Online

When a device is "online," it is powered on and connected to a network, other devices, or the internet. The term applies to various electronics, including computers, smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and IoT devices.

Today, "online" most commonly describes a device that is connected to the internet. For two systems to communicate over the internet, both must be online. If you cannot access websites or check your email from your laptop, it may be offline. If you cannot access a specific website but others load correctly, the server that hosts the website may be offline.

Online but not connected to the Internet

Devices can appear online within a local network, but still not have internet access. For example, if you connect your laptop to a wireless router, the computer will indicate it is connected via Wi-Fi. However, if the router isn't hooked up to an active internet connection, you won't be able to access the internet. In this case, your device may be online in the context of the local network, but offline in terms of Internet access.