Back in 2012 I did some high-school research on how the internet actually works. Below is that original post preserved, plus a 2026 update — the actual infrastructure is far more complex and far faster now.
Original post (2012, translated):
Have you ever wondered how the internet works? I hadn’t until a minute ago — I knew vaguely, but never deeply. I searched “how the internet works” on Google and found a great visual schematic. It’s in English but well-explained; if you understand a little English you can really get the basics.
The Internet, Simplest Version — 2026 Edition
Loading a webpage triggers this journey:
- DNS lookup: your browser asks a DNS resolver (e.g.
1.1.1.1Cloudflare) to translateburakbayram.meto an IP. - TCP/QUIC connect: a 3-way handshake. As of 2024 most sites speak HTTP/3 over QUIC — much faster.
- TLS encryption: data is encrypted (HTTPS). TLS 1.3 is standard in 2026.
- HTTP request: your browser asks the server for the page.
- CDN cache: the request often hits the nearest CDN edge (Cloudflare, Akamai, Vercel Edge), not the origin server.
- Render: HTML, CSS, JS are parsed and rendered in your browser.
Didn’t Exist in 2012, Does in 2026
- IPv6: IPv4 was running out in 2012. By 2026 ~50% of global traffic is IPv6.
- CDNs everywhere: Cloudflare was just starting in 2012. In 2026 over 40% of internet traffic flows through CDNs.
- 5G: Live in major cities in Turkey by 2026. Gigabit mobile is real.
- Starlink: LEO satellite internet is no longer niche. Available in 100+ countries including Turkey.
- Edge computing: servers aren’t far away anymore; they sit beside the nearest cell tower. 5-10ms latency.
- HTTP/3 and QUIC: UDP-based, way faster than TCP-based HTTP/1.1.
The Physical Internet
Most people imagine the internet is “in the air”. Reality: 99% travels through undersea fiber-optic cables. Turkey connects to the global internet via cables routing through Egypt, Italy, and Bulgaria — did you know?
The Submarine Cable Map (submarinecablemap.com) shows how the internet is actually laid out — everyone should look at it once.
Going Deeper
- How DNS Works: howdns.works — cute illustrated walkthrough.
- How HTTPS Works: howhttps.works — same style for TLS.
- What Happens When… (GitHub): the canonical answer to “what happens when you type a URL and hit Enter?”
