What enables your computer to connect to other computers or to the internet?

Wireless and wired.

Wired - Basically, you connect your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable, this will allow you to access your internet quickly.

Wireless - In laptops, you will have a wireless card already built in but some desktops do not. This will allow you to connect to a router anywhere in your house or whatever range your wireless can go.

All this can not be done without drivers, chips and programs. Your chip allows a wireless signal to connect to other wireless hardware's (routers etc). Programs will allow you to visually see what network you want to connect and see signal strength etc. And drivers works with all 2 - chip and program. The driver allows your chip to even work on your motherboard and will allow you to access the program where the internet takes place.