The Internet is a global network of computer networks that are all configured to communicate using the same basic languages, or protocols. The key to its success is that it's highly distributed. There is no place, or even center, of the Internet -- although there are several very important routes that you can take through the Internet, which are called backbones.

Internet data travels over the existing public telecommunications network. Unlike phone calls or older types of computer networks, a message sent through the Internet doesn't travel as a single piece. Instead, it's broken up into packets that are individually routed to their destination and reassembled when they get there. It's very similar to how transporting probably works on Star Trek. This flexible routing ability is what makes the Internet so reliable. If you haven't been in a cave for the last decade, you're probably also aware that the Internet was originally designed to be able to survive almost anything. Even if the major Internet backbones were to disappear tomorrow, data would still find its way around the Internet -- probably somewhat slower, though.

When we use the Internet, we're actually using Internet applications. The most popular of these are e-mail and the Web.

And Your Point Is?

The reason for this brief detour into yet another explanation of the Internet and the Web (which you clearly understand well enough, since you're using it right now), is that you need to make your new Web site a permanent fixture on it and you'll find out how to do that now.

Any computer that can use the basic Internet protocols can connect to the Internet and become a part of it very easily. One way to publish your site is to install the necessary software on your home computer, leave it connected to the Internet, and tell the world your Internet address (called an IP address).

This is not the best way to publish your Web site, however, for a number of reasons, including:

• Your ISP (Internet service provider) probably frowns on this, if it even allows it.
• Unless you're using broadband service, such as DSL or a cable modem, your connection to the Internet is likely too slow to provide a decent browsing experience for your visitors.
• If you use a modem and a phone line to connect to the Internet, the line is always in use.
• There are security hazards with opening your computer up to the Internet. By advertising your Web site to the world, you open yourself to potential hacking of your computer. If you're not trained to secure a Web server, you should leave it to the professionals.

For these reasons (and several others), most people choose to outsource the hosting of their Web site. Often, the easiest way to outsource Web hosting is to use the same company that provides you with access to the Internet, your ISP.

So how do you find a suitable ISP? Find out in the next section.