What is the internet?

The internet is the global collection of networks connected through shared communication protocols. It is neither a single computer nor one company’s system. Websites, email, video calls and other services operate over this infrastructure, so the internet and the web are different concepts.

How does data travel between devices?

Information travels in packets. Routers forward packets towards destination addresses through subsequent links. Communication within a local network and routing between networks involve different layers. Internet service providers connect their networks to others. DNS associates names with addresses but does not carry all the data itself. Wi-Fi may provide only local wireless connectivity: being connected to a router does not prove internet access is working. The route taken by packets may change with network conditions.

How do bandwidth, latency and the web differ?

Bandwidth concerns how much data can be carried over time, while latency measures communication delay. Capacity matters for large downloads; video calls and interactive games also depend on delay and stability. Packet loss and fluctuating connections affect experience. The web is an application environment in which browsers access documents and services using protocols such as HTTP. One unavailable website does not establish a complete internet outage: DNS, a server or an application may be responsible. Connectivity alone does not ensure confidentiality; suitable encrypted protocols are required.