Hello everyone ,
Today is Day 1 of my Full-Stack Dev Journal, and I decided to start with the basics: How the Internet actually works.
Most of us use the internet daily without thinking about what happens behind the scenes. But once you peel back the layers, it’s fascinating!
📨 From Text Message to Packets
When you send a text message, it doesn’t just “fly” from your phone to someone else’s phone.
Instead, your message is broken down into small chunks of data called packets.
Each packet contains part of the message + addressing information.
Packets travel independently through the network.
At the destination, they’re reassembled into the original message.
Think of it like writing a letter, tearing it into small pieces, and sending them in different envelopes — the receiver puts them back together.
Crossing Continents: Optical Fibers & Satellites
How does your WhatsApp text reach someone sitting across the globe?
Optical fiber cables run under the oceans, connecting continents with lightning-fast internet.
Satellites act as backup and for remote locations, but they’re slower compared to fiber.
So, when you’re video-calling someone in another country, most of your data is literally traveling under the sea!
How Computers Talk to Each Other
For computers to communicate, they need addresses:
IP Address → Like your home address but for devices (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
MAC Address → A unique ID tied to your device’s hardware.
Routers → Devices that direct packets across networks, like traffic cops for the internet.
The Role of ISP and DNS
ISP (Internet Service Provider): Gives you access to the internet (Airtel, Jio, etc.).
DNS (Domain Name System): Like a phonebook for the internet.
Instead of remembering 172.217.166.110, you just type google.com.
DNS translates the domain name into the actual IP address behind the scenes.
Together, ISP + DNS make sure your request finds its way across the globe to the right server.
The Evolution of the Web (Web 1.0 → Web 3.0)
Web 1.0 (1990s): Read-only internet. Static pages, no interaction.
Web 2.0 (2000s): Read + Write internet. Social media, user-generated content, e-commerce.
Web 3.0 (Now): Decentralized internet. Blockchain, smart contracts, Web3 apps.
We’ve moved from “just consuming” → to “creating and sharing” → to “owning digital assets.”
How Data Travels the World
Let’s put it all together:
You type youtube.com.
DNS converts it to an IP address.
Your ISP forwards the request.
Packets travel via routers, fiber cables, and maybe satellites.
YouTube’s servers respond with data.
Packets return, reassemble, and you see YouTube’s homepage.
All this happens in milliseconds ⚡.
My Takeaway Today
Understanding how the internet works is like learning the nervous system of the digital world.
It’s the foundation of everything we’ll build as developers — from websites to apps to decentralized platforms.
Tomorrow, I’ll go deeper into Client-Server Architecture → the backbone of web apps.
I’d love to connect with other developers, learners, and tech enthusiasts. You can follow my journey here:
GitHub: github.com/bblackwind
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vishal2303
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCBVbPI8wshrk-IJKgP0jYLQ
This was Day 1 of my Dev Journal series. Follow along if you’re also curious about full-stack development! 🚀
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