The Internet, the Web and Browsers

The internet is the global network of networks; the web is one service running on it. Understanding the moving parts turns error messages from mysteries into information.

Key Concepts

• Internet = infrastructure; Web = linked pages served over HTTP/HTTPS; email, apps and video calls are other services
• A URL anatomy: https:// (protocol) www.example.com (domain) /page (path)
• HTTPS with the padlock encrypts traffic — required for any login or payment page
• Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) render pages; tabs, bookmarks and history are your navigation tools
• Cache and cookies store site data locally — clearing them fixes many misbehaving pages

Try It Yourself

Look at the URL of your bank or email login page. Identify the protocol, domain and path, and confirm the padlock. Would you notice if the domain were one letter off?