: Internet Connection Types

Table 2: Common Internet Terms

Mind Map

Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: How the Internet Works

Diagram 2: Parts of a URL

Common Mistakes

1. Confusing the Internet with the World Wide Web. The Internet is the physical network, while the Web is a service that runs on it.
2. Calling a website a web page. A website is a collection of web pages, and a single document is a web page.
3. Thinking that the browser is the search engine. Chrome and Firefox are browsers, while Google and Bing are search engines.
4. Writing that HTTP and HTTPS are the same. HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP and encrypts the data.
5. Forgetting that a URL has parts. A URL contains the protocol, domain name and sometimes a file name.
6. Believing that a device does not need an IP address. Every device on the Internet has a unique IP address.
7. Confusing the modem with the router. The modem connects to the ISP line, while a router shares the connection with many devices.
8. Saying that dial-up is a fast connection. Dial-up uses a telephone line and is very slow.
9. Believing that all information on the Internet is reliable. We should always check the source before trusting or sharing information.
10. Sharing personal details with strangers online. We should keep personal information private for our safety.

Exam Tips

1. Remember that the Internet is a network of networks and the Web is a service on the Internet.
2. Learn the full forms of ISP, IP, URL, HTTP and HTTPS.
3. Know the difference between a browser (Chrome, Firefox) and a search engine (Google, Bing).
4. Be able to name the connection types: broadband, dial-up, mobile Internet and Wi-Fi.
5. Understand how a browser, server and URL work together to show a web page.
6. Remember that a website contains web pages and a server stores the website.
7. Follow safe Internet habits, such as not sharing personal information and verifying sources.

Conclusion

The Internet is a global network of networks that connects people and devices across the world, and the World Wide Web is the service that lets us view web pages through browsers. We connect to the Internet through ISPs using broadband, mobile data or Wi-Fi, and every device is identified by its IP address. Understanding browsers, URLs, HTTP and search engines helps us navigate the online world efficiently and safely. Responsible use of the Internet protects us and makes our online experience productive, which is why cyber safety is the focus of a later chapter.