🌐 How the Internet actually works
1. Local Devices
Phones, tablets, and laptops connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, broadband, or mobile data. These create the entry point for communication.
2. Internet Service Provider (ISP)
The ISP’s network (cell towers or broadband routers) assigns your device an IP address and routes your data.
ISPs act as your gateway to the wider internet.
3. DNS (Domain Name System)
When you enter a website (like www.google.com), your device first performs a DNS lookup to translate the domain name into an IP address (like 142.250.190.14).
4. IXP (Internet Exchange Point)
ISPs don’t directly connect to every network. They pass traffic through IXPs, where multiple ISPs and large networks exchange data.
5. BGP & Autonomous Systems
The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) connects independent networks called Autonomous Systems (AS) — the internet’s “routing map.”
This system decides how data travels across the globe through the most efficient or available path.
6. Servers & Data Centers
Your request eventually reaches a server (or cluster of servers) hosting the target website or service.
These servers process your request and send back a response (like a web page, video, or API data).
7. CDN Nodes (Content Delivery Networks)
To speed things up, CDNs store cached content (like images or videos) in servers closer to your location — often inside or near ISP networks.
8. Return Path
The response travels back through the same or similar route — from server → BGP → IXP → ISP → your device — and your browser/app displays the result.
🧩 In Short:
Device → ISP → DNS → IXP → BGP/AS Backbone → Server/CDN → back to Device
Each layer plays a distinct role:
- DNS finds where to go
- ISP + IXP + BGP decide how to get there
- Servers/CDNs deliver what you asked for
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