What is the "Internet"?
First, what is all this "Internet" mumbo jumbo?
The Internet is an international network of computers. The Internet is not controlled
by any one particular goverment or commercial agency. Rather, it is a combined effort of
every organization that has a computer connected to the Internet. Second, it is a
network. A network is simply an organization of several computers that can all
communicate with each other. In this case, the network is made of thousands of computers.
The Internet was created by Advanced Research Projects Agency or ARPA. The ARPANET was
used to test the use of packet-switched networks, which are computer networks that transfer
information in the form of little packets that move independent of each other through
various networks until they reach their final destination.
ARPANET
The Department of Defense immediately adopted the network as it saw it as an ideal
communications weapon. Later, the ARPANET became a means of instant communications between
computer researchers across the nation. In 1983, the ARPANET was reserved for civilian use,
while MILNET was created for military use. Communications between the two networks was
possible, and this network became known as the Internet.
But how does it all work?
