Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)

Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) is an early packet switching network and the first network to implement the protocol suite TCP/IP. It was initially funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and developed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in 1969. ARPANET was designed as a way to connect various university computer networks so that researchers could exchange information and facilitate collaboration.

At the time, most computers were located in their own isolated physical location and were not capable of connecting to other computers. ARPANET was created as a solution to this problem by allowing computers to communicate with each other over a shared network, no matter where they were located.

ARPANET utilized a packet switching system, which is a form of data transmission that breaks down messages into individual “packets” or pieces before sending them over the network. These packets could then be transmitted over shorter routes to their desired destination and reassembled once they arrived. This was more efficient than previous forms of data transmission as it allowed for a larger capacity and more reliable connection.

ARPANET is also credited with introducing a new standard, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), commonly referred to as TCP/IP. This suite of protocols later became the backbone of public internet and is still used today.

ARPANET was decommissioned in 1990 and its former networks are now part of the public internet. While its name is not well known, its innovations are still used every day. ARPANET laid the groundwork for future developments in computer networking and set the standard for how networks would be designed in the future.