How is the Internet best defined?

The Internet is best defined as a global network of computers because it encompasses the vast system that interconnects millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks. This definition captures the fundamental nature of the Internet, which is essentially a network of networks enabling devices around the world to communicate with one another. It provides the infrastructure that supports various activities, including the exchange of data, access to information, and communication.

Other options might provide limited views on what the Internet represents. For example, describing it as a collection of websites overlooks the foundational technology linking computers that enables the existence of those websites. Similarly, defining it solely as a communication protocol disregards the broader networked structure necessary for protocols to operate, as protocols are just the rules that allow different computers to interact within the larger Internet framework. Thus, option B is the most comprehensive and accurate definition of the Internet itself.