ARPANET

ARPANET, short for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, was the first operational packet-switching network and the precursor to the modern internet. Developed in the late 1960s by the U.S. Department of Defense, it connected various research institutions to facilitate communication and data sharing. ARPANET transmitted information in small packets, allowing multiple users to share the same network efficiently. Its successful implementation demonstrated the potential of networking computers, leading to the development of other networks and ultimately the global internet we use today. ARPANET laid the foundation for the digital communication revolution.