What happens when you type google.com in your browser and press Enter?

Ever wondered about the magic that occurs behind the scenes when you enter "google.com" into your browser's address bar? In this exploration, we'll take a detailed look at each step of the process, unveiling the journey that transforms a simple web address into the familiar Google homepage. Join us as we unravel the behind-the-scenes mechanics that make your internet browsing experience seamless and efficient.

• What's the DNS?

When you type https://www.google.com into your browser and press Enter, the first step is the DNS request. Your browser needs to convert the human-readable address (www.google.com) into an IP or hostname address that computers can use to locate the server hosting the website. Here’s how the DNS request works:

• Your browser asks your ISP's DNS resolver for the IP.
• If the resolver knows it, great; if not, it asks root DNS servers.
• Root servers guide the request to TLD servers, which point to the authoritative DNS server.
• The authoritative DNS server has the IP and tells your browser, ensuring it finds the right IP, connects, and loads the website.

Once your browser obtains the IP address, it initiates a TCP/IP connection with the web server hosting the desired website. However, before this connection is established, your computer's firewall swiftly assesses whether the connection is permitted. This entire process unfolds in a matter of milliseconds, ensuring a rapid and secure pathway for your browser to communicate with the intended web server.

• What's a Firewall?

A firewall is like a security guard for your computer or network. It checks the data coming in and going out, following specific rules to decide what is safe and what should be blocked. Its job is to protect your computer from unwanted or harmful stuff, like viruses or hackers, it can be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both of them, But still a standalone device that settle between network and Internet.

• TCP/IP? Once your browser obtained the IP address of the server hosting the website, it establishes a TCP/IP connection with that server. TCP is responsible for ensuring that the data sent between the client and server is delivered reliably and in the correct order, while IP is responsible for routing the data between networks.

• What happens if the URL we entered starts with HTTP/HTTPS?

In that case, the browser will use HTTPS protocol to connect to the server, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), it is a secure version of HTTP that encrypts all traffic between the browser and the server which happens by a TLS (Transport Layer Security) which is a cryptographic protocol that encrypts the data using a public key and a private key.

• What about the Web Servers ? so it's time to have a good dive into that term, A web server is a software application or hardware device that stores, processes, and delivers web content to users over the internet. It responds to requests from browsers, serving up web pages and files as requested. Here are some examples of popular web servers: Apache HTTP Server, Nginx.

But what happens when We Have MULTPLE Servers

• Imagine a traffic cop guiding cars at an intersection. In the digital realm, a load balancer does just that. It sits between users and servers, distributing incoming requests among multiple servers to prevent one from getting overwhelmed. Load balancing optimizes performance by evenly spreading the workload. Each server operates efficiently, reducing delays and providing users with a faster, smoother experience.
• Types Of Load Balancers:

1. Hardware load balancers
2. Software load balancers

Load balancers use many different algorithms to distribute traffic across servers, the most common of them are:

1. Round Robin
2. Weighted round robin
3. Least Connections

...and many other algorithms.

Application Server:

In more complex scenarios, an application server may come into play. It manages tasks like user authentication or personalized content generation, enhancing the overall user experience.

Database:

For services requiring data retrieval, the web server interacts with Google's vast database. This database holds an extensive amount of information, crucial for providing quick and accurate search results.

So as A recap :

So, typing "google.com" is like starting a magic show online. The DNS helps find the website, while the firewall keeps everything safe. Our browser and the website's server chat through TCP/IP, ensuring a quick and reliable connection.

If the website uses HTTPS, it's like a secret handshake between them, keeping our data safe. Web servers like Apache and Nginx handle our requests, and load balancers make sure no server feels overwhelmed, ensuring a smooth ride for us.

In the end, the Google homepage appears like magic, thanks to this team of internet wizards working together. It's like a well-choreographed dance making our online experience fast, secure, and just a click away.

- ALX

Thank You For Reading :)