No — the internet is the global network; the web is one service on it. Learn it step by step →
Networks & the Internet is a core part of GCSE Computer Science. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
LAN & WANLocal and wide area networks.
ProtocolsRules for communication, e.g. TCP/IP, HTTP.
TopologiesNetwork layouts such as star and mesh.
The internetA global network of interconnected networks.
PacketsData split into packets for transmission.
DNSTranslates domain names into IP addresses.
NetworkTwo or more devices connected to share data.
LANLocal area network — small area, e.g. a school.
WANWide area network — large area, e.g. the internet.
TopologyThe shape of a network's connections.
StarAll devices connect to a central switch.
MeshEvery device connects to many others directly.
MAC addressUnique hardware ID burned into a device.
IP addressLogical address used to route data.
What your exam board covers
Where Networks & the Internet sits in each exam board's specification. Tap a board to see what it lists.
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
Are the internet and the World Wide Web the same?✗ Yes, they are the same thing.✓ No — the internet is the global network; the web is one service on it.
What does a router do?✗ Stores all the websites you visit.✓ Connects different networks and directs data between them.
What is the difference between serial and parallel transmission?✗ Serial and parallel transmission send data in exactly the same way.✓ Serial sends one bit at a time down a single wire; parallel sends several bits at once down multiple wires.
Why is serial transmission preferred over long distances?✗ Parallel is used over long distances because it is faster.✓ Parallel wires suffer from skew and interference over distance, so serial is more reliable.
What does half-duplex transmission mean?✗ Half-duplex means data travels in both directions at the same time.✓ Data can travel in both directions, but only one direction at a time.
Practise Networks & the Internet — free games
Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:
