IB Digital Society 3.4 Networks and the Internet Key Definitions

The maximum amount of data a network connection can carry in a given time, usually measured in bits per second; higher bandwidth means more data can flow at once.

A shared, append-only record made of blocks linked by cryptographic codes, so that any later tampering is easy to detect and the data stays trustworthy without a central authority.

A high-speed, always-on connection to the internet, delivered by technologies such as fibre, cable, mobile networks, or satellite, each with different speeds, costs, and reach.

A device that requests data or services from a server over a network, such as a phone loading a web page.

Using computing power, storage, and software that run on a provider's remote servers and are accessed over the internet, rather than on your own device, usually paid for as an ongoing service.

Two or more devices linked together so they can share data and resources.

A part of the internet reachable only with special software that hides users' identities and locations, used both for protected communication and for illegal trade and activity.

A large facility filled with servers that store and process data for online services, needing constant power and cooling, and forming the physical home of the cloud.

Scrambling data using a key so that only someone with the correct key can read it, protecting the data both while it is stored and while it is being sent.

A clickable connection from one web page or resource to another, letting users jump between documents; the links between pages are what weave the web together.

The high-capacity core of long-distance cables and major routers, run by large providers, that carries traffic between regions and countries and links smaller networks together.

The extension of internet connectivity to everyday physical objects such as lights, watches, and sensors, so they can collect data and be monitored or controlled over the network.

A company that sells access to the internet, connecting homes and businesses to the wider network and often bundling in services such as email, a router, or a phone line.

The ability of different devices, systems, and networks to work together and exchange data, made possible when they follow shared standards and protocols.

The delay between sending data and it arriving, usually measured in milliseconds; low latency feels instant, while high latency causes noticeable lag even when bandwidth is high.

A network connecting devices within a single site, such as a home, school, or office.

Malicious software written to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorised access to a computer or its data.

A device that connects a home or office network to the internet by converting between the network's signals and those the provider's line carries.

The physical and organisational foundation a network runs on, including cables, fibre, cell towers, data centres, and the components that connect them, along with who owns and maintains it.

Set of standards and rules that define how all networks format and transmit data.

Organizations and companies that offer access to networks and their services.

A device that connects devices within a network and sends each piece of data only to its intended recipient, rather than to everyone.

A network in which devices connect directly and share resources as equals, with no central server.

A person's ability to control what information about themselves is collected, who can see it, and how it is used.