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Many people use the terms "Internet" and "World Wide Web" interchangeably, but at A-Level you must understand that they are not the same thing. This lesson clarifies the difference and explores the infrastructure and services that make them work.
The Internet is a global network of interconnected networks — a physical infrastructure of cables (copper, fibre optic), wireless links, routers, switches, and servers that allows billions of devices worldwide to communicate using standardised protocols (primarily TCP/IP).
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A global network infrastructure (hardware + protocols) |
| Invented | Evolved from ARPANET (late 1960s) |
| Protocols | TCP/IP |
| Services carried | Email, file transfer, web, VoIP, streaming, gaming, IoT, and many more |
| Physical medium | Fibre optic cables (including undersea), copper cables, satellite links, wireless |
The Internet is not any single network — it is the interconnection of thousands of networks (ISPs, university networks, government networks, corporate networks, etc.) that agree to exchange traffic.
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