The internet is a global system of interconnected networks that allows computers and devices to communicate with each other and exchange data.
When you visit a website, your device (called a client) sends a request through your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This request first goes to a system called DNS (Domain Name System), which translates the website name (like google.com) into an IP address, which is the actual numerical address of the server.
Once the IP address is found, your request is broken into small pieces called packets. These packets travel across multiple networks and routers, which act like traffic directors, guiding the data through the fastest available paths to reach the correct server.
The server then processes your request and sends back the required data, also in packets. These packets travel back through the internet, possibly taking different routes, and arrive at your device.
Your device then reassembles the packets in the correct order and your browser displays the website.
In simple terms, the internet works by using IP addresses to locate computers, DNS to translate names, packets to send data, and routers to move that data across a global network of connected systems.