The Internet | Computers and the Internet | Computing | Khan Academy
How does the Internet work? Learn about the physical layer (Ethernet, Fiber, WiFi), the protocols (IP, TCP, UDP, DNS, HTTP), the World Wide Web, and the digital divide.
Overview
Added
March 17, 2026
Subject & domain
computer-science-advanced · cybersecurity
Grade range
Grade 6–Grade 12 (Senior)
Page kind
Course
Introduction
The Internet: Course Overview
- Core Subject: An exploration of how the Internet functions, covering physical infrastructure and communication protocols.
- Physical Layer Technologies: Includes Ethernet, Fiber optics, and WiFi.
- Key Protocols:
- IP (Internet Protocol): Addressing and routing protocols.
- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): Packet transport and reliability.
- DNS (Domain Name System): Mapping domain names to IP addresses.
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): Web-based communication.
- UDP (User Datagram Protocol): Mentioned as part of the protocol suite.
- Network Concepts:
- Bit rate and bandwidth.
- Redundancy and fault tolerance.
- Scalable systems.
- Open protocol development.
- Societal Impact: Examination of the "digital divide."
- Course Structure: Organized into three main sections with accompanying quizzes and a final unit test.
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