HowStuffWorks Search HowStuffWorks and the web Video Podcasts Blogs Quizzes Games Forums Adventure Animals Auto Culture Entertainment Home & Garden Money Science Tech Random Article Communication Computer Electronics Home > Tech > Computer > Internet > Internet Basics **How Internet Infrastructure Works** by Jeff Tyson Print Cite This! Close Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article: Tyson, Jeff. "How Internet Infrastructure Works" 03 April 2001. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure.htm> 24 July 2011. Cite Feedback **Need tech help?** Check out our how-to tech articles. Inside this Article Introduction to How Internet Infrastructure Works The Internet: Computer Network Hierarchy Internet Network Example The Function of an Internet Router Internet Backbone Internet Protocol: IP Addresses See more » Internet Protocol: Domain Name System URL: Uniform Resource Locator A DNS Example Internet Servers and Clients Ports and HTTP Lots More Information See all Internet Basics articles Your browser does not support JavaScript or it is disabled. One of the greatest things about the Internet is that nobody really owns it. It is a global collection of networks, both big and small. These networks connect together in many different ways to form the single entity that we know as the Internet. In fact, the very name comes from this idea of interconnected networks. Learn More Internet Quiz Web Servers HowStuffWorks Forums: If you could travel back in time and rebuild the internet's infrastructure, what would you change? ScienceChannel.com: China Internet Addicts Since its beginning in 1969, the Internet has grown from four host computer systems to tens of millions. However, just because nobody owns the Internet, it doesn't mean it is not monitored and maintained in different ways. The Internet Society , a non-profit group established in 1992, oversees the formation of the policies and protocols that define how we use and interact with the Internet. In this article, you will learn about the basic underlying structure of the Internet. You will learn about domain name servers, network access points and backbones. But first you will learn about how your computer connects to others. Next Page **Popular Tech Topics** The Ultimate Computer History Quiz Top 5 Myths About the Internet How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV How Capacitors Work How Cloud Computing Works Take a look at Computer Videos **You Might Also Like** Do social networking sites improve your ability to network in real life? How many of your Facebook friends and Twitter followers would you invite to your birthday party or wedding, or call for a ride when your car breaks down? Are these online connections any good to you in real life? World Records: Internet Unlike some categories of world record, Internet records tend to be fleeting. You could be the toast of the World Wide Web one day and be virtually forgotten the next. Take the quiz now to learn about current world records in the Internet. **Popular Articles** Tech Talk: DSL Quiz Top 5 Niche Social Networks How do social networking sites make money? Inside this Article Introduction to How Internet Infrastructure Works The Internet: Computer Network Hierarchy Internet Network Example The Function of an Internet Router Internet Backbone Internet Protocol: IP Addresses Internet Protocol: Domain Name System URL: Uniform Resource Locator A DNS Example Internet Servers and Clients Ports and HTTP Lots More Information See all Internet Basics articles Next Page **Tech Quizzes** RAM Quiz Which gadget came first? Computer Security Quiz Electric Motors Quiz See All Quizzes» **Tech Myths** 5 Myths About the Internet 5 Myths About Google, Inc. 5 Myths About Apple 5 Myths about Video Games See More» OUR SITES Animal Planet Discovery Channel Discovery Kids Discovery Fit & Health HD Theater Investigation Discovery Military Channel Oprah Winfrey Network Planet Green Science Channel TLC Turbo Consumer Guide Auto Consumer Guide Products Discovery Education Discovery News HowStuffWorks Petfinder Student Competitions TreeHugger VIDEO TLC Video Full Episodes MOBILE Mobile Applications Wallpaper & Ringtones Mobile Video Mobile Web Games & Applications Text Alerts SHOP TLC Store DVDs & Books Custom Gear Toys & Games Gift Sets Jon & Kate Plus 8 Sale Discovery Adventures Student Adventures Discovery TSX Discovery Corporate Sales STAY CONNECTED Email Newsletters RSS Twitter Facebook CORPORATE Discovery Communications, LLC Viewer Relations Advertising Careers @ Discovery Privacy Policy Visitor Agreement © 1998-2011 HowStuffWorks, Inc