Unit 2: Internet

Bandwidth

the maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, usually measured in bits per second

Internet Protocol (IP)

a protocol for sending data across the Internet that assigns unique numbers (IP addresses) to each connected device

Router

 A type of computer that forwards data across a network

Redundancy

the inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work even if individual components fail, for example by  having more than one path between any two connected devices in a network

Fault Tolerant

Can continue to function even in the event of individual component failures. This is important because elements of complex systems like a computer network fail at unexpected times, often in groups

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

A protocol for sending packets that does error-checking to ensure all packets are received and properly ordered

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

A protocol for sending packets quickly with minimal error-checking and no resending of dropped packets

Packet

A chunk of data sent over a network. Larger messages are divided into packets that may arrive at the destination in order, out-of-order, or not at all

Packet Metadata

Data added to packets to help route them through the network and reassemble the original message.

The Domain Name System (DNS)

the system responsible for translating domain names like example.com into IP addresses

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

a protocol for computers to request and share the pages that make up the world wide web on the Internet

Digital Divide

differing access to computing devices and the Internet, based on socioeconomic, geographic, or demographic characteristics.