Applications of the Internet

The Internet has changed the way we communicate, learn, work, and do business. Its main applications include the following.

1. Electronic mail (e-mail). E-mail lets users send and receive typed messages, along with attached files, almost instantly and at very low cost, to anyone in the world with an e-mail address. It is one of the oldest and most widely used Internet services.

2. The World Wide Web. Using a web browser, users can visit millions of websites to read news, find information, study, watch videos, and much more. Search engines help users find the pages they need.

3. E-commerce (online shopping). Goods and services can be bought and sold online. Customers browse products, place orders, and pay electronically, and the goods are delivered to their door — a topic of direct interest to commerce students.

4. E-banking (online banking). Customers can check balances, transfer money, pay bills, and manage accounts over the Internet at any time, without visiting a branch. Digital payment systems and mobile wallets are part of this.

5. Social networking. Social media platforms let people connect, share messages, photos, and videos, and form groups and communities online.

6. E-learning and online education. Students can attend online classes, watch recorded lessons, take tests, and read study material over the Internet, learning from anywhere.

7. Communication — chat, VoIP, and video conferencing. Instant messaging allows real-time text chat; VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) lets users make voice calls over the Internet cheaply; and video conferencing lets people in different places see and talk to one another for meetings and classes.

8. Entertainment and information services. Music and video streaming, online games, e-newspapers, and online booking of tickets and services are all everyday uses of the Internet.

9. E-governance. Governments provide services online — applying for documents, paying taxes and bills, and getting information — making public services faster and easier to reach. …