Have you ever wondered how you're currently reading this blog? The page loaded almost immediately after you clicked on a link. However, have you given any thought to the true operation of the internet?? Is it all the work of data pixies and Wi-Fi fairies? Warning: It involves science, engineering, and a lot of cables; it is not magic. Let's examine what's actually happening by removing the layers of the internet onion.
The Internet Is Not in the Cloud, It’s in the Ground
Although everyone has heard the word "cloud," the majority of the internet isn't actually floating in the air. It is spread out throughout the ocean floor and buried underneath. Submarine cables, which are enormous fiber-optic cables that span continents, carry 99 percent of all international data. These cables, which may span thousands of kilometers and withstand severe underwater conditions, are installed by specialized ships.
Fun fact: In order to transmit telegraph signals, the first transatlantic cable was installed in 1858. These connections now serve as the internet's backbone, transporting everything from your cat joke downloads to your video conversations.
How Does Your Browser Find a Website? (Hint: It’s Like a Giant Phone Book)
How does your browser know where to look for a URL like "google.com" when you enter it in? The Domain Name System (DNS), the online equivalent of a phone book, comes into play. "Hey, where can I find Google?" your browser queries a DNS server. The IP address of the website, which looks like 142.250.190.14, is returned by the DNS server.
You would have to commit a series of numbers to memory for each website you visited if DNS didn't exist. Consider attempting to recall the IP address of each of your favorite meme websites. Thank you, but no!
Here's some interesting trivia: Thirteen root servers are dispersed throughout the world in the DNS system. These act as the internet's employers, guiding users to the appropriate locations.
What Happens When You Click a Link? (A Data Journey)
When you click on a link, an incredible chain of events begins. This is the path your data follows:
Your Device: A request is sent to your local network by your browser.
Your ISP: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) receives the request and transmits it to the intended recipient.
Routers and Switches: To determine the quickest route, your data passes through a number of routers and switches.
The Server: After receiving your request, the website's server processes it and returns the requested data.
Back to You: To show the webpage on your screen, the data takes the same path in reverse.
It's similar to mailing a letter in which each word is enclosed in a separate envelope. On the opposite end of the network, these envelopes, or data packets, are put back together to form the original message. Crazy, huh?
How Does Data Actually Travel? (Spoiler: Not at the Speed of Light!)
Fiber-optic cables carry data in the form of light pulses. Data zips across these cables, which are composed of extremely thin glass strands, like beams of light. The catch is that, although being light, it doesn't move at the speed of light. Why? because the light is slowed down by having to bounce around inside the cable.
Did you know that over 319 terabits per second was the fastest internet speed ever measured? It would take less than a second to download the whole Netflix library.
Who Owns the Internet? (A Digital Democracy? Not Quite)
Although the internet is not owned by a single company, some powerful companies do control significant portions of it. Critical infrastructure and services are owned by governments, ISPs, and tech behemoths like Facebook, Amazon, and Google.
The internet's resilience can be attributed to its decentralized structure. However, by establishing guidelines for how networks and devices communicate, groups like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) make sure everything runs properly.
The Secret Guardians of the Internet: Submarine Cables and Data Centers
Have you ever seen internet maps? They resemble an intricate network of underwater roads. The internet's physical backbone is made up of these undersea cables, which link continents and facilitate international communication.
On the other hand, data centers are the internet's factories. Servers in these enormous warehouses process, store, and transmit data. Some of the biggest data centers in the world are run by corporations like Google and Amazon.
Rhetorical question: Have you ever questioned why your videos on YouTube don't buffer the way they did back in 2008? Thanks to quicker cables and data centers!
The Dark Side: What Happens When the Internet Breaks?
When something goes wrong, what happens? Natural calamities or ship anchors might unintentionally cut submarine cables. For instance, internet connections in several nations were interrupted by a cable cut in the Mediterranean in 2008.
And who can overlook significant disruptions like the 2021 global Facebook blackout? These incidents demonstrate the vulnerability of the internet's infrastructure.
If the internet went out for a day, how would you respond? Or a week? Isn't that a frightening thought?
The Future of the Internet: 5G, Satellites, and Beyond
The internet is always changing. While satellite networks like SpaceX's Starlink are working to provide connectivity to faraway locations, 5G technology is making mobile internet quicker and more dependable.
Fun fact: Quantum networks, which use quantum particles to transfer data, may power the internet of the future. Though it's already in the works, it sounds like science fiction.
Conclusion
The internet is more than simply "out there"; it's a concoction of advanced technology, human creativity, and a little mayhem. Think about the amazing journey your data just traveled the next time you email a meme or stream a movie.
Have inquiries or interesting information to share? Let's talk about it in the comments!