Fundamentals of Internet

Internet:- The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that uses
standard internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to connect billions of computer users worldwide. It is
set up by using cables such as optical fibers and other wireless and networking technologies. At
present, internet is the fastest mean of sending or exchanging information and data between
computers across the world.
It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business,
and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic
and optical networking technologies.
The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the inter-
linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to
support electronic mail.
Internet is an example for WAN. It is a collection of networks. It is also called as
network of computer networks. It facilitates data communication services. It links the computers
around the world. It connects individual computers as well as networks also.

Terminology:-
Internet is a short form of the technical term "internetwork", the result of interconnecting
computer networks with special gateways (routers). The Internet is also often referred to as the
Net.
The Internet and the World Wide Web are not one and the same. The Internet is a global
data communications system. It is a hardware and software infrastructure that provides
connectivity between computers. In contrast, the Web is one of the services communicated via
the Internet. It is a collection of interconnected documents and other resources, linked
by hyperlinks and URLs (Uniform Resource Locator).

History:-
Internet was first called as ARPANET [Advanced Research Projects Agency NETwork].
It was started in 1969 of United States of America. This was developed by “DARPA” (Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency) which is a wing of DOD [Department of Defense]
[Defense Advance Research] of USA.
It was connected only 4 computers in the beginning. It began with one computer in
California and three in Utah. To share software and hardware resources, the military allowed
universities to join the network.
The ARPANET was one of the eve networks of today's Internet. In an independent
development, Donald Davies at the UK National Physical Laboratory also discovered the
concept of “packet switching” in the early 1960s. It is also called “Cross Platform Networks”. It
uses “Client-server” technology for data communications. In 1973, it becomes an international
network. In 1983 it was named as Internet.

Internet is defined as an Information super Highway, to access information over the web.
However, it can be defined in many ways as follows:
 Internet is a world-wide global system of interconnected computer networks.
 Internet uses the standard Internet Protocol.
 Every computer in internet is identified by a unique IP address.
  IP Address is a unique set of numbers which identifies a computer location.
 A special computer DNS is used to give name to the IP Address so that user can locate a
computer by a name.
 For example, a DNS server will resolve a name http://www.chaitanyabharathi.co.in to a
particular IP address to uniquely identify the computer on which this website is hosted.
 Internet is accessible to every user all over the world.

What is the Web?

The web, short for World Wide Web, is a system of interlinked hypertext documents
accessed via the internet. It is a platform that allows people to share information and resources
globally using standardized communication protocols.
A website is made up of related text, images, and other resources.
Web Page:- A web page is a document that is part of the World Wide Web and is accessed
through a web browser. It is typically written in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and may
contain other web technologies like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), JavaScript, images, videos,
and audio files.
A web page can be accessed by typing its URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into the address bar
of a web browser or by clicking on a hyperlink on another web page.
Web Server:- A web server is a computer program or software that delivers web pages to web
browsers over the internet or a local network. It works by receiving requests from web browsers
for web pages, and then sending back the requested web pages as responses.

Hyperlink and hypertext:-

Hyperlink and hypertext are both terms related to the World Wide Web and the way
information is accessed and linked together.
A hyperlink is a clickable link or a reference in a document that leads to another
document or web page. Hyperlinks are typically represented as underlined or highlighted text,
and when clicked, they take the user to the referenced document or web page. Hyperlinks can
also be embedded in images, videos, or other types of media.
Hypertext, on the other hand, refers to a type of text that contains links to other text or
media. Hypertext documents are non-linear, meaning that users can navigate them in any order
they choose, by clicking on the hyperlinks that interest them. This makes hypertext an important
part of the World Wide Web, as it allows users to easily access and navigate between different
documents and web pages.

How internet works:- The internet works by connecting millions of devices, such as computers,
servers, and routers, through a global network of communication protocols. At its core, the
internet is a vast network of networks, each of which is connected to one another to create a
seamless global infrastructure.
  When you turn on your computer and type a domain name in the browser search bar,
your browser sends a request to the DNS server to get the corresponding IP address. After
getting the IP address, the browser forwards the request to the respective server.
 Once the server gets the request to provide information about a particular website, the
data starts flowing. The data is transferred through the optical fiber cables in digital
format or in the form of light pulses. As the servers are placed at distant places, the data
may have to travel thousands of miles through optical fiber cable to reach your computer.
 The optical fiber is connected to a router, which converts the light signals into electrical
signals. These electrical signals are transmitted to your laptop using an Ethernet cable.
Thus, you receive the desired information through the internet, which is actually a cable
that connects you with the server.

Advantages of the Internet:-

o Instant Messaging: You can send messages or communicate to anyone using internet,
such as email, voice chat, video conferencing, etc.
o Get directions: Using GPS technology, you can get directions to almost every place in a
city, country, etc. You can find restaurants, malls, or any other service near your location.
o Online Shopping: It allows you to shop online such as you can be clothes, shoes, book
movie tickets, railway tickets, flight tickets, and more.
o Pay Bills: You can pay your bills online, such as electricity bills, gas bills, college fees,
etc.
o Online Banking: It allows you to use internet banking in which you can check your
balance, receive or transfer money, get a statement, request cheque-book, etc.
o Online Selling: You can sell your products or services online. It helps you reach more
customers and thus increases your sales and profit.
o Work from Home: In case you need to work from home, you can do it using a system
with internet access. Today, many companies allow their employees to work from home.
o Entertainment: You can listen to online music, watch videos or movies, play online
games.
o Cloud computing: It enables you to connect your computers and internet-enabled
devices to cloud services such as cloud storage, cloud computing, etc.
o Career building: You can search for jobs online on different job portals and send you
CV through email if required.
Disadvantages:-
While the internet has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages that can have
negative impacts on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.
Here are some of the main disadvantages of the internet:
o Cybercrime: The internet has created new opportunities for criminal activities, such as
hacking, identity theft, and online scams.
o Cyber bullying: The anonymity of the internet can make it easier for people to bully and
harass others online, leading to emotional distress and mental health issues.
o Addiction: The internet can be addictive, with people spending excessive amounts of
time online, neglecting other important aspects of their lives, such as work, family, and
social relationships.
o Disinformation: The internet can be a breeding ground for false information, rumors,
and conspiracy theories, which can spread rapidly and undermine public trust in
institutions and experts.
o Privacy concerns: The internet can pose significant privacy risks, with personal
information being collected, shared, and potentially exploited by third parties.
o Online echo chambers: The internet can create echo chambers, where people are
exposed only to information that reinforces their existing beliefs, leading to polarization
and intolerance.

Internet, Intranet, Extranet:-

The internet, intranet, and extranet are all computer networks that are used for different
purposes and have varying levels of accessibility and security.
 Internet: The internet is a global network of interconnected computers and servers that
are accessible to anyone with an internet connection. It allows people to access and share
information, communicate with each other, and conduct business transactions on a global
scale.
 Intranet: An intranet is a private network that is accessible only to authorized users
within an organization. It is used to share information, collaborate on projects, and
communicate with colleagues. Intranets are commonly used by businesses, schools, and
government agencies to facilitate internal communication and streamline workflow.
Furthermore, to access the intranet, the authorized user is required to be connected to its
LAN (Local Area Network).
 Extranet: An extranet is a private network that is accessible to authorized users outside
of an organization, such as customers, suppliers, and partners. It is used to share
information and collaborate on projects with external stakeholders while maintaining a
level of security and privacy. Extranets are commonly used by businesses to provide
customers with access to their products and services and to facilitate communication with
suppliers and partners. The users are required to have IDs, passwords, and other
authentication mechanisms to access this network.
Internet Applications:
There are countless internet applications available today, catering to a wide range of
needs and interests.
Here are some of the most popular internet applications:
o Email - Email allows users to send and receive messages over the internet.
 o Social media - Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
allow users to connect with friends, family, and colleagues and share photos, videos, and
other updates.
o Video conferencing - Applications like Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet allow users to
have virtual face-to-face meetings and communicate in real-time.
o Online shopping - E-commerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba allow users
to buy and sell products and services online.
o Online banking - Online banking platforms like PayPal, Venmo, and banking websites
allow users to manage their finances, pay bills, and transfer money online.
o Streaming services - Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ allow users to
watch movies, TV shows, and other media content online.
o Online gaming - Online gaming platforms like Steam, Xbox Live, and PlayStation
Network allow users to play games with other users from around the world.
o Cloud storage - Cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud allow
users to store and share files online.
o Search engines - Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo allow users to search for
information on the internet.
o Health and medicine: internet provides information and knowledge about field of health
and medicine people can have information about various diseases.
o Travel: we can use internet to gather information about various tourist place. It can be
used for booking Holiday tours, hotels, train and flights. Some of the web sites providing
this service are indiatravelog.com, rajtravel.com, makemytrip.com. It can be used for
booking hotels, train, bus, flight and cabs.

Internet Addressing:-
Internet addressing is used to identify people, computers, and Internet resources. Each
internet host is assigned at least one unique internet address. This address is used by the IP and
other higher-level protocols. Each interface to an internet is assigned its own unique address.
Using the Internet requires an understanding of different addressing schemes. People are
identified with Electronic mail addresses. Computers are identified with IP(Internet Protocol)
addresses and domain names. Resources and files available through the World Wide Web are
identified using URLs.
IP Address: IP address is a unique logical address assigned to a machine over the network.
Every client, server and network device must have a unique IP address for each network
connection (network interface).
An IP address consists of four numbers separated by periods. The format of an IP address
is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be
zero to 255.
For example: 192.168.1.1, 201.255.255.0 could be an IP address.

Example IP Address
Decimal: 238. 17. 159. 4
Binary: 11101110 00010001 10011111 00000100
Every IP packet contains a source IP address and a destination IP address.
 Internet addresses combine – a routing portion, known as the network part, and a name
portion known as the host part.
IP address consists of two components: Network component and Host component.
o A Network part that gives routers information how to get to the local or Wide Area
Network via the Internet
o A Host part that identifies a particular machine on a local or wide area network –
Addresses were partitioned as below – 8 bit network part, 24 bit host part Network Part
Host Part.
IPv4 and IPv6:-
IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers that use a series of four numbers separated by dots
(e.g., 192.168.1.1). However, the rapid growth of the internet has resulted in a shortage of IPv4
addresses.
IPv6 was created to address this issue by using 128-bit addresses, allowing for a virtually
unlimited number of unique addresses. IPv6 addresses are represented as eight groups of four
hexadecimal digits separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). The
larger address space of IPv6 allows for more unique addresses and also improves security and
mobility features. IPv6 also supports a more efficient packet handling and routing compared to
IPv4.

Static IP: The device which is assigned with a permanent address is known as Static IP Address.
Routers, firewalls and proxy servers use static addresses.
Dynamic IP: The device which is assigned with a temporary address is known as Dynamic IP
Address. In routers and operating systems, the default configuration for clients is dynamic IP.
Client machines may use static or dynamic IP addresses.

Router and Gateway:-

Routers and gateways are both networking devices that are used to facilitate
communication between different networks.
A router is a device that is used to connect multiple networks together and route traffic
between them. Routers operate at the network layer (layer 3) of the OSI model and are
responsible for forwarding packets of data between networks based on their destination IP
address. Routers can be used to connect local networks, such as a home or office network, to the
internet.
A gateway, on the other hand, is a device that serves as an entry point into a network.
Gateways are typically used to connect local networks to the internet or to another network. They
can operate at different layers of the OSI model, depending on their function. For example, a
web gateway might operate at the application layer (layer 7) and be responsible for filtering web
traffic and blocking malicious sites.

Hub and Bridge:

Hub, bridge, and router are all networking devices that are used to facilitate
communication between devices on a network.
A hub is a simple networking device that is used to connect multiple devices together on
a network. It operates at the physical layer (layer 1) of the OSI model and is responsible for
simply repeating any signals it receives to all the devices connected to it. This means that all
devices connected to a hub receive all data transmitted by any other device on the network,
which can result in collisions and congestion.
A bridge is a networking device that operates at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI
model. It is used to connect multiple network segments together and forward data between them
based on their MAC addresses. Bridges are more intelligent than hubs, as they can filter and
forward data only to the devices that need it, which reduces network congestion and improves
performance.

Entering a Web Site Address:-

To enter a website address, you need to open a web browser such as Google Chrome,
Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge on your computer or mobile device.
Once you have opened the browser, follow these steps:
 Click on the address bar located at the top of the browser window. The address bar is
where you can type in the website address.
 Type in the full website address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the website you
want to visit. For example, www.chaitanyabharathi.co.in
 Hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard or click the "Go" button located to the right of the
address bar.
 Wait for the website to load. The amount of time it takes for the website to load will
depend on your internet connection and the size of the website.
 Once the website has loaded, you can navigate through it by clicking on links, buttons,
and other interactive elements.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL): A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a string of

characters used to identify a resource on the internet and specify how it can be accessed.
A URL explains the following to the web browser:
i) The tool to access the web page (How) - Protocol
ii) The location of the web page (Where) – Domain Name
iii) The file name corresponding to that page (What) – Specific web page name
There are several ways a URL can be specified:
 Protocol: The protocol is the first part of the URL and specifies how the resource should
be accessed. The most common protocol is HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), which is
used for web pages.
 Domain name: The domain name is the part of the URL that identifies the website or
server that hosts the resource. For example, "google.com" is the domain name for the
Google website.
 Path: The path is the part of the URL that specifies the location of the resource within
the website or server. For example, "blog" might be a path on a website that leads to the
blog section.
 Port: The port number can be specified after the domain name and is used to identify a
specific service or application running on the server. For example,
"http://example.com:8080" might specify a web server running on port 8080.
 Query string: The query string can be added to the end of a URL and is used to pass
information to the server, such as search terms or user data.
 Fragment identifier: The fragment identifier is added to the end of the URL after a "#"
symbol and is used to identify a specific section of a webpage or resource.
There are two forms of URL as listed below:
Absolute URL, Relative URL
Absolute URL: Absolute URL is a complete address of a resource on the web. This completed
address comprises of protocol used, server name, path name and file name.
For example http:// www.chaitanyabharathi.com / computers_department /index.htm. where:
o http is the protocol.
o chaitanyabharathi.com is the server name.
o index.htm is the file name.
The protocol part tells the web browser how to handle the file. Similarly we have some other
protocols also that can be used to create URL are:
o FTP
o https
o Gopher
o mailto
o news
Relative URL: Relative URL is a partial address of a webpage. Unlike absolute URL, the
protocol and server part are omitted from relative URL.
For example, to link an image on chaitanyabharathi.com/computers_department/staff, we can use
the relative URL which can take the form like /computers_department/rambabu.jpg.

Components of URL:
Like the address for your home, a web address organizes information about a webpage's location
in a predictable way.

This is how to break down the information using the following URL as an example:
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-697_d1o2.pdf
Network: This is a set of connected webpages. The address for the network is typically the
same as the homepage of a website. Under that website will be a variety of webpages. The last
part of the network address is the top level domain name.
From the example, www.supremecourt.gov is the network section of the URL, and the top level
domain is .gov.
Note: there are few restrictions about what domain name a website must use. A business can
choose either .com or .org. Only a government site can use .gov, but you may find some
government sites under other domains (e.g. some public schools use .org).
Folders & subfolders: Just like on your personal computer, a website may have a variety of
folders and subfolders to organize all of the content on the website.
The example above has a folder called opinions that contains a subfolder of PDF documents
from 2012 called 12pdf.
File name: The last part of a web address gives the name of the individual file that displays
when you go to that address. Web address often end with the file name .htm or .html, which
indicates that you are looking at a regular webpage.
 The example address above has the file name 11-697_d1o2.pdf. Because the file name
ends with .pdf, it will display a PDF document.

Searching the Internet:- Searching the internet is the process of finding relevant information
on the web using search engines, which are specialized software programs that allow users to
enter search queries and retrieve results based on the relevance of the information.
There are many different search engines you can use, but some of the most popular
include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. To perform a search, you'll need to navigate to a search
engine in your web browser, type one or more keywords—also known as search terms—then
press Enter on your keyboard.
After you run a search, you'll see a list of relevant websites that match your search
terms. These are commonly known as search results. If you see a site that looks interesting, you
can click a link to open it. If the site doesn't have what you need, you can simply return to the
results page to look for more options.

Some Popular Search Engines:-

 Google: It was developed by Google Corporation. Google is a fully-automated search
engine that uses software known as "web crawlers". This is the most popular one. It can
manage more than three billion searches per day. URL is www. google.com
 Yahoo: Yahoo! Search is a rebadged version of the Bing search engine owned by Yahoo!,
Originally, "Yahoo Search" referred to a Yahoo-provided interface that sent queries to a
searchable index of pages supplemented with its directory of websites. It is the third
prominent search engine. Since 2011 it is operated by Bing. URL is www. yahoo.com
 MSN Search: (MicroSoft Network) A general-purpose Web portal from Microsoft that
includes news, sports and entertainment as well as the Bing search engine (www.msn.com).
Integration with Windows Live, Facebook and Twitter is also provided.
 AOL Search: (America Online) AOL Search provides users with access to web, image,
multimedia, shopping, news and local search results. This page focuses mainly on the web
results AOL Search provides. Most of these web listings come from Google. URL is: www.
search.aol.com
 Bing: Microsoft Bing (formerly known simply as Bing). This was developed by Microsoft
Corporation and launched in 2009. The service has its origins in Microsoft's previous search
engines: MSN Search, Windows Live Search and later Live Search. Bing provides a variety
of search services, including web, video, image and map search products. It is developed
using ASP.NET. URL is: www.bing.com
 Alexa: Amazon Alexa uses Bing as the search engine for obtaining answers to queries. It
can provide website traffic information. URL is: www.alexa.com
 Netscape Search: The Netscape web browser is the general name for a series of web
browsers formerly produced by Netscape Communications Corporation, which eventually
became a subsidiary of AOL. The original browser was once the dominant browser in terms
of usage share, but as a result of the first browser war, it lost virtually its entire share to
Internet Explorer