The internet can feel like a big mystery, but it’s easier than it looks. Here are 20 terms, explained the simple way:
Packets: Your data doesn’t travel in one piece. It’s broken into small parcels, like a trader splitting a big load into several boxes and sending them on different buses. They’re put back together at the other end. Visit this page to learn more about them.
Modem: The device that brings the internet from your provider into your home. Think of the NEPA pole that brings light to your house. The word Modem stands for Modulator-Demodulator Read more about them here
Router: It takes that internet and shares it with your phone, laptop and TV. It’s the distribution board that shares power to every room. A modem brings it in, a router shares it out. (Many devices combine both.). Read more about them here
IP Address: A unique number for every device online, like a house number on a street. Without it, data wouldn’t know where to go. A number like
192.123.77.234is an example of an IP address. Learn more hereDomain Name: The easy-to-remember name of a website, like
jumia.com.ng. It’s the name of the shop, not its GPS coordinates. Learn more hereDNS (Domain Name System): This works like a phonebook on the internet. You save “Mama Ngozi” in your contacts, not her number. In the same way, a DNS turns the name you type into a browser into the IP address computers need. Find more information here
HTTP: The set of rules your browser and a website use to talk to each other. It’s like ordering at a buka: you ask, they bring. The only issue is that anyone nearby can hear your order and that's not good. Thankfully, the next item fixes this. HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.
HTTPS: The same conversation, but private. The “S” at the end stands for “Secure”. You’re now whispering your order so that those pesky eavesdroppers can't hear what you're saying. In actual fact, whatever information you send over HTTPS is encrypted (transformed into a less readable form) so that no one can understand it unless it was intended for them. Read more here
SSL / TLS: The technology behind that “S”, and the reason for the little padlock in your browser. It scrambles your data like a tamper-proof bank bag, so only the right person can open it. TLS is simply the newer version of SSL. As an aside, SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and TLS stands for Transport Layer Security. Check out this wikipedia article to learn more
URL: The full address of a specific page on a website. If the domain is the building, the URL is the building plus the exact flat number.
Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox. It’s like an autonomous vehicle that takes you to a website. All you do is tell it the name of where you want to go and it takes you there.
Server: A powerful computer that stores websites and sends them to you when you ask. Think of a big warehouse at Balogun Market that hands over what you request. i.e A server is like a warehouse for websites on the internet.
ISP (Internet Service Provider): The company that sells you access to the internet, like MTN, Airtel or Spectranet. It’s like your DisCo, but for data.
Bandwidth: How much data can pass through a server at once. Think of it like the number of lanes on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The more lanes, the less traffic jam.
Latency (Ping): The delay before data responds. Think of it like the amount of time it takes a message boy to deliver his message and come back. Lower is better, especially for gaming and video calls.
Website: A document you view on the internet. As with every document, it's usually made up of a collection of pages that contain different kinds of information. Each page is called a Web Page. We build websites using HTML, CSS & JavaScript. Learn more here.
Cache: Saved copies of websites on your device. It’s like stocking provisions at home so you don’t go to the market every time. A really good idea.
Cookies: Small notes a website saves about you. It’s the shop owner who says, “Oga, the usual?” the moment you walk in. That's how you know you're a regular customer.
Firewall: Your security gateman. It checks who’s coming in and turns away suspicious visitors. Although, unlike your gateman, this one never sleeps.
VPN: A private tunnel for your data that hides your location. It’s like travelling in a tinted-glass car instead of an open bus. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.
And that’s it. Next time someone throws these terms around, you’ll know exactly what they mean.
Thanks for reading.
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