Internet
A network of networks lets separate machines communicate.
The Internet connects many independently operated networks. Shared technical rules allow information to travel between them.
How did this page reach you?
A representative web request, not a measurement of your route. Caches can skip steps; network paths and protocols vary.
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Your device
The browser begins with the address you requested.
Explore Smartphone → -
Local connection
Wi-Fi, mobile or a wired connection reaches a network.
Explore Wi-Fi → -
Name lookup
If needed, DNS helps resolve the domain to an IP address.
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Network routing
Routers forward traffic through connected networks.
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Server / CDN
A server or content delivery network responds to the request.
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Data returns
The response carries the resources needed for the page.
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Browser assembles
The browser interprets HTML and styles, and runs relevant scripts.
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This screen
The page is drawn and becomes available to explore.
Sources for this exploration
The Internet is not in the cloud.
It depends on physical places, equipment and people. Select a node to inspect its role.
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Fibre
Light carries data through glass fibres.
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Submarine cables
Undersea links connect networks across oceans.
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Data centres
Buildings house servers and networking equipment.
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DNS
Name servers help translate names into addresses.
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Electricity
Network equipment and servers need power.
Explore Electricity → -
Cooling
Heat from equipment has to be managed.
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Network operators
Independent networks arrange how they exchange traffic.
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Devices
Phones and computers are endpoints of the system.
Explore Smartphone →
Sources for this exploration
Where could this take you next?
How does data cross the room without a wire?
Wi-Fi provides a local radio connection.
Silicon ↗What are the chips in this network made from?
Semiconductors enable the electronics.
Smartphone ↗How does a phone turn data into something you can see?
Devices receive and display information.
Electricity ↗What keeps the “cloud” switched on?
Networks and servers depend on electrical power.
Sources & further reading +
Short explanations, grounded in published sources. Follow the originals for depth and context.
Sources checked: 10 September 2026. Visuals are illustrations, not documentary evidence.
Our approach to sources and corrections