If you are new to the Internet, you may wonder how the Internet stores information. If you have used a computer before, you may know that the computer has a hard disk that stores information. You may not know the difference between RAM and a hard disk drive, and this distinction is important. Information is stored on a hard disk drive long-term. RAM stores information temporarily.

The information that you find on the Internet is stored on a computer as well. It’s often stored on a hard disk drive on a server. Occasionally the information is stored on an individual’s computer, but this is rare. The cables that drive the Internet access the information and disseminate it to the party that requested it. The information can go through many different routers along the way. If the data is not secured, anyone who knows how can pick it up. Encryption technologies can prevent this from happening.

Your network interface card will decode the information and then build it back up in a way that makes sense to your computer. The computer will format it in a way that you can understand it. The end result is the web page. The web page may get cached temporarily on your hard drive.