Which network is commonly referred to as ARPANET's successor?

The Internet is recognized as ARPANET's successor because it evolved from the technologies and protocols developed for ARPANET. Originally intended for military and research purposes, ARPANET utilized packet-switching technology to connect various academic and government institutions. As research progressed and the demand for broader connections grew, the framework of ARPANET laid the groundwork for a more expansive and public-oriented network, ultimately leading to the development of the Internet.

The Internet further expanded on these principles, incorporating additional protocols and standards that allowed for the global scale we see today. This evolution marked a significant transition from a specialized network to a comprehensive and inclusive system that connects billions of people and devices worldwide. The prominent use of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite, which was standardized in the early 1980s, facilitated this transition, making the Internet a universal means of communication.

In contrast, MILNET was a separate, military-focused network that split off from ARPANET, primarily serving the needs of the Department of Defense, while LAN (Local Area Network) refers to smaller, localized networks that connect devices within a limited area, and VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure tunnel for private connections over the Internet. None of these represent the