The difference between the Internet, Intranet, and Ethernet
What is the difference between the Internet, Intranet, and Ethernet?
First, let’s define each one of them.
The Internet is a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.
The Intranet is a local or restricted communications network, especially a private network created using World Wide Web software.
Ethernet is a system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network, with protocols to control the passing of information and to avoid simultaneous transmission by two or more systems.
We can already see that the Internet is global, whether the Intranet and Ethernet are local.
In fact, in simpler words, the Internet is a worldwide network, linking all the computers and servers in the world. It is the WAN network (Wide Area Network).
The Intranet can but doesn’t have to be local to the extent of the ethernet. It is a LAN (Local Area Network) that can be interlinked with the Internet.
Ethernet is local and connects computers to a local network. It is also a LAN.
The Internet is an example in and for itself. But what about the Intranet and Ethernet?
An example of an Intranet would be a VPN (LAN) connecting through the Internet (WAN) different offices of the same company. You usually need credentials to enter these kinds of networks.
An example of Ethernet would be schools, universities, organizations, etc, where you can access a specific network, but this time, without the Internet.
Did you ever notice you could access some shared files at work with no internet connection? This is, if not through a VPN, thanks to your organization’s Ethernet.
So to summarize, the Internet is a network connecting all computers and servers in the world, the Ethernet is a local network that doesn’t use the Internet, and the Intranet is a private network that uses or not the Internet depending on the organization’s needs.
