What kind of network model is the Internet?

The Internet is best described as a Client/Server network model because it fundamentally operates on the principles of client-server architecture. In this model, clients are devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets that request services or resources from servers. Servers, which are powerful computers or systems, provide these resources or services, such as hosting websites, managing email, or serving files.

This architecture allows for efficient management and distribution of resources. Clients initiate communication by sending requests to servers, which then respond with the requested information. The clear separation of roles in the Client/Server model facilitates the organization of network resources and services, leading to better scalability and management, which are crucial for the massive scale of the Internet.

While peer-to-peer, distributed, and hybrid models each have their own unique characteristics and uses, they do not accurately capture the dominant structure of the Internet as a whole, which primarily relies on client-server communication for most of its operations.