Networks and the Internet
Connected computers can share information. The internet is a network of networks. Services such as the world wide web, email and video calls use it to pass data from machine to machine.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain the difference between the internet (the connected computers) and the world wide web (one service that runs on it)
- Describe how a message or web page travels from one computer to another through cables, wifi and routers
- Name several services the internet provides (e.g., web pages, email, video calls, online games) and what they have in common
1 · Read
A network connects two or more computers so they can share data, such as files and messages. Phones and tablets can join too. A small network can work without internet access. The internet connects many networks around the world.
The world wide web is one service that uses the internet. It contains linked pages you open in a browser. A website can contain many pages. Email, video calls and online games can use the internet too.
Amara sends a photo to her cousin as small pieces of data. Routers pass them towards her cousin's device, which puts the photo together. Web pages can travel as pieces of data too.
Web pages, email, video calls and online games carry different kinds of data. They can share the same internet connection. Sending an email transfers data to another person. Reading a saved file offline does not need that transfer.
Wifi uses radio signals for a local connection. A device can also connect by cable. If home wifi fails, devices using it may lose access. Other connections and the wider internet can keep working.
The internet connects networks. The web, email, video calls and online games are services that can use it. A local wifi failure does not stop the whole internet.
Three readings and six flashcards were written for this dataset. Video references are Khan Academy's "Packets, routers, and reliability" and "IP addresses and DNS". Video license terms have not been verified.
More to read
A message uses connections
Sending a message transfers data. Wifi radio signals can carry it from a tablet to a home router. Cables and other links can carry it farther. Routers pass the data towards the receiving device.
The internet joins many networks. It carries data for linked web pages, email, video calls and online games. These services can share the same connection even though they look different on screen.
Sharing near and far
A school network can connect computers and a printer. With permission, several computers can send work to that printer. Computers can also share files on the local network without internet access.
The internet lets the school reach services on networks around the world. Networks can also connect through private links without using the public internet. Sharing data between connected networks does not always mean using the internet.
Ask before sharing files
Ask a trusted adult or teacher before sharing a file. Being connected does not give everyone permission to open every file.
An adult can choose who may read a shared folder and who may change its files. Reading and changing are different permissions. Do not turn off passwords or security settings to make sharing work. Ask for help instead of changing network settings yourself.
Explore more
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.