Comparing The Internet to An Ocean Filled with Fish

Can you ever think of what goes behind every message that you send or every YouTube video or every website that you access or the image that you upload to the internet? It seems like magic; a mere clicking of a button transports information all the way from there to here within just seconds!

One of the easiest ways of comprehending this magical journey is by comparing the internet to a vast ocean filled with fish.

The ocean is the internet; the fish are the data packets; the ocean routes are the routers and network paths; and the destinations are the servers where the fish go to. After understanding the comparison in such a manner, the whole data transmission process becomes extremely easy and fascinating.

The Internet Is Like a Huge Ocean

Think of yourself as standing next to a huge ocean. You cannot view everything that exists in it. There are millions of fishes always swimming back and forth under the water.

The internet is similar.

Billions of devices are connected via a huge network spread throughout various countries and continents. Whenever you are using the internet, information is always flowing through this network.

Just as there are millions of fishes swimming in different directions in the ocean, there are millions of bits of information flowing through different devices on the internet.

While you may be writing an email, there could be another person watching a movie, someone else playing a video game and millions more surfing websites – all at the same time.

The ocean is very active, but from the outside it looks very calm.

It is just the same with the internet.

Data Packets are the Fish

What happens if you need to send a long message across the ocean?

First of all, the internet divides your data into smaller chunks called data packets.

Packets are similar to individual fish.

Thus, if you need to send a picture, this picture will be separated into numerous data packets. Every packet has certain information on its content and destination point.

Let's make an analogy.

Imagine that you have a huge group of fish that needs to get to another location in the ocean. Instead of sending the whole school of fish in one chunk, the fish move as separate fish.

Some may swim in other directions. Some may come faster than others. But ultimately, all of them will reach their destination and form one big group.

This is approximately how your digital data is being transported.

Routers Are Similar to Ocean Currents and Routes

However, there is one big question.

When the fish are swimming through such a huge ocean, how do they find their way?

That’s what routers do.

The routers are the tools that direct packets of data in a network. They take information about the destination of the packet and determine which available route should be used.

Think about an ocean with numerous currents and underwater routes.

The fish that swim to one island will use one current while another fish going to the other island will follow another current. If there is a problem in one current, another route can be taken.

Routers do a similar task with data packets.

Servers are the Destination Points

Every journey should have its endpoint.

As far as our ocean metaphor is concerned, the servers are the islands, ports, or destination points where fish should go.

When you access a website, your computer sends a request via the internet, which then goes all the way to the server.

The server does its part by sending back the information that was requested from it.

For instance, when you enter a website address in your browser, you are effectively saying:

"I would like to reach that destination point. Get me the information that is stored there."

Then the internet takes care of the rest of the journey.

The packets get transported along networks. Routers help the packets to find their way and deliver the information to your computer.

All this happens in a matter of seconds.

What Will Happen If the Fish Swims the Wrong Path?

Now let me tell you something else.

What will happen if one of the fish is delayed?

In an actual network, there isn’t always just one path for the packets to travel on. There are constant changes in the network itself, and at times a specific path may become crowded or unavailable.

So one packet may take one path, while the other packet will take the other path.

Once the packets reach you, your computer uses networking protocols to sort out the data and reassemble the information.

Almost like buying fish from another country but receiving them in different ports and then reassembling them as a whole shipment.

There is no need to know which route every packet took.

That will all be sorted out by your device itself.

A Video Is a Big Fish School

Watching videos online adds another layer of meaning to this comparison.

When you stream a video, your device doesn’t get the whole file at once.

No, packets of information are sent continuously.

Think about it: Imagine you’re standing on the shore and observing a big school of fish making their way to a specific island.

Fish just keep coming.

If the water flows smoothly, everything will come quickly, and your video will run well.

But what if the network becomes congested? Then packets of information will take longer to reach.

And then you can see that annoying loading symbol.

It means that your video is not thinking at all. It's just difficult for fish to swim across the water.

What Happens When the Internet Becomes Busy?

Just like oceans get busy with ships and other forms of marine life, internet networks can also become congested with traffic.

Thousands of people could be accessing the same resources or using the same network infrastructure at the very same time.

In such cases, some routes can be congested.

That is why your internet speed can be very high sometimes and not so good at other times.

Your internet speed is determined by a lot more than just your own computer.

Various other things can affect your internet speed.

The Incredible Thing Is That You Are Not Aware of Any of It

The incredible thing about the Internet is that all of this happens while you do not even realize it.

You hit Send and your message is off to its destination.

You hit Play and data for video begins making its way to your computer.

You enter an address for a site and information is transferred from your computer to a distant server.

And all that you see is the end product.

There exists an immense digital sea of packets flowing through networks.

Movement Is an Inherent Aspect of the Ocean

Internet is not a static entity.

It is always under transformation.

More devices join it. Requests come to servers in millions. Networks get overloaded and calm down. Routing changes. Data is created, transferred, processed, and delivered in a continuous flow.

That is how the metaphor fits perfectly.

Like the ocean that is never still, internet traffic is continuously flowing.

Each message, image, search request, video, file transfer, and any online communication contribute to its endless movement.

Conclusion

The next time you type a message or log into a website, think of a minuscule fish delivering your information under the waves of an enormous ocean.

It starts its journey from your device, swims through various water streams, goes through routers that assist its travel, and arrives at the server waiting for it on the other end.

And then it begins its journey back to you.

You don't see the fish.

You don't see the water streams.

You don't see the ocean.

And yet your information manages to travel across this enormous digital universe in no time.

This is what makes the internet so wonderful: underneath the easy clicks and taps that we witness is an ocean of data always on the move.