The internet is a term which refers to the manner in which computers are linked across the world.
When you plug your modem into your computer and connect your are joining a network of millions of computers. To enable you to join and access this network you forstly connect to your ISP (internet Service Provider).
The ISP provides you with an easy way of connecting and provides you with a degree of security. i.e. you need to enter your name and password to log on.
Having logged on to the internet your browser will then display your home page (a home page is the page you have chosen to be the first page you see when you log on)
Once connected you can visit millions of pages on the world wide web. It is called a web because in same way that a spiders web has multiple ways to move from one point to another (e.g. each strand of the web meets many intersections, any intersection allows the path to be changed to reach the destination, so if a strand is broken the link can be maintained.
Every computer has its own address on the web (yours is managed by your ISP) and given the address people can access any computer.
People who own web sites have purchased a URL (unique reference locator) or Domain Name. The use of Domain names e.g. www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info has been created to make web addresses more memorable. behind the scenes a web address is a set of numbers e.g. 82.94.217.139