How Does the Internet Work? 12 Q&As Related to Websites, Domains, and More

The internet is a vast, worldwide network of connected computers that send data – in the form of code, text, links, pictures, videos, etc. – to and from user devices (i.e. your phone, your computer, etc.) and servers (i.e. special, publicly accessible computers where websites and online apps are stored).

Have you ever wondered what happens when you type a web address into your browser? Or how your favorite websites appear on your screen? In this guide, we’ll demystify the internet and explain how websites work in simple, easy-to-understand terms. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of the key concepts that power the digital world we live in.

1. What is the Internet?

Before we jump into websites, let’s start with the basics. The internet is a vast network of connected computers that spans the globe. It’s like a global system of roads, but instead of cars, information travels along these digital highways.

2. What is a Website?

A website is a collection of web pages that live on the internet. Think of a website as a digital book, where each webpage is a different chapter. These pages contain text, images, videos, and other types of content that you can access through your web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).

Websites are stored on special computers called servers. When you visit a website, your browser sends a request to the server, which then sends back the website’s files for your browser to display.

3. What is a Domain?

A domain is the address you type into your browser to visit a website. For example, “google.com” is a domain. Just like your home has a street address, a website needs an address so people can find it.

Domains make it easy for us to access websites. Without them, we’d have to remember long strings of numbers called IP addresses, which wouldn’t be very user-friendly!

4. How are Websites and Domains Related?

Think of a website as a house and the domain as its street address. The website is the actual content you see, while the domain is how you locate that content on the internet. You need both for a functional online presence:

• Without a domain, you wouldn’t know where to find the website.
• Without a website, the domain would just lead to an empty lot.

5. What is a Domain Registrar?

A domain registrar is a company that allows you to register and manage domain names. When you decide you want a website, the first step is often choosing and registering a domain, like “myawesomewebsite.com.”

Popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains (we use Namecheap as our domain registrar, but we offer our own private web hosting). When you register a domain, you’re essentially leasing it for a specific period (usually a year or more). The registrar ensures that your chosen domain points to your website.

6. What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is a service that stores your website’s files and makes them accessible on the internet. When someone visits your domain, your web host delivers the content of your website to their browser.

There are different types of web hosting, each suited to different needs:

• Shared Hosting: Multiple websites “share” the same server. It’s like renting an apartment in a building with other tenants.
• Dedicated Hosting: Your website has an entire server to itself. This is like owning your own house.
• VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting: Your website gets dedicated resources within a shared environment. The metaphor starts to break down here, but it’s similar to living in a condo where you have your own space but share the building with others.
• Cloud Hosting: Your website is hosted on a network of servers, providing flexibility and scalability. Here again, the housing metaphor isn’t great. But think of it like having multiple backup houses in different locations or having one “house” but the “rooms” are split up in different locations.

In addition to the various hosting methods detailed above, there are also various levels of each kind of hosting. You can get pretty technical pretty quick when digging in to this topic, but for example, we offer private enterprise-grade hosting in “Tier 3 data centers”. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s some of the best hosting on the internet. Period.

7. How Do Domains and Web Hosting Work Together?

For a website to be accessible, you need both a domain and web hosting. Here’s how they work together:

1. You register a domain (e.g., “myawesomewebsite.com”) with a domain registrar.
2. You purchase web hosting to store your website’s files.
3. You connect your domain to your web hosting using DNS settings (we’ll explain DNS next).
4. Now, when someone types your domain into their browser, they’re directed to your website on your web host’s server.

8. What is DNS (Domain Name System)?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It’s like the phone book of the internet, translating human-friendly domain names into IP addresses that computers understand.

Here’s how it works:

1. You type a domain name into your browser (e.g., “google.com”).
2. Your computer asks a DNS server, “What’s the IP address for google.com?” (not literally, but you get the idea).
3. The DNS server responds with the IP address (e.g., “172.217.164.110”).
4. Your browser then connects to that IP address to load the website.

This process happens in milliseconds, making your browsing experience seamless.

9. What is an IP Address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to the internet. It’s like a home address for your computer or server.

There are two types of IP addresses:

• IPv4: Looks like this: 192.168.1.1
• IPv6: Looks like this: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

IPv6 was created because we’re running out of possible IPv4 addresses due to the growing number of internet-connected devices.

What’s my IP Address?

If you’re looking for the public IP address for your current internet connection, you can use a tool like WhatIsMyIP.com, or you can just Google it!

Want to know more, check out this article: What is my IP address? | IP address lookup

10. What are URLs and Links?

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the complete web address you see in your browser’s address bar. It typically includes:

• The protocol (usually “http://” or “https://”)
• The domain name (usually followed by a / or some other symbol to separate the domain from the path (see next bullet)
• The path to a specific page or resource (example: https://2oddballs.com/blog/)
• You may also see a bunch of symbols and text after a path, which are “URL parameters” that pass data from your browser to the website. This data could be for tracking, personalization, or search information (called query parameters).

A link (or hyperlink) is clickable text or an image that takes you to another web page or resource. Links are what make the web interconnected, allowing you to navigate between pages and websites easily.

11. How Are Websites Built and Maintained?

Websites are built using various technologies:

• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): The backbone of web content, defining the structure of web pages.
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): Controls the visual style and layout of web pages.
• JavaScript: This is one example of code that adds interactivity and dynamic features to websites.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Tools like WordPress that make it easy to create and manage website content without needing to code.

Maintaining a website involves regularly updating content, ensuring security, and keeping software up to date. This is often handled by the website owner or a web development team.

Want to know more about 2oddballs’ web hosting and about our web hosting and maintenance service offerings? Check out this explainer article/video: 2oddballs Website Hosting and Maintenance Packages Explained

12. How is Website Security Handled?

Website security is crucial to protect both the website and its users. Key security measures include:

• SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificates: These encrypt data transferred between the user’s browser and the website, indicated by the S in “httpS://” and a padlock icon in the address bar.
• Firewalls: These monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, and more recently, machine learning algorithms (i.e. AI).
• Regular Updates: Keeping all software –including WordPress and plugins, themes etc. –up to date and rapidly patching any security vulnerabilities.
• Backups: Regular backups ensure that if something goes wrong, the website can be restored quickly. At 2oddballs we use the 3-2-1 backup protocol, which means we maintain three copies of your website: two copies are stored in 2 different places, and one copy is stored offsite, ensuring that your data is safe, secure, and easily recoverable in case of any unexpected issues.

Conclusion

Understanding how the internet and websites work doesn’t have to be complicated. At its core, the web is just a big bunch of connected computers sharing information. Domains and hosting work hand-in-hand to make websites accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Whether you’re browsing your favorite blog, shopping online, or thinking about creating your own website, these fundamental concepts are what make it all possible. At 2oddballs Creative, we’re passionate about demystifying technology and helping you navigate the digital world with confidence.

Do you have any questions about getting your own website up and running? Or maybe you’re curious about how to improve your existing online presence? Don’t hesitate to contact us –we’re here to help you make sense of the web and achieve your online goals!