Have you ever thought about how clicking a link can instantly take you to a webpage ? It might feel like magic when we use the internet for the first time but actually behind the scenes a complex network of technologies and systems working together to make this happen in just seconds or i would say in milliseconds. But don’t worry after reading this article, you will get an overview and understanding of how the internet works.

Before diving into the backbone of the internet, first of all, you have know the basics of browsers (who request i.e click on the link - youtube.com), servers(response based on request i.e gives the necessary files as response to browser to display the website or website) and how they communicate with each other. For a simple overview just look at the diagram (below)

Now you know basic overview how clicking a link opens a website. Then let's get into the behind the works of the internet.

The Backbone of the Internet

Understanding the backbone of the internet requires mainly three fundamental concepts - IP addresses, domain name and routing.

Let’s analyze these three ones by one with the analogy -

IP Addresses - The Internet Addressing System

An IP Address (Internet Protocol) is a unique set of numbers assigned to each device connected to the internet. This helps to identify and locate a device on the internet because every device has its own unique set of numbers as an address. Example - 192.168.1.1

Analogy -

Suppose you want to go to your friend house to give him a comic book (think as a request) but you don’t have the address of your friend house then how can you deliver the comic book to your friend in this world (think like it’s the internet) it’s impossible right. So it becomes necessary to know the address of your friend house and then you will be able to deliver the comic book to your friend.

NOTE :- in middle there are many things present like DNS, router, etc ( which you see upcoming sections below) but for simple understanding there is a simple image (below)

Domain Names -Human Friendly Address

Domain names are the readable and easy to remember alternative names (URL) for IP addresses. They make it easier for humans to navigate the internet without memorizing the hard to remember unique set of numbers. A domain name is mapped to an IP address using the DNS (Domain Name System).

DNS acts like a dictionary of the internet, translating human friendly domain names into IP addresses the device can understand.

Analogy -

Suppose DNS is a contact app of your phone where your store numbers and every numbers which is stored in the contact app has its name to identify the number easily when the need arises. Example - Contact Name - Aryan Sinha (think as the domain name or URL) with the phone number 9876543211 ( think as an IP address)

Routing - Directing Traffic Across the Internet

Routing is the process of selecting a path for data packets (date packets means information in broken pieces such as files, video, etc) to travel from the starting to destination across a network. Routing helps with the help of a Routers which specialized devices that send data packets between networks. Router determine the most suitable and efficient path based on routing protocols (rules how data is routed).

NOTE - If data packets are small, it may send data packets in a single path without making the date packets into pieces.

Analogy -

Suppose sending a table using a truck from your home in bhopal to your friend home in delhi Truck driver package (the table) and labels it with the recipients (IP address of your friend home, bhopal). The delivery truck (data packets) starts from your home in bhopal and reaches to the main headquarters of delivery company (router) then checks best path or multiple paths to determine the path where to go and where to stop. The package travels through several checkpoints across the highways or road (the internet). Finally the package - the table arrives at the destination router and is delivered to the your friend home in delhi.

Now you know the backbones of the internet. Before explaining the journey of the device on the internet you have to know what is ISP.

ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company or organization that provides access to the internet. It acts as a bridge between your device like your phone, laptop, computers, etc and the internet. Your device sends a request (youtube.com) and this request goes through your ISP and then ISP retrieves the information (youtube website) from the internet and sends it back to your device like your phone, laptop, computers, etc. In simple words an ISP is like a middleman that gives you access to the internet with some cost or fee. Example - Jio, Airtel, other local ISP provides, etc.

Journey on the Internet

As you see the above image, how internet works and how it generally does network request and response processes. Lets see the overview of each steps -

Step 1 → Browser - Initiates the request by resolving the domain name via DNS.

Step 2 → DNS Server - translating domain name to the IP address.

Step 3 → ISP (Internet Service Provider) - Routes the request to the destination with data packets.

Step 4 → Router - Directs the paths (or in some cases single path) to the server.

Step 5 → Web Server - Processes the request and sends back a response.

Step 6 → Router - Routes the response back towards the ISP.

Step 7 → ISP - Delivers the response to the Browser.

Step 8 → Browser - Renders the response (html, css, js, etc).

Now you know the backbone of the internet and how things works behind the scenes. Thanks for reading this far.