What is the Internet?

The Internet been called the "information superhighway," the "world's largest library," and just "the 'Net." So what exactly is it? The Internet is a global network of computer networks, linking computers so they can "communicate." This communication can take several forms, such as electronic mail (email), discussion groups, and information retrieved via the World Wide Web. Data is delivered from one computer to another using various protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP), File Transfer Protocol (FPT), and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).