Networking basics, IP, DNS & HTTP

Networking is the backbone of all digital communication. Three core components—IP, DNS, and HTTP are critical to how data moves across the internet. This guide introduces each concept and how they work together.

IP (Internet Protocol)

IP addresses uniquely identify devices on a network. There are two versions:

  • IPv4: Uses 32-bit addresses (e.g., 192.168.0.1).
  • IPv6: Uses 128-bit addresses for a larger address space.

DNS (Domain Name System)

DNS translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses. It acts like a phonebook for the internet. When you visit a website, your computer queries a DNS server to resolve the domain.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)

HTTP is the protocol used to request and transfer web pages. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted between clients and servers. HTTPS is the secure version using SSL/TLS encryption.

How They Work Together

  1. You type a URL into your browser.
  2. DNS resolves the domain to an IP address.
  3. HTTP requests the page from the server at that IP.
  4. The server responds, and the page loads.

Next Steps

Try inspecting network activity in your browser's DevTools to see IPs and HTTP headers in action. Understanding these basics helps with debugging, security, and web development.

If you want to learn mor about DNS click here.