What is Internet?

Definition, Uses, Working, Advantages and Disadvantages

The Internet is the foremost important tool and the prominent resource that is being used by
almost every person across the globe. It connects millions of computers, webpages, websites,
and servers. Using the internet we can send emails, photos, videos, and messages to our loved
ones. Or in other words, the Internet is a widespread interconnected network of computers
and electronic devices(that support Internet). It creates a communication medium to share and
get information online. If your device is connected to the Internet then only you will be able
to access all the applications, websites, social media apps, and many more services. The
Internet nowadays is considered the fastest medium for sending and receiving information.

History of the Internet

The Internet came in the year 1960 with the creation of the first working model
called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency). It allowed multiple computers to
work on a single network which was their biggest achievement at that time. ARPANET uses
packet switching to communicate multiple computer systems under a single network. In
October 1969, using ARPANET first message was transferred from one computer to another.
After that technology continues to grow.

How is the Internet Set Up?

The internet is set up with the help of physical optical fiber data transmission cables or
copper wires and various other networking mediums like LAN, WAN, MAN, etc. For
accessing the Internet even the 2G, 3G, and 4G services and the Wifi require these physical
cable setups to access the Internet. There is an authority named ICANN (Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) located in the USA which manages the
Internet and protocols related to it like IP addresses.

How Does the Internet Work?

The actual working of the internet takes place with the help of clients and servers. Here the
client is a laptop that is directly connected to the internet and servers are the computers
connected indirectly to the Internet and they are having all the websites stored in those large
computers. These servers are connected to the internet with the help of ISP (Internet Service
Providers) and will be identified with the IP address.
Each website has its Domain name as it is difficult for any person to always remember the
long numbers or strings. So, whenever you search for any domain name in the search bar of
the browser the request will be sent to the server and that server will try to find the IP address
from the Domain name because it cannot understand the domain name. After getting the IP
address the server will try to search the IP address of the Domain name in a Huge phone
directory that in networking is known as a DNS server (Domain Name Server). For example,
if we have the name of a person and we can easily find the Aadhaar number of him/her from
the long directory as simple as that.
So after getting the IP address, the browser will pass on the further request to the respective
server and now the server will process the request to display the content of the website which
the client wants. If you are using a wireless medium of Internet like 3G and 4G or other
mobile data then the data will start flowing from the optical cables and will first reach towers
from there the signals will reach your cell phones and PCs through electromagnetic waves
and if you are using routers then optical fiber connecting to your router will help in
connecting those light-induced signals to electrical signals and with the help of ethernet
cables internet reaches your computers and hence the required information.
What is an IP Address?
IP Address stands for Internet Protocol Address. Every PC/Local machine is having an IP
address and that IP address is provided by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs). These are
some sets of rules which govern the flow of data whenever a device is connected to the
Internet. It differentiates computers, websites, and routers. Just like human identification
cards like Aadhaar cards, Pan cards, or any other unique identification documents. Every
laptop and desktop has its own unique IP address for identification. It’s an important part of
Internet technology. An IP address is displayed as a set of four-digit like 192.154.3.29. Here
each number on the set ranges from 0 to 255. Hence, the total IP address range from 0.0.0.0
to 255.255.255.255.
You can check the IP address of your Laptop or desktop by clicking on the Windows start
menu -> then right-click and go to network -> in that go to status and then Properties you can
see the IP address.
World Wide Web (WWW)
The world wide web is a collection of all the web pages, and web documents that you can see
on the Internet by searching their URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) on the Internet. For
example, www.geeksforgeeks.org is the URL of the GFG website, and all the content of this
site like webpages and all the web documents are stored on the world wide Web. Or in other
words, the world wide web is an information retrieval service of the web. It provides users
with a huge array of documents that are connected to each other by means of hypertext or
hypermedia links. Here, hyperlinks are known as electronic connections that link the related
data so that users can easily access the related information hypertext allows the user to pick a
word or phrase from text, and using this keyword or word or phrase can access other
documents that contain additional information related to that word or keyword or phrase.
World wide web is a project which is created by Timothy Berner’s Lee in 1989, for
researchers to work together effectively at CERN. It is an organization, named World Wide
Web Consortium (W3C), which was developed for further development in the web.

Difference Between World Wide Web and the Internet

The main difference between the World Wide Web and the Internet are:

World Wide Web Internet

All the web pages and web documents are stored The Internet is a global network of
there on the World wide web and to find all that stuff computers that is accessed by the
you will have a specific URL for each website. World wide web.

The world wide web is a service. The Internet is an infrastructure.

The Internet is the superset of the

The world wide web is a subset of the Internet.
world wide web.

The world wide web is software-oriented. The Internet is hardware-oriented.

 World Wide Web Internet

The world wide web uses HTTP. The Internet uses IP Addresses.

The world wide web can be considered as a book The Internet can be considered a
from the different topics inside a Library. Library.

Uses of the Internet

Some of the important usages of the internet are:
 Online Businesses (E-commerce): Online shopping websites have made our life easier,
e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra are providing very spectacular
services with just one click and this is a great use of the Internet.
 Cashless Transactions: All the merchandising companies are offering services to their
customers to pay the bills of the products online via various digital payment apps like
Paytm, Google Pay, etc. UPI payment gateway is also increasing day by day. Digital
payment industries are growing at a rate of 50% every year too because of the
INTERNET.
 Education: It is the internet facility that provides a whole bunch of educational material to
everyone through any server across the web. Those who are unable to attend physical
classes can choose any course from the internet and can have point-to-point knowledge of
it just by sitting at home. High-class faculties are teaching online on digital platforms and
providing quality education to students with the help of the Internet.
 Social Networking: The purpose of social networking sites and apps is to connect people
all over the world. With the help of social networking sites, we can talk, and share videos,
and images with our loved ones when they are far away from us. Also, we can create
groups for discussion or for meetings.
 Entertainment: The Internet is also used for entertainment. There are numerous
entertainment options available on the internet like watching movies, playing games,
listening to music, etc. You can also download movies, games, songs, TV Serial, etc.,
easily from the internet.

Security and the Internet

Very huge amount of data is managed across the Internet almost the time, which leads to the
risk of data breaching and many other security issues. Both Hackers and Crackers can lead to
disrupting the network and can steal important information like Login Credentials, Banking
Credentials, etc.

Steps to Protect the Online Privacy

 Install Antivirus or Antimalware.

 Create random and difficult passwords, so that it becomes difficult to guess.
 Use a private browsing window or VPN for using the Internet.
 Try to use HTTPS only for better protection.
 Try to make your Social Media Account Private.
 If you are not using any application, which requires GPS, then you can turn GPS
off.
  Do not simply close the tab, first log out from that account, then close the tab.
 Try to avoid accessing public Wifi or hotspots.
 Try to avoid opening or downloading content from unknown sources.
There is an element of the Internet called the Dark Web, which is not accessible from
standard browsers. To keep safe our data, we can use Tor and I2P, which helps in keeping our
data anonymous, that helps in protecting user security, and helps in reducing cybercrime.

Social Impact of the Internet

The social impact of the Internet can be seen in both ways. Some say it has a positive impact
as it helps in gaining civic engagement, etc. whereas some say it has a negative impact as it
increased the risk of getting fooled by someone over the internet, getting withdrawal from
society, etc.
Whatever the impact of Social Media, one thing is that it changed the way of connecting and
interacting with others in society. The number of people increasing day by day on social
media platforms which helps in constructing new relationships over social media, new
communities are made on social media in the interest of the people. Social Media platforms
like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc are the most used social media platform for both
individual and business purposes where we can communicate with them and perform our
tasks.
Advantages of the Internet
 Online Banking and Transaction: The Internet allows us to transfer money online
through the net banking system. Money can be credited or debited from one account
to the other.
 Education, Online Jobs, Freelancing: Through the Internet, we are able to get more
jobs via online platforms like Linkedin and to reach more job providers. Freelancing
on the other hand has helped the youth to earn a side income and the best part is all
this can be done via the INTERNET.
 Entertainment: There are numerous options for entertainment online we can listen to
music, play games can watch movies, and web series, and listen to podcasts, youtube
itself is a hub of knowledge as well as entertainment.
 New Job Roles: The Internet has given us access to social media, and digital products
so we are having numerous new job opportunities like digital marketing and social
media marketing online businesses are earning huge amounts of money just because
the Internet is the medium to help us to do so.
 Best Communication Medium: The communication barrier has been removed from
the Internet. You can send messages via email, Whatsapp, and Facebook. Voice
chatting and video conferencing are also available to help you to do important
meetings online.
 Comfort to humans: Without putting any physical effort you can do so many things
like shopping online it can be anything from stationeries to clothes, books to personal
items, etc. You can books train and plane tickets online.
 GPS Tracking and google maps: Yet another advantage of the internet is that you
are able to find any road in any direction, and areas with less traffic with the help of
GPS on your mobile.

Disadvantages of the Internet

 Time Wastage: Wasting too much time on the internet surfing social media apps and
doing nothing decreases your productivity rather than wasting time on scrolling social
 media apps one should utilize that time in doing something skillful and even more
productive.
 Bad Impacts on Health: Spending too much time on the internet causes bad impacts
on your health physical body needs some outdoor games exercise and many more
things. Looking at the screen for a longer duration causes serious impacts on the eyes.
 Cyber Crimes: Cyberbullying, spam, viruses, hacking, and stealing data are some of
the crimes which are on the verge these days. Your system which contains all the
confidential data can be easily hacked by cybercriminals.
 Effects on Children: Small children are heavily addicted to the Internet watching
movies, and games all the time is not good for their overall personality as well as
social development.
 Bullying and Spreading Negativity: The Internet has given a free tool in the form of
social media apps to all those people who always try to spread negativity with very
revolting and shameful messages and try to bully each other which is wrong.

Intranet

The intranet is a private network that belongs to a particular organization. It is designed for
the exclusive use of an organization and its associates, such as employees, customers, and
other authorized people. It offers a secure platform to convey information and share data with
authorized users. Confidential information, database, links, forms, and applications can be
made available to the staff through the intranet. So, it is like a private internet or an internal
website that is operating within an organization to provide its employees access to its
information and records. Each computer in intranet is identified by a unique IP Address.
It is based on internet protocols (TCP/IP) and is protected from unauthorized access with
firewalls and other security systems. The firewall monitors the incoming and outgoing data
packets to ensure they don't contain unauthorized requests. So, users on the intranet can
access the internet, but the internet users can't access the intranet if they are not authorized for
it. Furthermore, to access the intranet, the authorized user is required to be connected to
its LAN (Local Area Network).
Benefits of the intranet:
Some of the benefits of the intranet are:
o It is cheap and easy to implement and run, and is more safe than the internet
and extranet.
o It streamlines communication that enables the company to share its data, information,
and other resources among employees without any delay. The entire staff can receive
company's announcements, ask questions, and access internal documents.
o It provides a secure space to store and develop applications to support business
operations.
o It improves the efficiency of the company by speeding up workflow and reducing
errors. Thus, it helps achieve targets by completing the tasks on time.
o It offers a testing platform for new ideas before they are uploaded on the company's
internet webpage. Thus, it helps maintain the credibility of the company
o Information is shared in real-time, or updates are reflected immediately to all the
authorized users.
o Modern intranets also offer a mobile app that allows employees to stay connected on
the go.
o It aids in project management and tracking workflow and teams' progress.
o It can work with mobile devices, which means it can provide information that exists
on intranet directly to mobile devices of employees such as phones, tablets, etc.
o It can also be used to motivate employees, facilitate employee recognition, and to
reward them for performing beyond expectations.
Features of intranet
Intranets are powerful tools that offer various features to enhance internal communication,
collaboration, and organizational productivity. Let's delve into some key features of an
intranet and their benefits in simple language.
o Document Management and Sharing: An intranet provides a centralized repository
for storing and sharing documents. It enables employees to upload, arrange, and
access files from a single place.
o Internal Communication Tools: Intranets offer a range of communication tools like
messaging systems, discussion forums, and chat platforms. These tools facilitate
quick and efficient communication between team members, departments, and even
across different office locations.
 o Employee Directories and Profiles: Intranets often include employee directories and
profiles, which serve as digital databases of staff information. Employees may search
for their coworkers' contact information, areas of specialization, and job titles to
simplify identifying the correct person for the job.
o Task and Project Management: Intranets provide tools for managing tasks and
projects. They enable teams to create and assign tasks, set deadlines, track progress,
and share project-related documents and updates.
o News and Announcements: Intranets often have a dedicated section for news and
announcements. This feature lets Organizations share company-wide updates,
important news, policy changes, or event details.
o Collaboration Spaces and Wikis: Intranets may include spaces or wikis where teams
can collaborate on specific projects, share knowledge, and create a collective
knowledge base.
How the Intranet Works:
Intranet basically comprises three components: a web server, an intranet platform, and
applications. The web server is hardware that contains all the intranet software and data. It
manages all requests for files hosted over the server and finds the requested files and then
delivers it to the user's computer.

The intranet platform, which is software, allows communication tools, collaboration apps,
and databases to work seamlessly with each other. It is tailored to the specific needs of a
business.
The applications are required to enable users to work smoothly. They are the computing tools
that allow users to do their work, communicate, and coordinate with each other and retrieve
and store information.
Furthermore, the user who wants to access the intranet is required to have a special network
password and should be connected to the LAN. A user who is working remotely can gain
access to the intranet through a virtual private network (VPN) that allows them to sign in to
the intranet to access the information.
Types of Intranets
Several intranet types are available to meet organizations' unique requirements and
preferences. Let's investigate the various intranet types.
1. Corporate Intranet: A corporate intranet is the main platform for internal
communication and cooperation inside a firm. It gives employees access to internal
materials, including corporate news, guidelines, and records. Corporate intranets often
feature tools for internal messaging, file sharing, project management, and employee
directories. They foster a centralized hub for employees to stay informed, collaborate
on projects, and access essential information about their roles.
2. Departmental Intranet: Departmental intranets are made to meet the needs of
certain teams or departments inside an organization. They provide specialized features
and resources to meet the demands of a certain department, such as sales, marketing,
or human resources. These intranets allow departments to have dedicated
communication channels, document repositories, and collaboration tools, enabling
streamlined workflows and focused collaboration within the department.
3. Enterprise Intranet: An enterprise intranet connects multiple organizations or
subsidiaries within a larger corporate structure. It provides a platform for sharing
information, resources, and knowledge across different entities. Enterprise intranets
facilitate collaboration, coordination, and alignment of processes and strategies
among different organizations or subsidiaries within the same corporate umbrella.
4. Virtual Private Intranet (VPN): Remote workers can safely access an intranet's
internal resources via a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The data transmission
between the remote user and the intranet server is encrypted when a VPN establishes
a secure connection over the internet. This guarantees that private information is kept
secure and private when workers are working remotely for the company.
5. Extranet-Enabled Intranet: An extranet-enabled intranet extends access to external
parties, such as clients, partners, or vendors, to specific intranet sections with proper
authorization. This type of intranet allows external stakeholders to collaborate, access
shared documents or project information, and participate in discussions while
maintaining control over the information they can access. Extranet-enabled intranets
enhance collaboration with external parties, fostering stronger business relationships
and streamlined workflows.
6. Cloud-Based Intranet: A cloud-based intranet is accessed via web browsers or
specific apps and is hosted on a cloud computing platform. It provides scalability,
flexibility, and remote access options. Intranets built on the cloud do not require on-
site infrastructure or maintenance. They let employees access the intranet from any
device with an internet connection, making them the perfect solution for organizations
with geographically distributed teams and remote work circumstances.
Uses of Intranet
An intranet is a versatile tool that offers several uses to organizations, improving internal
communication, collaboration, and productivity. Let's elaborate on the key uses of an intranet
in simple language:

o Sharing Organizational Updates: An intranet provides a centralized platform to

share important news, announcements, and updates within the organization. It updates
staff members on corporate news, policy modifications, new projects, and other
pertinent information. This promotes openness and alignment while ensuring staff are
aware of the most recent changes.
o Storing Files: One of the primary uses of an intranet is to serve as a central repository
for storing and organizing files and documents. It allows employees to access
important resources, manuals, procedures, and policies whenever needed. This feature
eliminates the hassle of searching through physical documents or multiple file-sharing
platforms, enabling efficient information retrieval and consistency in document
management.
o Connecting Employees: An intranet acts as a digital hub that connects employees
across different departments, teams, and locations within the organization. It provides
employee directories and profiles, making it easier for employees to find and connect
with colleagues possessing specific skills or expertise. This fosters collaboration,
knowledge sharing, and community among employees, even in large organizations
with dispersed teams.
o Collaborating with Teams Across Borders: Intranets facilitate seamless
collaboration and project management among teams, irrespective of geographical
boundaries. Team members can collaborate on documents, share updates, assign tasks,
and track progress using dedicated collaboration tools within the intranet. This
enables efficient teamwork, enhances coordination, and reduces communication
barriers, particularly in organizations with remote or globally distributed teams.
 o Increasing Productivity: By providing easy access to information, resources, and
tools, an intranet boosts employee productivity. It also eliminates the need to search
for information across different platforms or rely on time-consuming manual
processes. Employees can find and share information quickly, access necessary
documents, and collaborate effectively, improving efficiency and time savings.
o Giving Employees a Voice in the Organization: An intranet can include discussion
forums, surveys, and feedback mechanisms that empower employees to share their
opinions, ideas, and suggestions. This gives workers a voice within the company,
promotes diversity, and encourages innovation and continual development. Employee
participation and happiness increase when staff members participate in conversations,
provide feedback and participate in decision-making.
Disadvantages of Intranet:
o It may be costly to set up an Intranet due to hidden costs and complexity.
o If the firewall does not work properly or not installed, it can be hacked by someone
o High-security passwords are required, which cannot be guessed by outside users
o There is always a fear of losing control over the intranet
o Sometimes document duplication may happen which can cause confusion among
employees
o You have to give access to multiple users, so you may find it hard to control this
network.
o An intranet's setup and maintenance may be challenging and require IT help.
o Employees may need help in training and adopting the system.
o Managing content can be difficult, leading to outdated information.
o Security breaches and malware attacks are potential risks to be aware of. Remote
employees may have limited access.
o Regular maintenance is needed to keep the intranet running smoothly.
Examples of Intranet:
FTP
o FTP stands for File transfer protocol.
o FTP is a standard internet protocol provided by TCP/IP used for transmitting the files
from one host to another.
o It is mainly used for transferring the web page files from their creator to the computer
that acts as a server for other computers on the internet.
o It is also used for downloading the files to computer from other servers.
Objectives of FTP
o It provides the sharing of files.
o It is used to encourage the use of remote computers.
o It transfers the data more reliably and efficiently.
Why FTP?
Although transferring files from one system to another is very simple and straightforward, but
sometimes it can cause problems. For example, two systems may have different file
conventions. Two systems may have different ways to represent text and data. Two systems
may have different directory structures. FTP protocol overcomes these problems by
establishing two connections between hosts. One connection is used for data transfer, and
another connection is used for the control connection.
Mechanism of FTP
The above figure shows the basic model of the FTP. The FTP client has three components:
the user interface, control process, and data transfer process. The server has two components:
the server control process and the server data transfer process.
There are two types of connections in FTP:
o Control Connection: The control connection uses very simple rules for
communication. Through control connection, we can transfer a line of command
or line of response at a time. The control connection is made between the control
processes. The control connection remains connected during the entire
interactive FTP session.
o Data Connection: The Data Connection uses very complex rules as data types may
vary. The data connection is made between data transfer processes. The data
connection opens when a command comes for transferring the files and closes
when the file is transferred.
FTP Clients
o FTP client is a program that implements a file transfer protocol which allows you to
transfer files between two hosts on the internet.
o It allows a user to connect to a remote host and upload or download the files.
o It has a set of commands that we can use to connect to a host, transfer the files
between you and your host and close the connection.
Advantages of FTP:
o Speed: One of the biggest advantages of FTP is speed. The FTP is one of the fastest
way to transfer the files from one computer to another computer.
 o Efficient: It is more efficient as we do not need to complete all the operations to get
the entire file.
o Security: To access the FTP server, we need to login with the username and
password. Therefore, we can say that FTP is more secure.
o Back & forth movement: FTP allows us to transfer the files back and forth. Suppose
you are a manager of the company, you send some information to all the employees,
and they all send information back on the same server.
Disadvantages of FTP:
o The standard requirement of the industry is that all the FTP transmissions should be
encrypted. However, not all the FTP providers are equal and not all the providers offer
encryption. So, we will have to look out for the FTP providers that provides
encryption.
o FTP serves two operations, i.e., to send and receive large files on a network. However,
the size limit of the file is 2GB that can be sent. It also doesn't allow you to run
simultaneous transfers to multiple receivers.
o Passwords and file contents are sent in clear text that allows unwanted eavesdropping.
So, it is quite possible that attackers can carry out the brute force attack by trying to
guess the FTP password.
o It is not compatible with every system.

Search Engines
A search engine is an online answering machine, which is used to search, understand, and
organize content's result in its database based on the search query (keywords) inserted by the
end-users (internet user).
To display search results, all search engines first find the valuable result from their database,
sort them to make an ordered list based on the search algorithm, and display in front of end-
users.
The process of organizing content in the form of a list is commonly known as a Search
Engine Results Page (SERP).

Google, Yahoo!, Bing, YouTube, and DuckDuckGo are some popular examples of search
engines.

Advantages of Search Engine

Searching content on the Internet becomes one of the most popular activities all over the
world. In the current era, the search engine is an essential part of everyone's life because the
search engine offers various popular ways to find valuable, relevant, and informative content
on the Internet.
A list of advantages of search engines is given below -
1. Time-Saving
Search engine helps us to save time by the following two ways -
o Eliminate the need to find information manually.
o Perform search operations at a very high speed.
2. Variety of information

The search engine offers various variety of resources to obtain relevant and valuable
information from the Internet.
By using a search engine, we can get information in various fields such as education,
entertainment, games, etc. The information which we get from the search engine is in the
form of blogs, pdf, ppt, text, images, videos, and audios.
3. Precision

All search engines have the ability to provide more precise results.
4. Free Access

Mostly search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo allow end-users to search their
content for free.
In search engines, there is no restriction related to a number of searches, so all end users
(Students, Job seekers, IT employees, and others) spend a lot of time to search valuable
content to fulfill their requirements.
5. Advanced Search

Search engines allow us to use advanced search options to get relevant, valuable, and
informative results.
Advanced search results make our searches more flexible as well as sophisticated. For
example, when you want to search for a specific site, type "site:" without quotes followed by
the site's web address.
Suppose we want to search for java tutorial on javaTpoint then type "java
site:www.javatpoint.com" to get the advanced result quickly.
To search about education institution sites (colleges and universities) for B.Tech in computer
science engineering, then use "computer science engineering site:.edu." to get the
advanced result.
6. Relevance

Search engines allow us to search for relevant content based on a particular keyword. For
example, a site "javatpoint" scores a higher search for the term "java tutorial" this is because
a search engine sorts its result pages by the relevance of the content; that's why we can see
the highest-scoring results at the top of SERP.

Disadvantages of Search Engine

There are the following disadvantages of Search Engines -

o Sometimes the search engine takes too much time to display relevant, valuable, and
informative content.
o Search engines, especially Google, frequently update their algorithm, and it is very
difficult to find the algorithm in which Google runs.
o It makes end-users effortless as they all time use search engines to solve their small
queries also.

Components of Search Engine

There are the following four basic components of Search Engine -
1. Web Crawler

Web Crawler is also known as a search engine bot, web robot, or web spider. It plays an
essential role in search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. It is mainly a software
component that traverses on the web, then downloads and collects all the information over
the Internet.
There are the following web crawler features that can affect the search results -
o Included Pages
o Excluded Pages
o Document Types
o Frequency of Crawling
2. Database

The search engine database is a type of Non-relational database. It is the place where all the
web information is stored. It has a large number of web resources. Some most popular search
engine databases are Amazon Elastic Search Service and Splunk.
There are the following two database variable features that can affect the search results:
o Size of the database
o The freshness of the database
3. Search Interfaces

Search Interface is one of the most important components of Search Engine. It is an interface
between the user and the database. It basically helps users to search for queries using the
database.
There are the following features Search Interfaces that affect the search results -
o Operators
o Phrase Searching
o Truncation
4. Ranking Algorithms

The ranking algorithm is used by Google to rank web pages according to the Google search
algorithm.
There are the following ranking features that affect the search results -
o Location and frequency
o Link Analysis
o Clickthrough measurement

How do search engines work

There are the following tasks done by every search engines -

1. Crawling

Crawling is the first stage in which a search engine uses web crawlers to find, visit, and
download the web pages on the WWW (World Wide Web). Crawling is performed by
software robots, known as "spiders" or "crawlers." These robots are used to review the
website content.
2. Indexing
Indexing is an online library of websites, which is used to sort, store, and organize the content
that we found during the crawling. Once a page is indexed, it appears as a result of the most
valuable and most relevant query.
3. Ranking and Retrieval

The ranking is the last stage of the search engine. It is used to provide a piece of content that
will be the best answer based on the user's query. It displays the best content at the top rank
of the website.

Search Engine Processing

There are following two major Search Engine processing functions -

1. Indexing process

Indexing is the process of building a structure that enables searching.

Indexing process contains the following three blocks -
i. Text acquisition
It is used to identify and store documents for indexing.
ii. Text transformation
It is the process of transform documents into index or features.
iii. Index creation
Index creation takes the output from text transformation and creates the indexes or data
searches that enable fast searching.

2. Query process

The query is the process of producing the list of documents based on a user's search query.
There are the following three tasks of the Query process -
i. User interaction
User interaction provides an interface between the users who search the content and the
search engine.
ii. Ranking
The ranking is the core component of the search engine. It takes query data from the user
interaction and generates a ranked list of data based on the retrieval model.
iii. Evaluation
Evaluation is used to measure and monitor the effectiveness and efficiency. The evaluation
result helps us to improve the ranking of the search engine.
IoT (Internet of Things)

IoT tutorial provides basic and advanced concepts of IoT. Our Internet of Things tutorial is
designed for beginners and professionals.

IoT stands for Internet of Things, which means accessing and controlling daily usable
equipments and devices using Internet.

Our IoT tutorial includes all topics of IoT such as introduction, features, advantage and
disadvantage, ecosystem, decision framework, architecture and domains, biometric, security
camera and door unlock system, devices, etc.

What is an Internet of Things (IoT)

Let's us look closely at our mobile device which contains GPS Tracking, Mobile Gyroscope,
Adaptive brightness, Voice detection, Face detection etc.

These components have their own individual features, but what about if these all
communicate with each other to provide a better environment? For example, the phone
brightness is adjusted based on my GPS location or my direction.

Connecting everyday things embedded with electronics, software, and sensors to internet
enabling to collect and exchange data without human interaction called as the Internet of
Things (IoT).

The term "Things" in the Internet of Things refers to anything and everything in day to day
life which is accessed or connected through the internet.
IoT is an advanced automation and analytics system which deals with artificial intelligence,
sensor, networking, electronic, cloud messaging etc. to deliver complete systems for the
product or services. The system created by IoT has greater transparency, control, and
performance.

As we have a platform such as a cloud that contains all the data through which we connect all
the things around us.

For example, a house, where we can connect our home appliances such as air conditioner,
light, etc. through each other and all these things are managed at the same platform. Since we
have a platform, we can connect our car, track its fuel meter, speed level, and also track the
location of the car.

If there is a common platform where all these things can connect to each other would be great
because based on my preference, I can set the room temperature.

For example, if I love the room temperature to to be set at 25 or 26-degree Celsius when I
reach back home from my office, then according to my car location, my AC would start
before 10 minutes I arrive at home. This can be done through the Internet of Things (IoT).

How does Internet of Thing (IoT) Work?

The working of IoT is different for different IoT echo system (architecture). However, the
key concept of there working are similar.

The entire working process of IoT starts with the device themselves, such as smartphones,
digital watches, electronic appliances, which securely communicate with the IoT platform.
The platforms collect and analyze the data from all multiple devices and platforms and
transfer the most valuable data with applications to devices.

Features of IOT

The most important features of IoT on which it works are connectivity, analyzing,
integrating, active engagement, and many more. Some of them are listed below:

Connectivity: Connectivity refers to establish a proper connection between all the things of
IoT to IoT platform it may be server or cloud. After connecting the IoT devices, it needs a
high speed messaging between the devices and cloud to enable reliable, secure and bi-
directional communication.

Analyzing: After connecting all the relevant things, it comes to real-time analyzing the data
collected and use them to build effective business intelligence. If we have a good insight into
data gathered from all these things, then we call our system has a smart system.

Integrating: IoT integrating the various models to improve the user experience as well.

Artificial Intelligence: IoT makes things smart and enhances life through the use of data. For
example, if we have a coffee machine whose beans have going to end, then the coffee
machine itself order the coffee beans of your choice from the retailer.

Sensing: The sensor devices used in IoT technologies detect and measure any change in the
environment and report on their status. IoT technology brings passive networks to active
networks. Without sensors, there could not hold an effective or true IoT environment.

Active Engagement: IoT makes the connected technology, product, or services to active
engagement between each other.

Endpoint Management: It is important to be the endpoint management of all the IoT system
otherwise, it makes the complete failure of the system. For example, if a coffee machine itself
order the coffee beans when it goes to end but what happens when it orders the beans from a
retailer and we are not present at home for a few days, it leads to the failure of the IoT
system. So, there must be a need for endpoint management.

What are IoT Sensors?

IoT sensors are pieces of hardware that detect changes in an environment and collect data.
They’re the pieces of an IoT ecosystem that bridge the digital world to the physical world.
IoT sensors may detect things like temperature, pressure, and motion, and if they are
connected to a network, they share data with the network.

14 Types of IoT Sensors

There are many different types of sensors, and they come in different shapes and sizes. Here
are 14 of the most common types and uses of sensors.

1. Temperature Sensors

Temperature sensors measure the amount of heat generated from an area or an object. They
detect a temperature change and convert the findings to data. Temperature sensors are used in
various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture. Some examples are
thermistors, thermocouples, and resistor temperature detectors (RTD).

2. Proximity Sensors

Proximity sensors detect the presence or absence of objects near the sensor without physical
contact. They often emit a beam of radiation like infrared or an electromagnetic field. They
can be used for process monitoring and control, object counting, assembly lines, and
determining available space. Proximity sensors are common in retail settings, industrial
complexes, and parking lots. Some examples are photoelectric, magnetic, capacitive,
inductive, and ultrasonic.

3. Pressure Sensors

These sensors detect changes in a gas or liquid. When the pressure range is beyond a set
threshold, pressure sensors alert to the problem. They are used for leak testing, water systems,
vehicles, and aircraft. For example, the BMP180 is a digital pressure sensor found in cell
phones and GPS navigation devices. And some vehicles use a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) to alert when tire pressure is low and potentially unsafe.

4. Water Quality Sensors

As you’d expect, water quality sensors monitor the quality of water. They are often used in
water distribution systems, but they function in a variety of industries. There are different
kinds of water sensors, including residual chlorine sensors, turbidity sensors, pH sensors, and
total organic carbon sensors.

5. Chemical and Gas Sensors

These sensors monitor air quality for the presence of toxic or hazardous gas. They often use
semiconductor, electrochemical, or photo-ionization technologies for detection. They are
typically used in industrial and manufacturing settings, though they are also found in carbon
dioxide detectors.
6. Infrared Sensors

Some sensors either detect or emit infrared radiation to sense characteristics and changes in
the surrounding area. They’re useful for measuring heat emissions from an object. Infrared
sensors are used in remote controls, healthcare settings, and even by art historians
authenticating artwork.

7. Smoke Sensors

Most people are familiar with smoke detectors, as they have protected our homes and
businesses for a long time. However, with improvements based on IoT, smoke detectors are
now more user-friendly, convenient, and wire-free.

8. Motion Sensors

Motion sensors detect physical movement in an area. Of course, these sensors play a
significant role in the security industry, but they are used in nearly every industry.
Applications include automated sinks and toilet flushers, automatic door controls, energy
management systems, and automated parking systems. Standard motion sensors include
ultrasonic, microwave, and passive infrared (PIR).

9. Level Sensors

Level sensors detect the level of various substances, including powder, granular material, and
liquids. Industries that use them include water treatment, food and beverage manufacturing,
oil manufacturing, and waste management. They can detect the level of liquid in a container
and can even determine the amount of waste in a dumpster.

10. Image Sensors

These sensors convert optical images into signals and are generally used to display or store
files electronically. They are found in radar and sonar, biometric devices, night vision
equipment, medical imaging, digital cameras, and even some cars. Charge-coupled devices
(CCD) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS) are most commonly used.

11. Humidity Sensors

These sensors measure the amount of water vapor in the air. Typical uses include heating and
air conditioning systems (HVAC) and weather monitoring and prediction. When humidity
must be tightly controlled, such as in museums, hospitals, and greenhouses, humidity sensors
assist the process.

12. Accelerometer Sensors

Accelerometer sensors detect the orientation of an object and the rate of change, including
tap, shake, tilt, and positioning. They are used in many industries for smart pedometers, anti-
theft protection, and monitoring auto fleets. Some types are capacitive accelerometers and
hall-effect accelerometers.

13. Gyroscope Sensors

A gyroscope sensor measures the angular rate or velocity, or the speed of rotation around an
axis. They are generally used for navigation in the auto industry for navigation and anti-skid
systems as well as in video games and drones. Some examples include optical gyroscopes,
rotary gyroscopes, and vibrating structure gyroscopes.

14. Optical Sensors

Optical sensors measure light and convert it into electrical signals. Many industries make use
of optical sensors, including auto, energy, healthcare, and aerospace. Sensors include fiber
optics, photodetector, and pyrometer.

Examples of IoT Sensors

At Zipit, we work with clients providing IoT solutions across a wide range of industries. Our
clients use IoT for everything from creating Wi-Fi hotspots to asset tracking to farming
fertilizer and irrigation control systems. It’s exciting to partner with companies to add value
and advance the IoT use cases. Some of the best examples of Zipit customers delivering
sensor-based solutions & technologies include:

 Sensit Technologies — Gas leak monitoring and detection instruments

 MultiTech — Sensor-to-gateway IoT applications
 HeatSiecker — Livestock monitoring solution with heat detection
 Smardii — Incontinence products for healthcare provided in hospitals