Understanding Networking and the Internet from First Principles

The article opens by defining networking as the exchange of data between devices. It explains how the Internet builds on basic networking protocols. Core concepts such as packets, routing, and addressing are introduced. The piece emphasizes the value of first‑principles thinking in tech. It walks through how data travels from source to destination. Examples illustrate the interaction of hardware and software layers. The author highlights common misconceptions clarified by fundamentals. Readers are left with a clearer mental model for future technical work.