Internet Communication

The Internet is a worldwide system of connections between computer networks. The system operates using a mix of copper wire, fiber-optic cable, wireless connections, and additional methods to function. This allows transmission of information, graphics, voice, and video. Basic items transmitted include electronic mail, file transfers and sharing, video and graphic sharing, person-to-person communication by audio and video transmission through VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol.

The protocols that are used on the internet are the tools that allow communication. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is one tool. The other is called Internet Protocol (IP) and they are often linked together for referral as TCP/IP. These are operational conventions that are agreed upon and make up the rules of communication over the internet. They manage bits of information and how they are bundled for transmission and coded and decoded. Security is a very important part of internet communications.
By using TCP and IP, with security measures, information in the form of computer data is exchanged between computers. Safety First passwords and user names, even in games such as Battlestar Galactica browser. Data travels through many networks to reach its final destination. A modem is needed, and is connected to a router, forming sort of an electronic mail processing system. The message goes from one computer, across the networks, to a mail server, and the router, to its destination computer. The message lands in a specific location, a mailbox on the network the computer user subscribes to.

The Internet required an addressing system. The IP addresses are numeric, but under a user-friendly development, the Domain Name System, each individual address can be reached by a mnemonic equivalent, or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is easier to remember and use. Domain names are restricted to one per address and are coordinated by ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.