It is a network of networks that consists of private , public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless , and optical networking technologies.
The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the interlinked hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web WWW , electronic mail , internet telephony , and file sharing. The origins of the Internet date back to research that enabled the time-sharing of computer resources, the development of packet switching in the s and the design of computer networks for data communication.
The funding of the National Science Foundation Network as a new backbone in the s, as well as private funding for other commercial extensions, encouraged worldwide participation in the development of new networking technologies and the merger of many networks using DARPA's Internet protocol suite. Although the Internet was widely used by academia in the s, the subsequent commercialization of the Internet in the s and beyond incorporated its services and technologies into virtually every aspect of modern life.
Most traditional communication media, including telephone , radio , television , paper mail, and newspapers, are reshaped, redefined, or even bypassed by the Internet, giving birth to new services such as email , Internet telephone , Internet television , online music , digital newspapers, and video streaming websites. Newspapers, books, and other print publishing have adapted to website technology or have been reshaped into blogging , web feeds , and online news aggregators.
The Internet has enabled and accelerated new forms of personal interaction through instant messaging , Internet forums , and social networking services. Online shopping has grown exponentially for major retailers, small businesses , and entrepreneurs , as it enables firms to extend their " brick and mortar " presence to serve a larger market or even sell goods and services entirely online.
