Internet & Technology
Complete Study Notes
A comprehensive guide covering caching, queries, spam, web hosting, domains, DNS, ISPs, and internet
infrastructure.
Topics covered in this document:
• Cache & Caching
• Query
• Spam
• Bookmarks & Blogs
• Why the Internet is Not Free
• Web Hosting
• Domain Names
• ISP Connection Types
• Internet Infrastructure
• DNS Servers
1. Cache & Caching
A cache is a small, fast storage area that keeps copies of frequently used data so it can be accessed
quickly, without fetching it from the original (slower) source every time.
Analogy: Like a salt shaker on a chef's counter — instead of walking to the storeroom every time, the
chef keeps salt close at hand.
How Caching Works
When a request comes in, the system checks if the data is already in cache (Cache Hit). If yes, it returns
the cached data immediately. If not (Cache Miss), it fetches from the original source, stores it in cache,
then returns it.
Key Terms
Term Meaning
Cache Hit Data found in cache
Cache Miss Data not in cache — must fetch from source
Cache Eviction Removing old data from cache to make room
Stale Cache Cached data that is outdated
TTL (Time To Live) How long data stays in cache before expiring
Cache Eviction Policies
Policy Full Name How it Works
LRU Least Recently Used Remove data not used for the longest time
LFU Least Frequently Used Remove data accessed the fewest times
FIFO First In, First Out Remove the oldest data first
Types of Cache
• Browser cache — saves website files on your computer
• CPU cache — tiny memory inside the processor chip (L1, L2, L3)
• DNS cache — remembers website addresses
• App cache — mobile apps store data locally
2. Query
A query is a request for information from a system, database, or search engine.
Analogy: Like asking a librarian — 'Give me all Swahili books written after 2010.' That specific request
is a query.
Types of Database Queries
Type Purpose Example
SELECT Read/fetch data Get all employee names
INSERT Add new data Add a new student
UPDATE Modify existing data Change a phone number
DELETE Remove data Delete a user account
Key Terms
Term Meaning
Query Result The data returned after a query runs
Query Language Language used to write queries (e.g. SQL)
Search Query Words typed into a search engine
Query Optimization Making a query run faster and more efficiently
3. Spam
Spam is any unwanted, unsolicited message or content sent in large quantities over the internet,
usually to many people at once — without their permission.
Where Spam Appears
Place Example
Email Fake bank emails, lottery scams, advertisements
SMS / Text 'You have won a prize! Click here...'
Social Media Fake comments, bot messages, fake followers
Websites Fake reviews, junk comments on blogs
Phone Calls Robocalls from unknown numbers
Types of Spam
• Email Spam — most common type; unwanted emails from strangers
• Phishing Spam — pretends to be a trusted company to steal personal information
• Bot Spam — automated programs sending thousands of messages
• Scam Spam — fake rewards to trick you into sending money
• Advertising Spam — unwanted promotional messages
Warning Signs of Spam
Warning Sign Example
Sender is unknown Random email address you don't recognize
Too good to be true 'You won a free iPhone!'
Urgent language 'Act now! Limited time only!'
Suspicious links Links that look odd or unfamiliar
Asks for personal info Password, bank details, ID number
Poor grammar Many spelling mistakes in the message
4. Bookmarks & Blogs
Bookmark
A bookmark is a saved shortcut to a website or webpage so you can easily return to it later without
searching again.
Analogy: Like placing a physical bookmark in a book — you go straight to where you stopped next
time.
Browser Where to Find Bookmarks
Google Chrome Bookmarks bar / Bookmark manager
Firefox Library → Bookmarks
Safari Sidebar → Bookmarks
Edge Favorites bar
Blog
A blog is a website or section of a website where a person or organization regularly writes and publishes
articles on a particular topic — like an online diary or magazine.
Type Example Topics
Personal Blog Daily life, experiences, opinions
Food Blog Recipes, restaurants, cooking tips
Travel Blog Places visited, travel advice
Tech Blog Technology news, tutorials
Business Blog Company news, industry updates
Blog vs Website vs Social Media
Blog Website Social Media
Content Regular written articles Fixed pages Short posts, photos
Updates Frequently updated Rarely changes Updated constantly
Purpose Share knowledge/opinions Provide information Connect with people
5. Why the Internet is Not Free
The internet was designed to be open and free — but the infrastructure needed to deliver it is not free to
build or maintain.
Analogy: Water itself is free in nature, but the pipes, pumps, and treatment plants that bring it to your
tap cost money.
What Your Bundle Payment Covers
• Mobile towers and antennas
• Underground fiber optic cables
• Satellite connections
• Electricity to power all equipment
• Technical workers and engineers
• Government licenses and permits
• International cable connections
• Security and maintenance
Infrastructure Costs
Infrastructure Approximate Cost
One mobile tower $150,000 – $250,000
Undersea internet cable $100 million – $500 million
Fiber optic cable per km $15,000 – $30,000
Data center building Millions of dollars
Why Prices Are Higher in Africa
Reason Explanation
Far from equipment manufacturers Import costs and shipping fees
Fewer users to share costs Cost divided among smaller population
Weaker currency Shilling vs Dollar exchange rate
Government taxes High import duties on technology equipment
6. Web Hosting
Web hosting is a service that provides space on a server where your website files are stored so that
people around the world can access your website through the internet.
Analogy: Renting space in a mall — the mall is the server, your shop is your website, and paying rent is
the hosting fee.
Types of Web Hosting
Type Speed Cost Best For
Shared Hosting Slow-Medium Cheap ($3-10/mo) Small personal websites
VPS Hosting Medium-Fast Medium ($10-50/mo) Growing business sites
Dedicated Hosting Very Fast Expensive ($100+/mo) Large banks, e-commerce
Cloud Hosting Very Fast Variable Netflix, large news sites
Free Hosting Slow Free Beginners, testing
Domain vs Web Hosting
Domain Name Web Hosting
What is it? Your website address Space where files are stored
Example [Link] Server holding myshop's files
Analogy Your shop's name and address The actual land and building
Popular Hosting Companies
Company Known For
Bluehost Beginner friendly, affordable
Hostinger Very cheap, good for starters
GoDaddy Popular, sells domains too
Amazon AWS Powerful cloud hosting
Netlify Great for simple/free websites
7. Domain Names
A domain name is the address of a website on the internet — what you type in your browser to visit a
website.
Parts of a Domain
Part Name Example
https:// Protocol How browser connects
www Subdomain Section of website
google Second Level Domain (SLD) Actual name of website
.com Top Level Domain (TLD) Type/category of website
/search Path Specific page inside website
Types of Top Level Domains (TLD)
TLD Used For
.com Commercial — most popular worldwide
.org Organizations and nonprofits
.edu Education and universities
.gov Government websites
.tz Tanzania
.ke Kenya
Domain vs IP Address
Every website has a number address called an IP address — but it is hard to remember. DNS converts
domain names to IP addresses automatically.
Domain IP Address
Example [Link] [Link]
Easy to remember? Yes No
Used by Humans Computers
Subdomains
A subdomain is an extra section added before the main domain. Subdomains are NOT mandatory — they
are used when a website has multiple distinct sections or systems.
Subdomain Meaning
[Link] Google's email section
[Link] Google Maps
[Link] Google Docs
[Link] Blog section of a website
8. ISP Connection Types
An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a company that provides internet connection. Examples in
Tanzania: Vodacom, Airtel, TTCL, Tigo, Halotel.
Comparison of All Connection Types
Type Speed Reliability Cost Best For
DSL Slow (1-100 Mbps) Medium Cheap Areas with phone lines
Wi-Fi Broadband Medium (10-1000 Mbps) Good Medium Home/office use
Mobile (4G) Medium-Fast Good Medium Anywhere with towers
Fiber Optic Very Fast (100+ Mbps) Excellent Expensive Cities, businesses
Cable Broadband Fast (50-1000 Mbps) Good Medium Cable TV areas
Why Fiber Optic is Fastest
DSL and Cable carry data as electrical signals (electrons). Fiber optic carries data as light (photons).
Light is the fastest thing in the universe — making fiber optic the fastest connection type available.
Availability in Tanzania
Type Status in Tanzania
Mobile Broadband (4G) Widely available — Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Halotel
Wi-Fi Broadband Available — hotels, offices, homes
Fiber Optic Expanding — Dar es Salaam and major cities
DSL Limited — mainly TTCL
Cable Broadband Not yet widely available
9. Internet Infrastructure
The Tier System
Tier Who They Are What They Do Where
Tier 1 AT&T, NTT, Tata, Orange Own international cables and backboneFew rich countries only
Tier 2 SEACOM, Liquid Telecom Buy and distribute bandwidth regionallyMajor African countries
Tier 3 (ISPs) Vodacom, Airtel, TTCL Deliver internet directly to you Every country
Undersea Cables Connecting Tanzania
Cable Connects Landing Point
SEACOM East Africa and Europe Dar es Salaam
EASSY East and Southern Africa Dar es Salaam
TEAMS Kenya and Arabia Via Kenya
Other Ways Internet Travels
Method How It Works Status
Undersea Cables Fiber optic cables under the ocean 95% of global traffic
Satellite (Old) Signal bounced off satellite 35,000km high Slow, high delay
Starlink (LEO) Thousands of satellites at 550km height Available in Tanzania
Microwave Links Radio signals between towers Used for remote areas
Li-Fi Internet through LED light signals Experimental only
Space Lasers Laser beams between satellites Future technology
95% of ALL international internet traffic still travels through undersea cables — even in 2026. Starlink is
the best satellite alternative currently available in Tanzania.
10. DNS Servers
A DNS (Domain Name System) server is both hardware and software — it is DNS software running on a
physical server machine. It acts as the phonebook of the internet, converting domain names to IP
addresses.
Types of DNS Servers
Type Role Example
Recursive Resolver Searches for the answer on your behalf Vodacom/Airtel DNS, Google [Link]
Root Name Server Top-level — knows where all TLDs are 13 groups worldwide (ICANN, NASA)
TLD Name Server Handles specific extensions (.com, .tz) Verisign (.com), TCRA (.tz)
Authoritative Server Holds official IP for a specific domain Facebook's DNS, Google's DNS
Recursive vs Authoritative Functions
A single DNS server can perform either or both functions depending on its configuration:
Recursive Function Authoritative Function
Role Searcher / Middleman Official record keeper
Knows answer? Not always — goes to find it Always — for its own domains
Who asks it? Your device / browser Other DNS servers
Speed Slower — must search Fast — answer is immediate
Analogy Travel agent finding flights for you Registry office with official records
Well-Known DNS Servers
DNS Server IP Address Provided By
Google DNS [Link] Google
Cloudflare DNS [Link] Cloudflare
OpenDNS [Link] Cisco
Your ISP DNS Automatic Vodacom / Airtel etc.
Full DNS Request Journey
• You type [Link] in your browser
• Your device checks its own cache first
• Asks Recursive Resolver (your ISP's DNS)
• Resolver asks Root Name Server
• Root says 'ask the .com TLD server'
• TLD server says 'ask Facebook's Authoritative server'
• Authoritative server gives IP: [Link]
• Resolver returns IP to your device
• Browser connects to that IP — Facebook loads!
All of this happens in milliseconds — faster than you can blink!
Quick Reference Summary
Topic One-Line Definition
Cache Fast temporary storage for frequently used data
Query A request for specific information from a system
Spam Unwanted, unsolicited messages sent in bulk
Bookmark A saved shortcut to a webpage
Blog A website where someone regularly publishes articles
Web Hosting Renting server space to store your website
Domain Name The address of a website (e.g. [Link])
Subdomain An optional prefix before a domain (e.g. [Link])
ISP Company that provides your internet connection
DSL Internet through old phone lines — slow but cheap
Fiber Optic Internet through light in glass cables — fastest
Mobile Broadband Internet through phone towers (3G/4G/5G)
DNS Server Converts domain names to IP addresses
Recursive DNS DNS that searches for answers on your behalf
Authoritative DNS DNS that holds official records for a domain
Tier 1 Provider Companies owning international internet cables
Undersea Cable Fiber optic cables on the ocean floor connecting continents
Starlink SpaceX satellite internet — available in Tanzania