Communication

Communication on the Internet can be online or offline. When some users connect to a single server or an on-line service at the same time, they can communicate in an "online chat". This can be truly "many to many" as in a room full of people talking to each other on peer to peer basis. Alternatively, the users send e-mail to each other which can be read by the receiver whenever he/she finds the time. This is off-line communication, but "one to one" or "one to many". Similarly, it is possible for users to get together electronically with those sharing common interests in "usenet" groups. The users post messages to be read and answered by others at their convenience, in turn all of which can be read and replied to by others and so on.