Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Internet is the larger system; email is one service that uses it. The Internet connects networks and supports many kinds of communication and information services. Email lets people send and receive messages through that infrastructure.
What is the difference between email and the Internet?
| Aspect | Internet | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An electronic messaging service or application | A global interconnected network system, its protocols, and supporting services |
| What it does | Lets people exchange messages | Provides infrastructure and protocols that support email and many other services |
| What it includes | User-facing mail applications and behind-the-scenes message-transfer components | Interconnected networks, IP addressing, protocols, and services |
| Scope | One form of communication | A broader system for communication and information access |
The Internet is not a single website or an email provider. It is the underlying global system that can carry many services. The Federal Networking Council’s definition, adopted on October 24, 1995, describes it as a global information system linked through globally unique IP addressing, able to support TCP/IP and compatible protocols, and able to provide or make higher-level services accessible. The Internet Society reproduces that definition in its history of the Internet.
Is email the same as the Internet?
No. Email is one service that can use the Internet, just as the Web is another. Saying “I’m using email” describes an activity or service; saying “I’m using the Internet” describes access to the broader network and the services available through it. RFC 1941 identifies email as an Internet service and notes that services such as email and the Web can be accessed through different technologies: RFC 1941, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Internet.
How does email use the Internet?
Email involves more than the app or webpage a person sees. RFC 5598’s description of Internet mail architecture distinguishes between the user-facing function and the systems that move messages: a user agent supports a person’s interaction with mail, while transfer agents pass messages through the mail system. These components work together to send and deliver a message; they are part of an email service, not the whole Internet. See RFC 5598, Internet Mail Architecture.
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Did email come before the Internet?
Early network email predates the modern public Internet, but that does not mean email existed before all networking or before the Internet’s beginnings. The Internet Society’s historical account says that in March 1972 Ray Tomlinson wrote basic software to send and read email on ARPANET, an earlier network. Larry Roberts expanded the utility later that year. The account describes email as an early ARPANET application and the Internet as general-purpose infrastructure that developed over time: A Brief History of the Internet.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What else can you do on the Internet besides email?
Email is only one way to use the Internet. Its general-purpose infrastructure also supports services such as the Web and other forms of communication and information access. The practical distinction is simple: the Internet is the shared network system; email is one of the services people use through it.
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