The Internet began in the 1960s as a network to connect government research laboratories but has since expanded to serve billions of users globally. It started as a project by the U.S. Department of Defense to link computer research across academic institutions and allow for sharing of information. While originally physical, the Internet is now more of a concept that relies on interconnected computer networks using standard protocols to transmit data. Common uses of the Internet include surfing websites, searching information, downloading/uploading files, and communicating through social media, email, and instant messages.