🌐 How Does the Internet Work?
5th Grade 🤖 Coding & AI
The internet is a giant network that connects billions of computers so they can send information to each other.
Packets
When you open a web page, the information is chopped into small pieces called packets. They travel through cables, Wi-Fi and cell towers, sometimes taking different routes, and are put back together on your device.
Addresses
Every device online has an IP address, like a home address. When you type a website name, a system called DNS looks up the address — like a phone book for the internet.
Under the sea
Most internet traffic between continents travels through fiber-optic cables on the ocean floor, carrying data as pulses of light.
Stay safe online
Never share your full name, address, school or passwords online, and tell a trusted adult if something makes you uncomfortable.
Quick quiz
What are the small pieces of data called?
What does DNS do?
How does most data cross oceans?