So, whenever you search something on the internet, it allows your computer to call another computer for the information that you searched for. The local process is accomplished by the Ethernet or LAN (Local area network). For instance, if you are sending an image file to another computer, the internet divides the image into packets so you can share with many other computers. A computer has an IP address which helps other computers to find your computer to call when someone searches on the internet. For a computer to be on the internet, it needs to connect with a router.
Therefore, if you are on the internet it means that your computer has an established connection with the router. The DHCP standard facilitates connecting to a router which establishes a temporary connection. In order to connect a computer to the internet, you need Wi-Fi which connects to the internet. With the help of Wi-Fi, you are able to access the internet from where ever you are.
If you know the domain name of the website you want to visit, the Domain Name System (DNS) is used – invisibly and automatically – to find the corresponding IP address of the web server where the website can be found. So, when you type http://edri.org, your computer identifies this as being 217.72.179.7 and sends a request.
If you’re using dial-up or DSL then your modem will connect to the wall and if you’re using cable then it’ll hook up to your cable box or available coaxial cable. What your modem does is translate the data that is sent to it so that it can display on your computer. Computer information is stored digitally, however information sent over phone and cable lines are analog waves. So your modem takes the analog waves, changes it to digital and delivers it to your computer