The internet makes the world go 'round. Last century, it was telephone service that made the world go 'round. Until recently, TV had been the one to make the world go 'round. That has obviously changed, yet again. As I mentioned in my previous post, Internet TV is beginning to take the reigns as the provider of entertainment in millions of homes, businesses, and even right out on the streets. That should make us take a closer look at the internet. Keep in mind, there are different "types" of internet. Regardless of how you get access to the world wide web, there are always similar components that make it possible.
First, there are the physical components known as hardware. That encompasses things like computers or mobile devices, modems, Ethernet cables, among other things. When you access the internet, there are two computers communicating with each other. There is your computer (or mobile device) known as the 'client' which is requesting information. By that I mean when you open an internet browser and it takes you type in a web site address , that is your computer asking the internet to find that web address. That request is being sent to another computer which has the information for that website saved. Those computers are known as servers. Server computers are like storage facilities that hold the information for a website and when someone looks for that website, the server computer sends it out to the client computer.
The second component that makes internet service possible are protocols. Protocols are basically rules that computers and other internet enabled devices follow in order to be able to share information. If protocols where not used, then computers (clients and servers) would have to be physically connected to each other in order for for information to be shared. Protocols create a common language between computers which allows us to find a website housed on a server without having to be directly connected to it. An example of a protocol is write at the top of this page. the first four letters of this web address (http) is an example of an internet protocol. This protocol creates that common language that allows any client computer (like yours) to request and access a website housed on a server computer (like the one that holds the information for this post you are reading). You have probably also heard of an IP address (Internet Protocol address). This is used to give your computer a unique address that allows servers to send you the information you are requesting. Think of it this way, if you didn't have an IP address to identify your client computer, server computers would get the request that you want to access a website but they wouldn't know where to send the website information. Protocols also tell your computers how to display a website. Its like a puzzle. The position of this post in the middle of the page is governed by protocols.
There is a lot more to how the internet works that what I dare to try and explain. Hopefully, this information is a great stepping stone for you to find more information about this wonder we call the internet. One last note, internet service requires an internet service provider. That would be companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest. Internet with U-verse though is one of the highest acclaimed internet services.
