Intro to Computer Science / Unit 9: The Internet and Networks
9.1 What Is the Internet?
Notes
A network is computers connected so they can share data. The internet is a huge network of networks that connects billions of devices around the world.
- The World Wide Web is a collection of websites and pages that use the internet. The web is not the same as the internet; email and video calls also use the internet.
- Devices connect by cables (copper, fiber-optic), Wi-Fi and cellular signals.
- A LAN (local area network) covers a small area such as a home or school. A WAN (wide area network) covers a large area. The internet is the largest WAN.
- Bandwidth is how much data can be sent per second. Latency is the delay before data arrives.
Practice
What is the internet?
The internet connects many networks; the web is one service that runs on it.
Which is an example of a LAN?
A LAN covers a small area like a school or home.
A video call keeps freezing because data takes a long time to arrive. Which term describes this delay?
Latency is the delay in data transfer. Bandwidth is the amount per second.
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