How the Internet Works
The internet is a global network of networks that sends data as packets using agreed rules called protocols.
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Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
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The internet is a global network of networks that sends data as packets using agreed rules called protocols.
- Routers direct packets
- DNS translates names to IP addresses
- Packets are reassembled at the destination
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is How the Internet Works?
Within Computer Science, which covers algorithms, programming, data, networks, hardware and safe, responsible use of technology, this topic explains How the Internet Works. Computing topics explain how software, hardware and data work, with diagrams and models that show each step in order.
Check that you can explain How the Internet Works in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding How the Internet Works helps you design, test and explain programs, websites and systems, from small projects to exam questions.
How the Internet Works in detail
The internet is a worldwide network of networks that connects billions of devices using common rules called protocols. Data is broken into packets sent across many routes through routers, and reassembled at the destination. Internet service providers (ISPs) link users to the network, and undersea cables carry much of the traffic.
The World Wide Web is a service that runs on the internet, with web pages linked by hyperlinks, but the internet also carries email, video calls and games. Every device has an IP address, and domain names are translated by DNS. No single organisation controls it, though bodies set standards.
How the interactive helps you understand How the Internet Works
Watch the network in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the network responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of How the Internet Works.
Real-life uses and examples
- Recognise How the Internet Works in an app or device you use every day.
- Apply How the Internet Works when you design a small program, website or spreadsheet.
- Explain How the Internet Works to someone new to computing by comparing it to a familiar process.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the term without being able to say what the computer actually does.
- Testing only the normal case and forgetting the edge cases.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about How the Internet Works
What is How the Internet Works?
The internet is a global network of networks that sends data as packets using agreed rules called protocols.
What are the most important points about How the Internet Works?
The main points are: Routers direct packets; DNS translates names to IP addresses; Packets are reassembled at the destination.
Why is How the Internet Works useful?
Understanding How the Internet Works helps you design, test and explain programs, websites and systems, from small projects to exam questions.
How can I practise How the Internet Works?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to How the Internet Works?
Related topics in Computer Science include Protocols and TCP/IP, Wireless and Mobile Networks, Protecting Data and Passwords.