Curiosity may be a gift and sometimes a curse, but generally, it is a natural phenomenon in everyone. Like other feelings central to humanity, curiosity is a part of every individual. It’s almost as if it is automatically embedded in a human’s DNA from birth. In human culture, curiosity has been a harbinger of growth. It is what comes before every technological advancement. It is why we can now travel from the physical world into a virtual one using smartphones, computers, and other technology devices. It is also what pushes us to find the best internet deals. Curiosity is the trigger for the commonly asked question… “Where does all my internet data go to?” Where is it stored?
Valid question. Let’s help you answer that question.
WHERE THE DOES MY INTERNET DATA GO?
There is a common misconception about the internet. People think of it as something that exists in the air all around us. However, that is untrue. The internet does have form, and its data is housed at physical locations commonly referred to as data servers. You may then ask yourself… what are data servers? Data servers are just like computers, but without all the extras like the keyboard, monitor, or even a mouse. What these data servers do is keep all information safe and secure while you enjoy the supply of internet deals by your internet service provider.
A data server is a computer without all the extras like monitors and keyboards. A server function entirely to save data and is connected to a network to make that data accessible to computers. With an Internet server, the device is connected to the Web so that any computer can retrieve the files stored on the server. Servers store and process data much like the laptops in your homes and are connected to the internet through wired or wireless connections.
Just like how houses form a neighborhood, data servers form what is called a data center. This is where numerous data servers are housed in the same complex because, like computers, data servers require specific environmental conditions to function optimally. Many big internet companies like Google and Yahoo operate special data centers, while some data centers may house multiple clients in the same complex.
How does it work?
Data servers share information much like two computers connected to a local network. Data stored is shared out after being divided into smaller packets for easier transmission. It is then sent through special computers we know as routers that pick the best path for the data to travel. All this happens incredibly fast, in the blink of an eye. Every time you open your Google search engine to type in a web page, you request information from the server. This process is reversed when you upload information; let us say you want to upload a video to your Instagram… it simply goes the opposite way and gets stored on the data server.
That’s all there is to it. This is where all your internet data gets stored.