Imagine a person walking up to you and asking you a simple question, "Do you know how the internet works?"
Your mind will immediately think of an infinitely complex universe beyond comprehension. But is it really that difficult to understand? It's not.
So what is the internet?
In simplest possible terms the internet is a long wire that connects a lot of computers and sends data back and forth between them.
Some of these computers have to work 24/7 and serve you data and files. These computers are called Servers. And the computer you are using right now to access anything on the internet is a Client. So essentially from your computer, that is the Client you send a request that runs through the wire and connects to a Server.
╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼ Client ╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼ Server╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼╼
Let's see this process in precise steps:
You send a request 'google.com' from your computer (the Client).
The request runs to your Internet Service Provider(IPS) (for example Jio / Airtel in India and AT&T / Comcast in America).
The IPS sends it to a Domain Name Server(DNS).
A domain name is a unique human-readable name to access websites like google.com or Microsoft.com.
Domain Name Server takes the name you typed in and gives you the IP address for the location of the site. DNS acts as an IP address provider in exchange for the name.
Your computer goes "Knock Knock". The DNS says, "What do you want?"
Your computer says, "Please give me the address to 'google.com'"
DNS goes in and gets a book full of IP addresses (Internet Protocol Addresses).
He looks for, "Google... google... google... Oh, here it is! Here you go."
He gives the IP address to your computer.
Your computer goes directly straight to that address and knocks again.
Another Server opens the door (This server 'hosts' the website as in, it has the website. The website and the server stay at the same IP address).
The server says, "What do you want?"
Your computer says, "I heard you've got 'google.com' Please give me the website"
The server brings your computer 'google.com'
Your computer takes it and runs back 🏃♂️.
Finally, your computer gives you google.com🥱. And happily ever after until you request for "Cat and Dog videos on YouTube"
You ➔ Client ➔ IPS ➔ DNS (IP address) ➔ Hosting Server ➔ Client ➔ You
Internet cables
Another question you might have is, where are all these big long internet wires?
They are mostly beneath the oceans! Submarine communication cables. And a very small percentage are underground too.
Check this out Submarine Cables Underground.
Here's a bonus story:
You (the Client) are looking for an XYZ Cafe. Let's call it "The Caffeine Cafe". You ask a friend, "Where is the Caffeine Cafe?" and your friend (DNS) being a coffee-place expert gives you an address. Now you go to the address and directly ask the waiter (Data Server), "I would like a cup of Cappuccino". The waiter goes away does some processing and, serves you a beautiful cup of coffee☕.
So there you go that's how the internet works.