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How The internet works ??
- Authors
- Name
- by Hamza El Idrissi
Did you ever find yourself searching for something online? How long does it take to get a response from your search engine? How long does it take to send a message to someone on your favorite social media app? All of this happens in the blink of an eye, isn't that something? But have you ever thought about how it all happens? How does the internet work? Let's dive into the fascinating world of the internet and discover the magic behind it.
It all started more than half a century ago when MIT researcher J.C.R. Licklider presented the idea of a group of computers connected to each other, enabling them to share data and programs, no matter where each computer was physically located. This revolutionary concept laid the foundation for what we now know as the internet – a vast network of interconnected devices forming something called a network.
But this simple concept becomes a challenge when we have multiple devices, as each one needs to connect to every other device to communicate effectively. This problem is ingeniously solved by something called a switch.
What is a Switch?
Switches are devices that allow us to efficiently direct data traffic and connect more than just computers together to communicate in an organized and efficient manner. It doesn't have to be just a computer; it could be a printer or any other device. Think of switches as traffic controllers on the internet highway, ensuring data packets reach their intended destinations smoothly.
But what if we need communication between two devices from two different networks? That's where routers come into play.
What is a Router?
Routers are like the post offices of the internet; just as how a post office delivers mail to its intended destination, a router takes data packets and delivers them to their proper destinations across networks or the internet.
When a data packet is sent, it contains a header with crucial information, such as the source and destination addresses of the sender and receiver. Routers read this information and make intelligent decisions on how to direct the packet towards its intended destination.
By connecting different networks, routers pave the way for something you might be familiar with: the internet. The internet is essentially an interconnected network of networks, enabling global communication and access to a vast treasure trove of information.
When we use websites or video streaming services on the internet, these are provided by computers called servers. Our devices are called clients. This is known as the client-server model.
What is the Client-Server Model?
In the client-server model, our devices, such as computers, smartphones, or tablets, act as clients. When we want to access a website, for example, our device sends a request to the server hosting that website. The server, which is a powerful computer designed to handle many requests, processes our request and sends back the web page or data we asked for. This exchange of information happens seamlessly and quickly, allowing us to access a vast amount of information and services on the internet.
The client-server model enables us to do so many things online, like checking emails, watching videos, shopping, and connecting with friends on social media. Without servers and the client-server model, the internet as we know it today wouldn't be possible.
In summary, the internet is a remarkable network that connects devices all over the world. It all works because of the interplay between networks, switches, routers, and servers in the client-server model. So the next time you search for something online or send a message on social media, remember the incredible journey your data takes through the internet to get to its destination.