Since the explosive growth of web-based applications, every developer could stand to benefit from understanding how the Internet works. In this article, accompanied with an introductory series of short videos about the Internet from [code.org](https://code.org), you will learn the basics of the Internet and how it works. After going through this article, you will be able to answer the below questions:
In the video below, Vint Cerf, one of the "fathers of the internet," explains the history of how the Internet works and how no one person or organization is really in charge of it.
Information on the Internet moves from computer to another in the form of bits over various mediums, including Ethernet cables, fiber optic cables, and wireless signals (i.e., radio waves).
Now that you know about the physical medium for the data transfer over the internet, it's time to learn about the protocols involved. How does the information traverse from one computer to another in this massive global network of computers?
Information transfer on the Internet from one computer to another does not need to follow a fixed path; in fact, it may change paths during the transfer. This information transfer is done in the form of packets and these packets may follow different routes depending on certain factors.
HTTP is the standard protocol by which webpages are transferred over the Internet. The video below is a brief introduction to HTTP and how web browsers load websites for you.
Cryptography is what keeps our communication secure on the Internet. In this short video, you will learn the basics of cryptograpy, SSL/TLS, and how they help make the communication on the Internet secure.
And that wraps it up for this article. To learn more about the Internet, [Kamran Ahmed](https://twitter.com/kamranahmedse) has a nice little guide on [DNS: How a website is found on the Internet](/guides/dns-in-one-picture). Also, go through the episodes of [howdns.works](https://howdns.works/) and read this [cartoon intro to DNS over HTTPS](https://hacks.mozilla.org/2018/05/a-cartoon-intro-to-dns-over-https/).
