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As we know that the Internet is a computer network that connects hosts and end systems
throughout the world. In this chapter, we will learn about the Internet and e-mail service
of the Internet in detail.
The Internet
The seed of the Internet was planted in 1969 when the Advanced Research Projects
Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense began connecting computers at
different universities and defence contractors. The resulting network was called Advanced
Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET).
In the beginning, ARPANET was a large network serving only a handful of users, but it
expanded rapidly. Initially, the network included four primary host computers. The Internet
acts as a carrier for several different services, each with its own distinct features and
purposes. The most commonly used Internet services are: World Wide Web, electronic
mail, news, file transfer protocol, chat, instant messaging, online services and peer-to-
peer services. January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the Internet. Before
this, the computer networks did not have a standard way to communicate with each other.
A new communications protocol was established named Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The TCP/IP allows computers connected to different networks
communicate with each other.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a large information system where you can surf and get
information. It consists of several public and private websites which may be interlinked and
accessible over the Internet worldwide. WWW is also known as Web. Many people believe
that the World Wide Web and the Internet are the same thing, but this is not correct. In fact,
these are two different things. The Web is a service (a system for accessing information)
that is supported by the Internet, a system of interconnected networks.
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