Internet Book

The Internet Book explains how computers communicate, what the Internet is, how the Internet works, and what services the Internet offers. The sixth edition has fully updated content throughout to include new developments in technology and the rise of AI.The book gently explains key concepts, technologies, and terminology, allowing readers to understand the science behind the Internet, appreciate how the Internet can be used, and discover why people find it so exciting. It explains the origins of the Internet and how rapidly it has grown, as well as the hardware and software that users encounter (e.g. modems, switches, wireless routers, repeaters, and VPN technology). It also provides information on how to avoid scams and exaggerated marketing claims, because understanding how something works enables us to detect false promises and defend against malicious tactics.Designed for readers who do not have a strong technical background, The Internet Book is a clear and comprehensive resource for making sense of the Internet.

Douglas E. Comer is a Distinguished Professor at Purdue University in the departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering (courtesy). Dr. Comer has created and enjoys teaching courses on computer networks and Internets. One of the researchers who contributed to the Internet as it was being formed, he served as a member of the Internet Architecture Board, the group responsible for guiding the Internet’s development, and has been inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame for his contributions. An internationally recognized expert on computer networking, Professor Comer lectures to a wide range of audiences, and has written a series of best-selling textbooks that have been translated into many languages, and are used in industry as well as academia. Comer wrote this book as a response to everyone who is curious and has asked him for an explanation of the Internet that is both technically correct and easily understood.