How the Internet Works

What Happens When You Hit Enter?

You type a URL and press Enter. 200 milliseconds later, a page appears. Here's every single step that happened in between — from DNS lookup to browser paint.

How DNS Works — The Internet's Phone Book

You type google.com. Your browser stares at it blankly — it has no idea where that is. Here's how the internet turns a name into an address, and why it's faster than you'd expect.

How TCP Works — The Internet's Delivery Guarantee

You have an IP address. Before a single byte of data flows, TCP performs a secret handshake and establishes a guarantee: nothing will be lost. Here's how it works.

How HTTPS Works — The Lock Icon Explained

Your TCP connection is open. But right now, it's a naked wire — every router between you and the server can read everything. Here's what TLS does, how the handshake works, and what that padlock actually means.

How HTTP Works — The Language of the Web

The TLS tunnel is open. Now your browser and server need to speak the same language. Here's what GET, POST, 404, and 200 actually mean — and what really travels across the wire.

How HTTP/2 Works — The Speed Upgrade

HTTP/1.1 can only send one request at a time. A modern page needs 50+ files. HTTP/2 loads everything at once over a single connection — here's how multiplexing actually works.

How WebSockets Work — Real-Time, Both Ways

HTTP is always ask-then-answer. WebSockets open a permanent channel where server and client talk freely — no polling, no waiting. Here's how chat apps, live feeds, and multiplayer games actually work.

How SFTP Works — Secure File Transfers

Every time a developer deploys files to a server or downloads logs, SFTP is often involved. Here's how it differs from FTP, how the SSH tunnel works, and when to use it.