Lesson 5: Understanding the Internet and the World Wide Web

Internet

Largest global network connecting millions of computers.

Protocols

Rules governing data exchange over the Internet.

IP Address

Unique identifier for a device on a network.

Router

Device directing data packets across networks.

Client-Server Model

Architecture where clients request services from servers.

Domain Name Server

Translates domain names into IP addresses.

Email Protocols

Standards for sending and receiving email messages.

Cloud Computing

Internet-based computing providing shared resources.

E-commerce

Buying and selling goods/services online.

TCP/IP

Primary protocol for Internet communication.

ARPANET

First operational packet-switching network, precursor to Internet.

ISP

Company providing Internet access to users.

LAN

Local Area Network connecting computers in a limited area.

Packets

Small units of data transmitted over a network.

Node

Any active device on a network capable of communication.

Network

Group of interconnected computers sharing resources.

Information Superhighway

Metaphor for the Internet as a data transport system.

Data Compression

Reducing the size of data for transmission efficiency.

Point-to-Point Communication

Direct communication between two network endpoints.

Web Browser

Software for accessing and displaying web content.

Web Server

Server hosting websites and serving content to browsers.

NCP

Network Control Protocol, predecessor to TCP/IP.

Cyberspace

Virtual environment of the Internet and online activity.

Internet Architecture Board

Group overseeing technical development of the Internet.

ICANN

Organization managing domain names and IP addresses.

InterNIC

Network information center for domain registration.

National Science Foundation

U.S. agency supporting research and education in science.

Client/Server Model

A communication model where a computer user (client) requests a service from another computer (server) on the network.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Responsible for breaking data down into IP packets before they are sent, and for assembling the packets when they arrive.

Internet Protocol (IP)

Responsible for addressing each packet of data and sending and receiving data packets over the Internet.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Takes care of the communication between a web server and a web browser, used for sending requests from a web client to a web server.

HTTPS (Secure HTTP)

Takes care of secure communication between a web server and a web browser, typically handling credit card transactions and other sensitive data.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

Protocol used for encryption of data for secure data transmission.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

Used for the transmission of emails.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)

Enables SMTP to transmit multimedia files including voice, audio, and binary data across TCP/IP networks.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

Used for storing and retrieving emails.

Post Office Protocol (POP)

Used for downloading emails from an email server to a personal computer.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

Responsible for the transmission of files between computers.

Packet

The basic unit of information in network transmission; a collection of data that contains a segment of data and the address where the data are to be sent.

Packet Segmentation

The process of splitting packets of data when the data packet is larger than the maximum transmission allowed by the network.

Gateway

A node that allows you to gain entrance into a network, typically a router that links you to the Internet.

Domain Name Server (DNS)

Maintains a directory of domain names and translates them to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

Octets

The four numbers in an IP address, each ranging from 0 through 255.

IPv4

The original IP addresses that use a 32-bit address, allowing for approximately 4.3 billion addresses.

IPv6

A newer version of IP developed to handle increasing Internet traffic, using a 128-bit address allowing for 340 trillion trillion trillion addresses.

Hexadecimal Characters

The characters used in an IPv6 address, consisting of both letters and numbers (0 through 9, and A through F).

Broadband

High-speed Internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up access.

Always-On Connection

A connection that is always connected to the Internet, such as a cable connection.

Dial-Up Connection

A traditional method of connecting to the Internet using a modem to make the connection to an ISP.

Dial-Up Service

Affordable Internet access using existing phone lines.

Cable Access

Broadband Internet using cable television infrastructure.

Cable Modem

Device connecting coaxial cable to computer for Internet.

Satellite Access

Internet access via satellites for remote areas.

Fiber Optic (FiOS)

Internet access using light through optical fibers.

Wi-Fi

Wireless Internet connection using radio waves.

4G LTE

Fourth-generation cellular technology for fast Internet.

5G

Fifth-generation cellular technology with limited availability.

World Wide Web

System for accessing information over the Internet.

Hyperlink

Clickable link to another web page or resource.

Client

Computer requesting information from a server.

Downloading

Transferring files from server to computer.

Uploading

Transferring files from computer to server.

HTML

Language for developing and structuring web pages.

URL

Global address for resources on the Web.

Protocol

Standard for data exchange on the Internet.

Domain Name

Website's server name in a URL.

Path

Specific location of a resource on a server.

Resource Name

Name of the file or resource in a URL.

Ethernet Cable

Cable connecting modem to computer for Internet.

Coaxial Cable

Cable used for cable modem Internet connections.

Firewall

Security system blocking unauthorized network access.

Port

Numerical location for network services on a server.

DNS

Translates domain names into IP addresses.

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol, used for web communication.

Top-Level Domain (TLD)

Suffix indicating website type, e.g., .com, .gov.

Default Homepage

Page served when no resource name is specified.

TCP

Transmission Control Protocol, breaks data into packets.

Gateway Computer

Router connecting user to Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Web Crawler

Bot that indexes information on the web.

Search Engine

Software for finding information online.

Cookies

Stored data for user information and preferences.

Browser Cache

Temporary storage of web pages for faster access.

Browser History

List of recently visited web pages.

Bookmark

Saved link to revisit a web page later.

New Tab

Opens a new page within the same browser window.

New Window

Opens a completely independent browser window.

Refresh

Updates the current web page content.

Web 2.0

Current web state with user interactivity and collaboration.

Static Web

Original web with non-interactive, fixed pages.

Community-Based Input

User contributions and interactions on websites.

Data Packets

Small bits of data transmitted over the Internet.

Error Message

Indicates an invalid or non-existent domain request.

ID Number

Unique identifier stored in cookies for users.

Spyware

Malicious software that tracks user information.

Subfolders

Folders within a path on a server.

Data Transmission

Process of sending data over the Internet.

Wikis

Websites that enable users to contribute, collaborate, and edit site content.

Mobile devices

Devices such as smartphones and tablets that have helped to propel Web 2.0.

Social networking

The practice of expanding the number of one's business and/or social contacts by making connections through individuals.

Facebook (FB)

A social networking site launched in 2004, initially developed for students to maintain contact, now has billions of users worldwide.