For ordinary people the Internet is miracle of the twenty first century, the unprepared person will not manage to explain the principle of its work. But, if to penetrate a little into specialized literature, information transfer secrets through a wide area network will seem only well thought over hi-tech system.
Data network
If you want to understand the principle of work of the Internet, it is necessary to understand that it is. The Internet is only a data network. Not without reason its second name is the phrase "wide area network". It represents set of the hardware-software equipment which connects communication links.
The client, the server and the network equipment belong to the equipment. Their assignment consists in transmission of data which can be any information from the literal text to long video.
The client is meant as the personal computer, the laptop, phone or any other device which is capable to send requests for obtaining information from network, to accept answers to them and to display them in an available view. The server is understood as that place where information is stored. These are databases which respond to the requests of the client and tell him in what he is interested. The network equipment is a channel which connects the server and the client.
As there is information transfer
If to consider an essence of work of a wide area network schematically, then it will look as follows. The client sends inquiry for information on the server. This request is transferred to processing via the network equipment on the server. After receiving the server will create the answer to a question and will send it back on the network equipment to the client. So the scheme of interaction between the client and the server turns out. In order that this scheme smoothly worked, the server should be round the clock in working order, differently information which is stored in its possession, will be unavailable.
As the network equipment works
In order that the client and the server could interact among themselves, the network equipment is used: modems, routers, switches and communication links.
The modem works by means of processing of information from a digital form in analog signals and vice versa then it gives her on optical communication links.
Routers work by means of storage of "routing table" which contains packages for data transmission and the addresses corresponding to them.
The switch transfers information between devices which are connected to it directly at small distance by means of a special cable. As a rule, switches are used for creation of local area networks therefore on the Internet use modems and routers to work.