The internet is a global network of interconnected computers using standardized protocols, enabling millions of users worldwide. Domain names, introduced in the mid-1980s, replaced numerical IP addresses with user-friendly labels and included initial top-level domains like .com, .org, and .edu. Over time, additional top-level domains have been created to accommodate the rapid growth of online presence.

1. Domain Names

2. What is the Internet? The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standardized Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private and public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope that are linked by copper wires, fiber-optic cables, wireless connections, and other technologies. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet)

3. What is the Internet? A network of computers connected to each other.

4. How do they Connect? These computers needed to know which computer they were connecting to, so each computer was given a unique number – an IP (Internet Protocol) number. Ex. 121.245.078.2

5. Greater numbers of users networking with each other created a demand for an easier system and one that was less confusing. In the mid 1980’s the Domain Name System was implemented and the initial top-level domain names, including .com, .net, and .org, were introduced. Suddenly 121.245.078.2 became 'company.com'.

6. Top Level Domain Names The initial set of top-level domains was established. These were considered "general purpose domains" . com , . edu , . gov , . mil , . org . The . net domain was added with the first implementation of these domains.

7. The Original Top Level Domains .com - commercial organizations, but unrestricted . edu - educational establishments . gov – gov’t entities within the U.S.

8. The Original Top Level Domains .mil – the U.S. military .org – organizations, now unrestricted .net - initially intended to be used only for network providers, now unrestricted

9. Parts of a Domain Name A domain name usually consists of two or more parts (technically labels ), which are separated by dots, such as example.com. The rightmost label is the top-level domain (for example, the address www.example.com has the top-level domain com).

10. Various Levels of Domain Names http://www.ci.west-allis.wi.us

11. Country Codes A country code top level domain is generally used or reserved for a country. . us – United States .ca - Canada .mx – Mexico .pr – Puerto Rico

12. Additional Domain Names With the rapid growth of the internet, additional top level domains have been added over the years. We no longer have the original 6 – the list is much longer.