Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • History & Society
  • Science & Tech
  • Biographies
  • Animals & Nature
  • Geography & Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • ProCon
  • Money
  • Games & Quizzes
  • Videos
  • On This Day
  • One Good Fact
  • Dictionary
  • New Articles
History & Society
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • World History
Science & Tech
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science
  • Technology
Biographies
  • Browse Biographies
Animals & Nature
  • Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
  • Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
  • Environment
  • Fossils & Geologic Time
  • Mammals
  • Plants
Geography & Travel
  • Geography & Travel
Arts & Culture
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Literature
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Visual Arts
  • Companions
  • Demystified
  • Image Galleries
  • Lists
  • Podcasts
  • Spotlight
  • Summaries
  • Top Questions
  • #WTFact
  • Britannica Kids
Ask Our Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Internet
Table of Contents
  • Introduction & Top Questions
  • Origin and development
    • Early networks
    • Foundation of the Internet
    • Commercial expansion
    • The 21st century and future directions
  • Society and the Internet
    • History, community, and communications
      • Two agendas
      • The WELL
      • Instant broadcast communication
      • Social gaming and social networking
      • Love and sex
      • Advertising and e-commerce
    • Information and copyright
      • Education
      • File sharing
      • Electronic publishing
    • Politics and culture
      • Free speech
      • Political campaigns and muckraking
    • Privacy and the Internet
      • “Getting over it”
      • Issues in new media
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images, Videos & Interactives
Britannica's 21st-Century Technology Timeline
How does the Internet really work?
How was the Internet invented?
A group of people sit in a dark room in front of computer monitors.
What is the dark web?
website for Pegasus spyware activist protesting the murder of Jamal Khashoggi
How to tackle cyberbullying
proportions of World Wide Web content constituting the surface web, deep web, and dark web
Discover how internet English affects the spoken English language
For Students
Internet summary
Quizzes
Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news
What Do You Actually Know About the Internet?
Related Questions
  • Who were key people involved with the creation of the Internet?
  • Who controls the Internet?
Read Next
Abstract vector hi speed internet technology background
History of Technology Timeline
multiple exposures, depiction of deep web, internet
What’s the Difference Between the Deep Web and the Dark Web?
Binary Computer Code, Binary Code, Internet, Technology, Password, Data
How Does Wi-Fi Work?
Screen with https for internet security. (encryption, privacy, websites)
Inventions that Helped Shape How We Interact with Knowledge and Information
Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news
Who In