The quick answer
The internet is a giant network that links computers and phones all over the world. Every message is cut into tiny packets. They race through radio waves and cables, even under the sea, and join up again at the end.
TankiRanki, how can a photo travel to the other side of the world in about one second?
RankiIt goes on a very fast trip through the internet. Let’s find out how!
A giant web of computers
The internet is a huge . A network is a group of machines that are linked, so they can share information. The internet links billions of computers, phones and tablets. It even links some fridges and doorbells.
No single person owns the internet. It is made of many smaller networks, run by companies, schools and countries. They all follow the same rules, so they can talk to each other.
Messages travel in tiny packets
Imagine you want to post a big jigsaw puzzle to a friend. It will not fit in one envelope. So you split it into small pieces and send each piece in its own envelope.
The internet does the same thing. Every message, photo or video is cut into tiny pieces called . Each packet has a label with the address it is going to. The packets may take different roads. At the end, a computer puts them back together in the right order.
Every device has an address
A device is a machine like a phone, a tablet or a computer. Each device on the internet has its own number. It is called an , and it works a bit like the address of your home.
Special boxes called read the address on every packet. Then they send it one step closer to where it needs to go. Your home may have a router too.
Websites live on big, powerful computers called . They stay switched on day and night. When you open a web page, your device asks a server for it. The server sends the page back in packets.
TankiSo the internet is like a giant post office, but much, much faster?
RankiYes. And it never stops for lunch.
Cables under the sea
At home, packets often fly through the air as Wi-Fi, which uses invisible radio waves. Soon they jump into cables under the ground. Many of these cables have thin threads of glass inside, called . They carry messages as tiny flashes of light.
To cross an ocean, packets travel through long cables on the sea floor. Almost all the internet messages that cross an ocean go this way. Only a tiny part goes up to satellites in space.
Staying safe online
The internet is great for learning, games and talking to family. But not everyone online is who they say they are. A few simple rules help you stay safe.
- Ask a grown-up before you go online or download anything.
- Never share your passwords, except with your parents or carers.
- Never tell strangers your full name, your address or your school.
- Never send photos of yourself to people you do not know.
- If something online makes you feel worried or upset, tell a grown-up you trust.
Try it
Play the packet game
You need
What to do
- Write a short secret message on the paper, like “Meet me by the door”.
- Tear the paper into 4 pieces, with one or two words on each.
- Number the pieces from 1 to 4 and write the name of the person who gets them.
- Give each piece to a different helper. Each helper walks a different way round the room.
- The receiver collects all the pieces and puts them in number order. Can they read the message?
TankiSo my photo gets chopped up, races under the sea and gets glued back together. In a blink!
RankiExactly. Just remember the safety rules before you press send.
Big words
- network
- A group of machines that are linked so they can share information.
- packets
- Tiny pieces that a message is cut into before it travels.
- IP address
- A number that tells the internet where to find a device.
- routers
- Boxes that read packet addresses and send packets the right way.
- servers
- Big computers that store websites and send them to you.
- optical fibres
- Thin glass threads inside cables that carry messages as light.
Quick quiz
1. What are the tiny pieces a message is cut into called?
The internet splits every message into small packets, which join up again at the end.
2. How do most internet messages cross an ocean?
Almost all messages that cross an ocean travel through cables on the sea floor.
3. What should you do if something online worries you?
A grown-up you trust can help you sort it out and keep you safe.
For parents and teachers
The internet runs on shared rules called protocols, mainly TCP/IP, which split data into packets and route each one separately. A good talking point is your family’s own online rules: which games and sites are fine, and what your child should do if something feels wrong.
Pictures marked “AI generated” were made with AI tools. Ranki and Tanki are AI generated characters. Found a mistake? Write to info@pr-geo.com and we will fix it.
