Characteristics of the Internet
The internet is the vast global network of interconnected computer networks, using a common set of protocols to let billions of devices worldwide exchange data. It's worth being precise about one common mix-up: the internet is the underlying infrastructure and set of protocols, while the World Wide Web, the system of linked pages accessed through a browser, is just one service that runs on top of it, alongside others like email and file transfer.
Last updated: 8 September 2026
Key characteristics
Global connectivity
The internet connects devices and networks across virtually every country in the world, using shared standards that make it possible for a device anywhere to reach a server anywhere else.
Packet-based communication
Data sent over the internet is broken into small units called packets, each routed independently and reassembled at the destination, which makes the network more efficient and resilient than sending data as one continuous stream.
Distributed, decentralised infrastructure
The internet has no single central point of control; it's made up of many independently operated networks that agree to interconnect and follow common protocols, which is part of why it's difficult to shut down entirely.
Interoperability through standard protocols
Devices and networks built by completely different manufacturers and organisations can communicate because they all implement the same core protocols, most fundamentally TCP/IP.
Scalability
The internet's architecture has allowed it to grow from a small number of connected research computers in the 1960s and 70s to billions of connected devices today without requiring a fundamental redesign.
Open accessibility
In most parts of the world, connecting to the internet doesn't require permission from a central authority, just a connection through an internet service provider, which has enabled its rapid, decentralised growth.
A wide range of services
The internet carries far more than web pages: email, file transfer, streaming media, voice and video calls, and countless application-specific services all run over the same underlying infrastructure.
Ongoing security and privacy considerations
The same open, interconnected design that makes the internet powerful also creates genuine security and privacy challenges, which is why encryption, authentication, and other protective measures are now built into most internet services.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web?
The internet is the physical and logical global network infrastructure, connected via protocols like TCP/IP. The World Wide Web is a specific service that runs on top of that infrastructure, made up of linked documents accessed via HTTP and displayed in a browser. Email, online gaming, and video calls also run over the internet but are not part of the Web.
Who owns or controls the internet?
No single entity owns the internet. It's a decentralised network of independently operated networks, run by internet service providers, companies, universities, and governments, that voluntarily interconnect and agree to follow shared technical standards set by bodies like the Internet Engineering Task Force.
What does TCP/IP mean?
TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, the foundational set of communication rules that governs how data is broken into packets, addressed, routed, and reassembled across the internet, making it possible for different networks and devices to exchange data reliably.