Internet connections can extend to devices that are not normally considered computers. This concept is referred to as “the Internet of Things,” which includes gadgets that are typically small and perform a limited number of functions on their own. However, they include the ability to connect to a network to receive or transmit data on a regular basis.

Examples include fitness devices that can automatically upload exercise data to an online database, an electronic weather center that can receive weather data directly from a weather server through a WiFi network, or even a home security system that allows users to turn on and off lights or lock doors remotely from their smartphones. These are examples of data that can be transferred between computers over a network, rather than documents or other files that a Web browser would display.