There are a variety of ways people can hook up to the Internet.
Many people have an Internet account through their school or work.
Many others have service through one of the thousands of Internet Service Providers all over the world. Typically, for home access, you'll dial a phone number on your computer, and your modem will communicate with your Internet Service Providers host, which has a connection to the Internet. The Internet isn't the only network in the online world, although it is fast becoming the place to be in cyberspace .