What is the Internet?

The Internet is a network of many networks -- individual computers and local area networks and wide area networks all connected together. The Internet provides a means by which computers and computer networks at schools, universities, companies, government agencies, military installations, and other organizations can connect to each other. That means that when you connect your computer to the Internet, you can then connect to computer systems around the world--at universities, government agencies, military installations, and other organizations.

Illustration C4. The Internet

Whether you are a school, business, government agency, or just a computer user at home, to connect to the Internet you must first connect to an Internet Service Provider, or ISP. An ISP is a company that connects computers and networks to the Internet.

The Internet is always changing. People and organizations are constantly connecting to the Internet or disconnecting themselves from it. In fact, no one is in charge of the entire Internet. It is just a very large group of people and organizations who have agreed to share information and computer power.