--- description: What is a Network? The network is two or more connected computer which can share resource like a printer, an internet connection, application, etc. It is a collection of computer systems and devices w title: Difference Between Network and Internet image: https://www.guru99.com/images/1/032219_1116_Differenceb3.png --- [Skip to content](#main) ## Key Difference between Network and Internet * Network is defined as a group of two or more connected computers that can share resources like a printer, an internet connection, an application, etc. Whereas the internet is a collection of interconnected devices which are spread across the globe. * Network connects thousands of PC at one time, while the Internet connects millions of computers at one time. * In a network, one entity has administrative rights to manage the network, whereas no entity controls the system on the Internet. * Network objective is to exchange data and collaborates with peers, whereas the main Internet objective is to get knowledge and communicate over the Internet. * The Network is a collection of computer systems and devices that are linked together using LAN, WAN, CAN, or HAN, whereas the Internet is a global system to link various types of electric devices worldwide. [](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/032219%5F1116%5FDifferenceb3.png) Network vs Internet ## What is a Network? The network is two or more connected computer which can share resource like a printer, an internet connection, application, etc. It is a collection of computer systems and devices which are linked together using a wireless network or via communication devices and transmission media. The network provides connectivity between computers and devices within a restricted range where only one entity is controlled or authorized to manage the entire system. ## What is the Internet? The Internet (Interconnected Network) is a global system which use [TCP/IP protocol](https://www.guru99.com/tcp-ip-model.html) suite to link various types of electric devices worldwide. The internet is a collection of interconnected devices which are spread across the globe. It is a network of networks that consist of public, private, public, sales, finance, academic, business and government networks. **The internet is a type of network and called network of networks.** [](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/032219%5F1116%5FDifferenceb1.png) Computer Network ## Network vs Internet – What is the difference between them? Here are important difference between Network and Internet: | Parameter | Network | Internet | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Connection | Connect the system using different parameters. | Connect networks across the world. | | Connectivity | One entity has administrative rights to manage the network | No entity controls the system. | | Amount | Hundreds or a few thousand number of PC, get linked at one time. | Millions of computers get linked at one time. | | Objective | To exchange data and collaborate with peers. | To get the knowledge and communicate over the Internet. | | Type | Local Area Network, Wide Area Network, Campus Area Network, and Home Area Network. | [World Wide Web](https://www.guru99.com/web-services-tutorial.html). | ### RELATED ARTICLES * [HTTP vs HTTPS – Difference Between Them ](https://www.guru99.com/difference-http-vs-https.html "HTTP vs HTTPS – Difference Between Them") * [100+ Networking Interview Questions and Answers (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/networking-interview-questions.html "100+ Networking Interview Questions and Answers (2026)") * [TCP/IP vs OSI Model – Difference Between Them ](https://www.guru99.com/difference-tcp-ip-vs-osi-model.html "TCP/IP vs OSI Model – Difference Between Them") * [Straight Through Cables vs Crossover Cables ](https://www.guru99.com/difference-between-straight-through-crossover-cables.html "Straight Through Cables vs Crossover Cables") ## Types of Networks [](https://www.guru99.com/images/1/032219%5F1116%5FDifferenceb2.png) Three types of Networks are: ### 1) LAN (Local Area Network) [LAN](https://www.guru99.com/types-of-computer-network.html) is a network that connects a small number of the system in a relatively close geographical area. E.g., a floor or nearby surrounding of a building. ### 2) MAN (Metropolitan area Network) It is a communication infrastructure that has been developed in and around large cities. ### 3) WAN (Wide Area Network) It is a network that connects two or more local-area networks over a large geographic distance. A WAN spans across a large geographic area, such as a state, province or country. ## Why do you need a Network? The network offers the following advantages: * Networks provide a fast and effective method for sharing & transferring files * The network version of most software programs is available at considerable savings as compared to buying seat licensed copy for each of them. * You don’t need to load all the software on every computer. Instead, load in the primary server and use on every computer connected to the network. * Easy connectivity and fast communication * Internet Access Sharing * Helps you in performance enhancement and load balancing ## Why do you need Internet? The network provides connectivity between computers and devices within a restricted range. In this system, only one entity is controlled or authorized to manage the entire system. * The Internet is a network of computers at different locations around the world. * Allows you to send an email message from every location * Helps you to send or receive files between different computers * Using the Internet, you can participate in discussion groups, such as mailing lists and newsgroups. * It allows all small, medium and large size businesses to sell their products with less investments. * It makes information available worldwide. So there’s no need to look for a good book in different libraries, as you can search for information over the Internet. * It helps you updated with the latest news and technologies. * It helps us meet people with the same interests as communities, forums, chats, websites, etc. * It eases bills payment by facilitating bill payment online with the credit card and saves us time spent to stand up in the queue. ## History of Network 1950s -1960s: Terminal-Oriented Computer Networks had begun which were very expensive. Therefore, time-sharing techniques were developed to allow them to be shared by many users. 1960s-1970s: The cost of the computer dropped, and new applications emerged. It becomes essential to enable mainframe computers to interconnect and communicate with each other. 1960s – APRANET was the first real attempt of developing a network to interconnect computers over a wide geographic area 1980: * The beginning of Local Area Networks (LANs) * Affordable computers become available. * Varieties of LAN topologies emerged like bus, ring, start, etc. ## History of the Internet Here, are important milestones from the history of the Internet: * In 1962, J.C.R. Licklide pioneered the concept of Intergalactic Computer Network * In 1982 the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) was standardized. * In 1990, the World Wide Web introduced. * In 1995, mainstream Search Engine Yahoo was created. * In recent time, the Internet covers a large part of the globe and growing exponentially. ## Features of Network Here, are important features of Network: * Offers high capacity Load Balancing * Indoor as well as Outdoor coverage options * Determining by the weighted algorithm * Web Content/Application Filtering ## Features of Internet Here, are some important features of the Internet: * A global network which connects millions of computers * The internet is decentralized * Every computer over the internet is independent * There are various ways to access the internet ## Disadvantages of Network * The network requires hardware, software which demands high initial setup costs. * Some time it invites undesirable sharing. * It may invite illegal or Undesirable behavior. * Data security is quite a big concern in networking. * Regular maintenance of a network needs considerable time and expertise. ## Disadvantages of Internet * It allows everybody to speak about everything without any limitations or censorship. Could be a bad influence on impressionable minds. * The search engines may display some unrelated results. * Internet could replace face to face collaborations and make us lose the human touch. * People working on internet-related fields need high speeds. * Working constantly with or on the internet is surely tiring. * The Internet makes us more a lazier – as for common thing like search the nearest restaurant or finding the best hotel. #### Summarize this post with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Google AI **Stay Updated on AI** **Get Weekly AI Skills, Trends, Actionable Advice.** ##### Sign up for the newsletter Subscribe for Free You have successfully subscribed. 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