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The Internet

Information about the internet

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galactic862
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14 views4 pages

The Internet

Information about the internet

Uploaded by

galactic862
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The internet
The internet is a global wide area network (WAN) used by billions of people every
day. It consists of a number of local area networks (LANs) connected together.

Most homes and businesses connect to the internet using an internet service
provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that provides a connection to the internet.
ZAMTEL, MTN, AIRTEL and Microlink Technologies are some ISPs in Zambia.

The ISP provides a router that connects to the ISP’s network and then provides
a wired and/or wireless connection.

The following are services available on the internet:

1. Email: messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to


another via network.
2. File sharing (by uploading or downloading): Uploading refers
to transmitting data from one computer system to another by means of
a network. Downloading is to receive data from a remote computer, usually a
server such as a web server.
3. VoIP: stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. This is technology that
allows you to make or receive calls over the internet. You can use common
applications such as Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp.
4. Audio/video conferencing services via apps like Zoom and Skype
5. Social networking e.g. Facebook
6. Online shopping
7. file storage and backup
8. Streaming: the activity of listening to audio or watching a video directly
from the internet
9. Financial services e.g. internet banking
10. The World Wide Web (www or w3): refers to all websites that users can
access on their computers and other devices through the internet.
 Webpages are stored on web servers and each page has an address known
as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

Web servers and URLs


A web server is a computer specifically designed for hosting or
holding websites and related media. To access a website, the user types the URL
into the address bar of a web browser or finds the URL using a search engine.
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A URL contains the following:


11. http(s)
12. the domain name - a unique name that identifies a website.

13. an area within that website - like a folder or directory


14. the webpage name - the page that is being viewed
For example: https://www.searchfacts.com/category/blogging

In this example:

1. https (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the protocol


2. www.searchfacts.com is the domain name stored on a DNS

The domain name is further subdivided as shown:

The domain extension or top-level domain is also known as domain suffix. It may
include the country code top-level domain e.g. .zm for Zambia; .uk for United
Kingdom; .za for South Africa. For example: www.kcm.co.zm

The following are the most common top-level domains:

i. .com - for commercial entities


ii. .org - created to identify non-profit organisations
iii. .net - created to identify networks and ISPs
iv. .mil - for military use
v. .edu - for educational institutions
vi. .gov - for government agencies, ministries and other bodies
vii. .biz - used by business institutions who cannot obtain a .com
3. /category/ is the folder structure leading to where the webpage is located
4. blogging is the name of the requested webpage
A domain name service (DNS) is used to convert the domain name into an IP
(Internet Protocol) address. The webpage is stored in a format known
as (Hypertext Markup Language) HTML.
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Intranet
An intranet is a secure private company network that shares data or application
resources using Internet Protocol (IP). It works as a website for communications
among employees, creating content and managing tasks and events. In general
looks like a private version of the Internet

Extranet
An extranet is a private network that uses Internet technology to securely share
part of a business's information or operations with outsiders such suppliers,
vendors, partners, customers, or other businesses.

An extranet requires security and privacy in order to secure its internal part of
network. It uses such technologies as firewalls and encryption.

Terminologies

1. Cloud Storage
Also called "online storage”, it is a backup and storage service on the
Internet. Examples include Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox.
2. File Server
A file server is a server that provides access to files. It acts as a
central file storage location that can be accessed by multiple systems on a
network.
3. HTML
HyperText Markup Language. The language used to write and display web
page documents.
4. Hyperlinks
A link in a document or webpage that connects to another location.
5. IP address
A unique address for each computer device on a network.
6. Media
A collective name for images, video and audio.
7. Protocol
A set of rules for how messages are turned into data packets and sent
across networks.
8. search engine
A software tool that allows a user to look for information. This might be a
web search engine, e.g. Google, Yahoo or Bing, or part of another computer
program, e.g. an operating system.
9. web browser

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An application that displays web pages. Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft


Edge, Mozilla FireFox and Opera are good examples.
10. web page
Also known as webpage. A page designed for, and viewed in, a web browser.
11. Website
A web page or group of web pages hosted on one web server and viewed in
a web browser, usually maintained by a person, group or organisation.

Compiled by Sakala A.

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