Quick summary
The Internet is a worldwide network of connected computer networks. The World Wide Web (WWW) is the huge collection of web pages that we open on the Internet using a web browser. Email lets us send messages and files to anyone who has an email address.
Key points
- Internet = the network (roads); WWW = the web pages travelling on it (vehicles). They are not the same.
- An intranet is a private network used only inside one organisation.
- A website is a group of related web pages; its first page is the home page.
- A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a web page.
- HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP; the browser shows a padlock for it.
- An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is the company that gives you an Internet connection.
- Bandwidth is how much data a connection can carry per second, shown as Mbps.
- LAN covers a small area, MAN a city, and WAN a very large area. The Internet is the biggest WAN.
- Cloud services such as Google Drive store your files online so you can open them from any device.
- An email address has the form name@domain, for example ravi@example.com.
URL and web browser
A web address has parts. It starts with the protocol (http or https). Then comes the domain name, such as www.example.gov.in. After that comes the page path, such as /forms. The ending of the domain gives a hint: .gov.in is used for Indian government sites, .org is often used by organisations, and .com mainly by companies.
A web browser is the software used to open websites. Examples: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari. A search engine (like Google or Bing) is a website that finds pages for you. For better results, type a few clear keywords, and put an exact phrase inside double quotes.
| Browser feature | Shortcut (Chrome/Edge) |
|---|---|
| Open a new tab | Ctrl + T |
| Bookmark the page | Ctrl + D |
| See history | Ctrl + H |
| See downloads | Ctrl + J |
| Incognito (Chrome) / InPrivate (Edge) window | Ctrl + Shift + N |
The address bar is where you type a URL. Tabs let you keep many pages open in one window. Incognito mode does not save history on that computer, but it does not hide you from the website or your ISP.
You can connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi (wireless) or through mobile data on a phone.
Email basics
| Field or folder | Meaning |
|---|---|
| To | Main receiver of the mail |
| CC (Carbon Copy) | Others who get a copy; everyone can see these addresses |
| BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) | Others who get a copy; their addresses stay hidden |
| Subject | Short title of the mail |
| Attachment | A file sent with the mail |
| Inbox | Mails you have received |
| Sent | Mails you have sent |
| Drafts | Mails written but not yet sent |
| Spam | Suspected junk or fake mails |
Reply answers only the sender. Reply All answers the sender and everyone in To and CC. Forward sends a received mail to a new person.
To create an email account, open a mail service, choose a unique username, set a strong password and add your mobile number for recovery. Good email manners: clear subject, short polite message, check attachments before sending, no ALL CAPITALS.
Video calling apps (for example Google Meet or Zoom) let people talk face to face over the Internet using a camera and microphone.
Important terms
- WWW – the collection of web pages linked to each other on the Internet.
- Intranet – a private network inside one organisation.
- URL – the full address of a web page.
- Domain name – the name part of a website address, like example.gov.in.
- ISP – the company that provides Internet service.
- Bandwidth – the amount of data a connection carries per second.
- BCC – copy of a mail sent with hidden addresses.
Practice questions (with answers)
Q1. What is the full form of URL?
- (A) Universal Remote Link
- (B) User Resource List
- (C) Uniform Resource Locator
- (D) Unique Router Line
Q2. Which type of network covers a very large area?
- (A) WAN
- (B) LAN
- (C) Intranet only
- (D) Bluetooth
Q3. Which shortcut bookmarks the current page in Chrome?
- (A) Ctrl + H
- (B) Ctrl + T
- (C) Ctrl + J
- (D) Ctrl + D
Q4. You want to send a mail copy to someone without others seeing their address. Which field?
- (A) To
- (B) BCC
- (C) CC
- (D) Subject
Q5. Where are emails that are written but not yet sent kept?
- (A) Inbox
- (B) Spam
- (C) Drafts
- (D) Sent
Exam tip
Internet and WWW are different. Learn the full forms (URL, HTTP, HTTPS, ISP, LAN, MAN, WAN, CC, BCC) and the difference between CC and BCC.