Understanding the Internet and World Wide Web Basics

What is the Internet?

The internet is a worldwide system of interconnected computer networks. When you connect your computer to the internet via your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you become part of the ISP's network.

The World Wide Web Explained

The World Wide Web (WWW or 'web' for short) is the part of the internet that you can access using a web browser, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox. It consists of a large number of web servers that host websites. Each website normally consists of a number of web pages, which can contain:

• Text
• Images
• Video
• Animation
• Sound

Understanding Intranets

An intranet is a network that works like the internet but is only available within a particular organization, not to the public. An intranet may have web pages used to share company-specific data, such as internal telephone numbers or details of employee benefits.

Requirements for Internet Access

To connect to the internet, you need the following:

• A computer
• A telephone line or cable connection
• An ISP (Internet Service Provider)
• A web browser

Broadband and Connection Types

A connection to the internet will be either analogue or digital. Most people now access the internet using broadband because it is significantly faster than other methods. Broadband access allows feature-rich web pages to download quickly and enables users to download large files, such as music or video clips, with ease. Faster connections also reduce the response time between clicking a link and the new page appearing.

Common Internet Activities

There are many things you can do on the internet, including:

• Browsing websites
• Sending and receiving email
• Downloading media files
• Watching streamed video (e.g., YouTube)
• Checking bank balances and making payments
• Buying goods from online shops

Finding the exact information you want on the web requires skill and practice, as there are thousands of pages on any given topic.