Do you know why some Web pages end in htm others end in html others end in asp and so on? Why all the different extensions?

While .html may be the most common file extension, what do the others mean? What about .htm, .asp or .php?

How did the Internet start?

The Internet is an integral part of our daily lives. But what does Sputnik have to do with it? And where did it start?

How Firefox Works

In 2004, ten thousand fans of an obscure "alternative" Web browser ran an ad in the New York Times introducing their favorite browser to the world. Since then, Firefox has exploded in popularity as users and developers continue improving this open-source phenomenon.

How Internet Infrastructure Works

Do you ever wonder how the Internet really works? How do Web pages, e-mail and music move to and from your computer? Learn all about the amazing global network we call the World Wide Web.

How Internet Search Engines Work

Internet search engines are special sites on the Web that help people find information stored on other sites. There are differences in the ways various search engines work, but they all perform three basic tasks.

How Mahalo Works

Mahalo is a new search engine that aims to give users a hassle-free experience. By relying on real, live people instead of complex algorithms, Mahalo produces relevant search results.

How Penny Per Page Might Work

The World Wide Web is known for its nearly unprecedented "free content." But can it stay that way? Learn how the penny-per-page revenue model might work.

How Spam Works

You block it, you filter it, you unsubscribe from lists you actually want to be on, and still it lands in your inbox. If you have an e-mail account, chances are you also have spam. Learn where spam comes from, who's doing the spamming and how to stop it.

What are the standard top-level domain names and who controls them?

"Howstuffworks.com" is a domain name. The com portion of the name is called the top-level domain name. See the other standard top-level names and who uses them.

What do you call the symbol used in e-mail addresses?

The funny little "a" with its tail circling back around it is probably one of the most commonly used symbols today. So it is truly amazing to learn that there is no official, universal name for it.

What is an Internet cookie?

Cookies have, for some reason, gained a rather sinister image, but a cookie is just one or more pieces of information stored as text strings on your machine. Find out how they work and how they got their dangerous image.

What is an IP address?

Your IP address is one of 4.3 billion unique numbers that identifies your computer on the internet. Learn the different IP classes and why businesses and government get different numbers.

What's new about the new Internet Explorer?

Five years after the debut of IE6, Microsoft released the first truly upgraded version of its Web browser. Take a look at what made it such a dramatic improvement.

Who owns the Internet?

The Internet is a giant system made up of much smaller systems. If it's one thing, does it have a single owner? Is there some person or entity that controls it?

Why does my Web browser display some book-marked sites with a custom icon?

To make it easier to pick out a particular link from your list of favorites, Internet Explorer versions 5.0 and higher include custom bookmark icons for some sites. Learn how they do it and how these icons make your web surfing easier.