What is the Internet?

The internet is like a giant, invisible spider web that connects computers all over the world. Imagine a long string stretching from your computer to your friend's computer, and even to a computer in a different country! Because they are all connected, they can "talk" to each other and share information. This big group of connected computers is called a network. When you use the internet, you are joining millions of other people on this amazing global network.

To see things on the internet, you need a special tool called a web browser. Think of a web browser like a "doorway" or a "window" that lets you look at the web. You can find this doorway by looking for a small picture on your screen called an icon. Most computers have icons that look like a colorful circle (Google Chrome), a blue compass (Safari), or a blue wave (Microsoft Edge). When you click these icons, the door opens!

The internet is a wonderful place because it helps us do so many things. We can use it for learning, like watching a video about how stars are born or reading a digital book about dinosaurs. We can also use it for playing, like playing a math game or drawing a picture with a friend online. It is like having the world's biggest library and the world's biggest toy box right inside your screen! Just remember to always ask a grown-up before you start exploring.