How Does IP Addresses and the Internet - Computerphile Work?

Every computer on the internet has a special number called an IP address, which helps it find and talk to other computers, like how your phone number helps people call you.

Imagine you’re playing a game of tag with friends in a big park. Each friend has a unique name, so when someone shouts “Tag!”, everyone knows who was tagged. On the internet, IP addresses work like those names, they help computers know where to send messages and files.

Think of your home address: it tells the mailman where to deliver your letters. An IP address is like a computer’s address on the internet. When you visit a website, your computer sends a message asking for information, and that website uses your IP address to send the reply back to you.

The internet is like a huge playground where millions of computers are playing together. Each has its own IP address, so they can find each other and share games, videos, or even messages, just like how friends in the park use names to play tag with everyone.