All around the world, over 5 billion people use the internet, making up about 60% of the global population. Whether browsing a website, reading an article, or playing a video game online, you're part of this vast community of internet users. But have you ever taken a moment to ponder what goes on behind the scenes when you use the internet? Or maybe you've never thought it's important to know or you haven't given it much thought? Well, here's something to consider: the internet can be risky, so understanding the basics can help protect you. It can help you manage your online privacy, figure out if a website is safe, and also deepen your appreciation for how the internet works. Though this article explains what happens when you type a web address into your browser, it should be noted that it also covers the basics of internet functioning.

Before we dive into how the Internet works, we need to first understand the following concepts: Database, Server, DNS, TCP/IP. Knowledge of these concepts will help you fully grasp what happens when we browse the web or enter a web address in our browser.

Understanding the Basics: Database, Server, DNS, TCP/IP

• Database: A database is a collection of information in an organized form. This information is typically stored in a computer electronically. Large databases are stored on Servers.

• Servers: Servers are special types of computers used to store large data. In most cases, the server can be Systems software. They "serve" this information or resources to other computers or devices, like your laptop or smartphone. Types of servers include:

1. Web Server: They deliver web pages and web content to clients online. Examples include Apache HTTP Server, Nginx, and Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).

2. Application server: They host and execute applications and provide services such as transaction management, security, and scalability. Examples include Apache Tomcat, and Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).

3. DNS Servers: They translate domain names into IP(internet protocol) addresses and vice versa, enabling clients to access resources on the internet using domain names. Examples include BIND and Microsoft DNS Server.

• TCP/IP(Transmission control protocol): TCP helps to break down data into smaller packets and ensures their reliable delivery to their intended destination. It works like a courier service, ensuring the timely and complete delivery of its parcels.

• IP(internet protocol): It directs and routes data packets across networks. Each device connected to the internet has a unique IP address made of numbers and dots, which helps identify the device e.g. 192.168.0.1. IP ensures that data packets reach their correct destination without any errors. picture IP address as phone numbers and the data packets as messages without the number there would be no destination to send the text message to.

• DNS: The Domain Name System (DNS) is an important component of how we access websites on the internet. When you type a web address into your browser, your computer does not immediately know where to find the website. It needs to translate the easy-to-read domain name (like "google.com") into an IP address, which is a numeric identifier assigned to each device connected to a computer network. This translation process allows your computer to locate the website's server, where the web page is hosted, and retrieve the information you requested.

Behind the Scenes: How Your Browser Finds a Website

Imagine you want to send a text message to someone named Henry Bosch, but you don't have his number. First, you check your book but do not find it, then you realize that your Town sheriff has a phone book containing the number of everyone in the town. and so you called him asking to check the name for you, he checked it up and sent the number linked to Henry Bosch. Eventually, you get the number and send your message. This is similar to how your browser finds a website when you type its name.

Every browsers usually comes with a DNS resolver. When a website's name is entered on the browser tab, the DNS resolver checks the browser DNS cache(memory) which we would call its 'Phone book' to see if there's an IP address which we would refer to as our 'phone-number' linked to the name. If it doesn't find it, the DNS resolver sends a request to your device's DNS cache(memory). If it doesn't find it, it proceeds to send a request to a DNS server. The DNS server upon receiving the request checks its cache and finds the IP address linked with the website's name. It forwards the IP name back to your browser. Once your browser receives the IP address, it first stores it in its DNS cache, before sending a request to the computer(server) with the IP address asking for the web page of the websites.

Data Transfer via Fiber Optic Cables

But how does DNS resolver send a request to the DSN server? how is the information on the web page sent back to your browser? Well, it's not by radio wave via satellite, as charming as that would be. Instead, it's a fascinating process that involves the use of fiber optic cables. These cables are laid across oceans and seas, connecting computers and devices across different continents.

So, let's break it down: When you're enjoying the convenience of Wi-Fi from your ISP(internet service provider), your device connects to a Tower station with an antenna that provides the Wi-Fi, The antenna in turn is connected to fiber optic cables belonging to your ISP core network. When you send a signal by browsing the web, your computer sends out a radio signal to the antenna. The antenna then works its magic, transforming this signal into electric waves and sending them off to the specific IP address you're after using your ISP core network infrastructure.

Now, here comes the fascinating part: The server at that IP address responds by sending the web page back through those high-speed cables of your ISP core network infrastructure using TCP to ensure everything arrives intact. The Tower station receives these electric signals, flips them back into radio waves, and sends them joyfully back to your waiting computer using radio waves via the antenna

What's truly mind-blowing is that this whole process happens in the blink of an eye – within a millisecond! So it's these fiber optic cables that connect computers across oceans and continents. Cool, huh?

Optimizing your Internet experience: Load-balancers

Have you ever noticed how frustrating it can be when websites take forever to load? Especially during rush hours, it feels like you're stuck in traffic! This is where load-balancers come into play!

Load-balancers are mostly software installed on servers, equipped with smart algorithms that ensure all incoming DNS requests are evenly distributed across multiple servers, preventing any one server from being overwhelmed. So if multiple DNS requests wants to access a particular web server, the load balancer redirects some of these requests to other servers linked to the web. This results in improved website responsiveness and reliability, even during periods of high traffic.

Ensuring security: HTTPS and SSL and Firewalls

As you know, the internet can be a dangerous place too. Hackers can easily gain access to your data by hacking into the web servers they can also intercept your radio signals transmitted to your ISP's network antenna. Scary, right? This is where HTTPS and SSL come in to save the day!

HTTPS and SSL are like a shield that protects your data from malicious attacks. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, which is an extension of HTTP (used for transferring data over the internet). The "S" at the end of HTTPS stands for "Secure," indicating that all communications between your browser and the server are secure. On the other hand, SSL stands for; Secure Sockets Layer. These two frameworks encrypt your data thereby preventing unauthorized access to it. So whenever you enter a website check the domain name if it starts with HTTPs e.g. https/www.domain.com. Suppose it doesn’t then know that your connection is not secure.

Firewalls are usually software installed on web servers to scrutinize and regulate network traffic to ensure that only authorized traffic flows through the network, while any malicious traffic is blocked from accessing the network. They serve as the first line of defense in maintaining network integrity and security Examples of such software include; Windows Defender Firewall (built into Microsoft Windows), macOS Firewall (built into macOS), iptables (a command-line utility for configuring firewall rules on Linux). In most cases, firewalls can come in the form of computer hardware. e.g Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance).

Conclusion

Understanding how the internet works can make your online experience better and safer. From finding websites to sending data, a lot is going on behind the scenes. Knowing about things like servers, DNS, and fiber optic cables can deepen your appreciation for the intricate design of the Internet. It's like understanding how your phone works - it helps you use it better. So, next time you browse the web, remember the cool stuff happening in the background!