Figuring Out Internet Addresses
The Internet address (sequence of letters and numbers you type to send e-mail or to reach another computer on the Internet) is based on an established system, DNS (Domain Name System). The last three digits designate the type of institution at the Internet address:
.edu is used by educational institutions
.org is used by non-profit organizations
.gov is used by governmental agencies
.mil is used by the military
.com is used by commercial organizations
.net is used by large computer networks

These addresses assume that the site is in the United States. In addition, you may encounter addresses that end in a two-letter country code. Here are a few:

AT-AUSTRIA AU-AUSTRALIA BR-BRAZIL CA-CANADA
CH-SWITZERLAND DE-GERMANY ES-SPAIN FR-FRANCE
GR-GREECE IL-ISRAEL IT-ITALY JP-JAPAN
KR-KOREA MX-MEXICO UK-UNITED
KINGDOM		 US-UNITED
STATES
Not only will you need to memorize your own address, you can often figure out an unknown address by trying possible usernames with the proper suffix. For example, you can accurately deduce how to send an e-mail message on the Internet to the President of the United States: president@whitehouse.gov

In addition, all the people in your system share the same address, so you can send messages to them once you know (or figure out) their usernames.

Besides using the Internet for e-mail, you will want to visit Websites. You reach sites on the World Wide Web by typing their addresses called URLs (universal resource locators), usually starting with http://www.

You can also figure out some addresses for World Wide Websites; try a simple name with the appropriate prefix and suffix:

For example, you can reach these Websites by typing their fairly obvious addresses:

New York Times http://www.nytimes.com
Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com
Federal Directory http://www.fedworld.gov
Metropolitan Museum http://www.metmuseum.org
Louvre Museum in France http://www.louvre.fr

Attention: When typing, you must use the exact sequence of letters and punctuation of the address. Unlike a wrong number on the telephone, you won't know if your e-mail message reached the wrong person on the Internet. If you get a reply "wrong DNS" or "unknown URL," check your typing first; if the spelling is correct, try one of the directories listed in this manual. Be aware, however, that one of the most important characteristics of the Internet is its rapid rate of change. Most sites that move leave a forwarding address, but some do not.