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

When you type "google.com" into your browser's address bar and press Enter, your browser sends a request to Google's web server asking for the Google homepage. The web server then responds by sending back the HTML code for the Google homepage, which your browser receives and interprets.

Your browser then uses this HTML code to render the page and display it on your screen. The page may also contain other resources such as images, JavaScript files, and CSS stylesheets, which your browser will download and use to enhance the appearance and functionality of the page.

Once the page has finished loading, you can use the search bar on the Google homepage to search for information, access other Google services like Gmail or Google Drive, or browse through Google News and other content.

A DNS (Domain Name System) request

A DNS (Domain Name System) request is a process by which your computer or device communicates with a DNS server to resolve a domain name (such as google.com) to an IP address.

When you type a www.google.com into your web browser's address bar, your device first checks its own cache to see if it already knows the IP address associated with that domain name. If it doesn't, it sends a DNS request to a DNS server to look up the IP address for that domain name.

The DNS server will then check its own cache to see if it has the IP address already. If not, it will contact other DNS servers in a hierarchical process until it finds the IP address associated with the domain name you entered. Once the DNS server has obtained the IP address, it returns it to your device, which then uses that IP address to establish a connection to the website's server.

Overall, DNS requests are an important part of the process of accessing websites and other online resources, as they enable your device to translate human-readable domain names into the numeric IP addresses used to identify servers on the internet.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is a set of communication protocols that are used to connect devices on the internet and other networks. It is the foundation of the internet and is used to transmit data between computers and other devices.

The TCP part of the protocol provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data packets between applications running on hosts. It establishes a connection between the sending and receiving hosts, splits the data into packets, and reassembles them in the correct order on the receiving end.

The IP part of the protocol is responsible for the transmission of data packets across network boundaries. It provides a standard way for data to be transmitted between devices on different networks by routing packets through various intermediate routers and switches until they reach their destination.

Together, TCP and IP provide a reliable, efficient, and flexible method for transmitting data over the internet and other networks. They are essential for many online services and applications, including email, file transfer, web browsing, and video streaming.

A firewall

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It acts as a barrier between an organization's internal network and external networks, such as the internet, and helps to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Overall, firewalls are an important component of network security, helping to protect organizations from unauthorized access, data theft, and other cyber attacks. They are used by both individuals and organizations to safeguard their sensitive information and ensure the security of their networks.

HTTPS/SSL

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of the HTTP protocol used for sending and receiving data over the internet. It encrypts the data being transmitted to ensure that it cannot be intercepted or tampered with by unauthorized parties.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the protocol that provides the encryption and security for HTTPS. It works by using a combination of public key encryption and symmetric key encryption to establish a secure connection between a client (such as a web browser) and a server (such as a website).

When a user visits a website that uses HTTPS, their browser first verifies the website's SSL certificate to ensure that it is valid and issued by a trusted certificate authority. The browser then uses the SSL protocol to negotiate a secure connection with the server and encrypt the data being transmitted.

The use of HTTPS/SSL is important for protecting sensitive information such as login credentials, payment information, and other personal data that may be transmitted over the internet. It helps to prevent unauthorized access, data theft, and other cyber attacks by ensuring that the data being transmitted is encrypted and cannot be intercepted or tampered with.

Load-balancer

A load balancer is a device or software system that distributes network traffic across multiple servers or resources to ensure that no single resource becomes overwhelmed with traffic. Load balancing is commonly used in environments where high availability and scalability are important, such as web applications, online gaming, and streaming media.

Overall, load balancing helps to improve the availability and scalability of network resources by ensuring that traffic is distributed evenly across multiple servers or resources. It helps to reduce downtime, prevent outages, and ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Web Servers

A web server is a software application that runs on a computer and is responsible for serving web pages to clients over the internet or other networks. It processes incoming requests from web browsers and other clients, retrieves the requested content, and sends it back to the client in the form of an HTTP response.

Web servers are an essential component of the internet and are used to host millions of websites and web applications. They play a critical role in enabling users to access information and services over the internet, and they are essential for businesses and organizations that rely on the web to deliver content, services, and products to their customers.

Application server

An application server is a software framework that provides a runtime environment for applications to run in. It typically runs on a server machine and provides the middleware services needed to integrate applications with other systems and databases.

Database

A database is an organized collection of structured data that can be accessed, managed, and updated electronically. It is designed to store and manage large volumes of data efficiently, securely, and reliably, and provide fast and easy access to that data.