What Is Internet Routing?

Oh boy, shall we discuss the routing of the internet? Before you run away shrieking, let me tell you that it's not as terrifying as it sounds. It's like playing hopscotch, although many more computers and wires are involved. Therefore, moving data packets from one computer to another through the internet is what we mean when discussing "internet routing" from a more technical perspective. A data packet is essentially moved from one router to the next until it reaches its final destination; this process is analogous to a massive game of "hot potato." Enough with the incomprehensible technical language. We can talk about what exactly this involves. Imagine that you are attempting to email a buddy who lives in Australia (a special shout-out to all of our Australian friends who are reading this). Your computer transmits the email as a data packet, which is then passed on from your router to the next router, and so on, until it reaches a router in Australia. After that, that router sends the data packet to your friend's PC, and voilà! The mail that you sent has been received. The situation can get far more convoluted than that. There are instances when the data packet must go through several countries and various networks, each with its laws and regulations. However, this is where the actual magic of Internet routing comes into play: the routers continually interact to determine the path that will be fastest and most reliable for the data packet to follow. This is where some of the zaniness and peculiarity of the situation come into play. Imagine the routers as a flock of vocal birds constantly chirping and chatting about the most efficient method to deliver the data packet to its intended location. They may take a longer route to avoid traffic or use a secret tunnel they know about (okay, maybe not that last one).