How a web page reaches you
Typing an address starts a chain of requests. Understanding that chain makes both faults and online safety much easier to reason about.
Part of your national curriculum
- Computer systems and networks: Understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
- Computer systems and networks: Understand how computer networks, including the internet, can provide multiple services such as the World Wide Web
- Creativity and digital literacy: Understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting online identity and privacy
- Creativity and digital literacy: Recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct, and know how to report concerns
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Describe how data travels across the internet
Key learning points
- • Names to numbers
- • Packets and responses
This lesson at a glance
- 20 minutes
- 13 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 13
Visual introductionPicture this
How a web page reaches you
Typing an address starts a chain of requests. Understanding that chain makes both faults and online safety much easier to reason about.
In a nutshell
Describe how data travels across the internet
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 13
Learn
Names to numbers
A domain name is looked up by DNS and turned into an IP address — the internet's equivalent of a postcode for the server.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 13
Learn
Packets and responses
Your request is split into packets, routed separately, and reassembled. The server replies with HTML, CSS and images that the browser renders.
Reset break
Part 4 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 13
Quick check
Part 6 of 13
Quick check
Part 7 of 13
Reset break
Part 8 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 13
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 13
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
A domain name is looked up by DNS and turned into an IP address — the ____'s equivalent of a postcode for the server.
Your request is split into ____, routed separately, and reassembled.
Challenge round
Part 11 of 13
Game · Recall cards
DNS turns a domain name into…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 12 of 13
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: How a web page reaches you
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. DNS turns a domain name into…
2. Data crosses the internet in…
3. The browser's job is to…
4. HTTPS mainly provides…
Lesson round-up
Part 13 of 13
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 13 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
- Not looked at yet
Understand how computer networks, including the internet, can provide multiple services such as the World Wide Web
- Not looked at yet
Understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting online identity and privacy
- Not looked at yet
Recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct, and know how to report concerns