The Internet is a worldwide collection of thousands of interconnected computer networks, which is used by approximately one million people daily.
Gateways exist that translate between the two protocols.
Each was given a network number, and gateways were installed to provide packet forwarding between them. This meant that more networks and gateways could be added to the Internet without any effect on the existing network. Since its creation in 1983, the Internet has grown exponentially in terms of numbers of networks connected to it. By 1985, the number was approximately one hundred. As the Internet has grown its underpinnings have changed.