What is The Internet?
The internet is a giant network of computers all around the world that are connected together and can talk to each other.
Think of it like this
It's like a massive group chat, but instead of people, it's computers sending messages.
What's happening
Summary
The internet connects computers so they can share information.
A Closer Look
The Internet is what connects all our devices together so they can share information. When you send a message or load a website, your device sends tiny packets of information that travel through cables, satellites, and wireless signals to reach other devices anywhere in the world.
Common Misconceptions
- The internet and the web are not the same thing — the web (websites) is just one service that runs on top of the internet.
- The internet isn't wireless by nature — much of it runs through physical cables, including undersea ones spanning continents.
- No single company or government owns the internet — it's a shared, decentralised infrastructure.
How it connects
The internet is the foundation everything else runs on:
Try it yourself
Open a new tab and visit any website — your browser just sent a request across the internet and received a response in milliseconds.