In this blog post, we’ll explore how the Internet connects diverse nodes and media around the world and has established itself as a universal means of communication and a standard.
Let’s take another look at the meaning of the Internet as we commonly use it. The word “Internet” is a combination of the prefix “Inter,” meaning “between,” and “net,” meaning “network.” Literally, the word means “a network where various things meet and interact.” If we think about how we use the Internet in slightly more abstract terms, this explanation fits perfectly. The devices we use to connect to the Internet—such as smartphones and computers—are just one of the nodes in this vast network. Through these nodes, we are utilizing a vast network of communication that allows us to exchange data with other nodes—that is, other people’s devices or the massive servers of internet companies.
In reality, the internet connects countless nodes around the world like a web. To communicate with someone on the other side of the globe, we send and receive digital signals through countless other nodes. Just 20 years ago, the types of information that could be transmitted via the internet were quite limited. At best, we could exchange structured text or small images, while media such as videos or music had to be transmitted using slightly different, specialized methods. However, today we can exchange almost any type of information through a single internet window. Text, email, photos, music, and videos—all of these can be accessed using a single web browser. The development of the HTTP communication protocol has greatly contributed to the ubiquity of the internet, which operates without regard to the distance over which information is transmitted.
For example, let’s imagine a man named Gyeonwoo who wants to express his love to a woman named Jiknyeo. The methods Gyeonwoo can use to contact Jiknyeo vary depending on his purpose. If he wants to write a letter, he can use the post office; if he wants to send a photo, he can use email; if he wants to send a small gift, he can use a courier or express delivery service; and if he wants to let her hear his voice, he can use the phone. Just as we must use different methods depending on the nature of the information we wish to convey, each service is specialized to suit that purpose. This resembles the state of the internet world 20 years ago. For instance, HTTP was used to deliver web pages, FTP for file transfers, and POP3 for email. Beyond these, various communication methods existed depending on the type of information and the transmission method.
However, the widespread adoption of the internet increasingly demanded a direction of development that diverged from the original intent. For many people, the internet meant viewing web pages using web browsers like Internet Explorer or Chrome. The media with the best readability and the widest demand were, of course, text and images. Users, attracted by the internet’s quick accessibility and convenience, increasingly wanted to do everything on a single platform. It became cumbersome to open an email program to send a message or an FTP program to transfer files while receiving information through a browser. Gradually, HTTP in web browsers began to take over all these functions. Email communication was the first to move into web browsers, followed by file transfers, music playback, and video playback, all of which were replaced by HTTP. The ubiquity of HTTP technology played a major role in its ability to meet all media needs.
Originally, HTTP was used for exchanging text or simple images. So how did HTTP come to encompass such a wide variety of media? The text transmitted via HTTP is “structured” text. While the web pages we see in a web browser appear as neatly organized text and images, the information is actually transmitted in a complex, systematic format. This system is based on certain conventions, and the browser uses these principles to refine and rearrange the content before presenting it to us. This “structured” text and the ubiquity of HTTP are the key factors.
All digital information consists of an array of numbers made up of 0s and 1s. As long as we know whether this array of numbers represents music, video, or a photo, we can rearrange it appropriately to convert it into a form that humans can recognize. HTTP converts all media into this numerical text and indicates the type of media.
Since the original form can be restored simply by knowing the content and its type, any kind of information can be transmitted. Information transmitted via HTTP is broadly divided into two categories: HTTP headers and HTTP entities. Headers contain information such as the content type, size, transmission time, and sender. This is referred to as meta information. The entity contains the actual content to be transmitted. The browser examines the header to determine how to process the content. As long as there is a “translator” capable of processing the content, it can be restored to its original form and delivered to the user.
The method of processing information follows a standard format agreed upon worldwide; this is known as a web standard. However, since these standards are not mandatory, slight differences exist between browsers. This is why a page that displays correctly in one browser may not display properly in another. HTTP is a structured method that separates the content to be transmitted from its display format, allowing it to be universally applied to various types of information. To meet the widespread demand for the universality of the Internet, HTTP, with its high adaptability, established itself as the standard communication protocol. In the process, various Internet-using nations collaborated to define web standards and adhere to them in order to unify these standards.
HTTP, which prioritizes universality, encountered problems as the diversity of user demands expanded. In particular, as “security” became a major issue on the internet, HTTP was criticized for being vulnerable to security breaches. To address this, ActiveX—a method that added security modules to HTTP—was introduced; however, it was ultimately deemed a failure for undermining HTTP’s greatest strengths—universality and convenience—and was subsequently abandoned. Currently, it is still used only in a small number of countries. To resolve security issues, the newly defined web standards introduced the secure HTTPS protocol, and the internet order is being reorganized based on this. As they grappled with internet security issues, internet-using nations and organizations worldwide came to realize the urgent need to respond swiftly to new challenges and reorganize standards. However, controlling the internet ecosystem is difficult due to the large number of participants involved. Moving forward, efforts must be focused on establishing systematic development strategies and management to ensure a swift response to the diverse opinions of participants in the internet ecosystem and the demands of users.
