Anyone know how to connect an Arduino to the internet using an ESP8266 - 01? I've looked online and it has not been much help
honestly?
don't do it.
Get a makerfriendly board with an ESP8266 12E / ESP8266 12F variant and program the ESP.
Try to replace the Arduino with a NodeMCU or Wemos D1.
The Arduino is central to my design and has other functions for it to perform too
Take a look at my tutorial on Arduino to Arduino via Serial
Post back here or drop me an email if you need help/circuits for the ESP-01 version
Nevertheless it would almost certainly be more practical to have the ESP handle those other functions as well as it is overall far more capable.
Even an ESP-01 can manage many other devices with I²C port expanders and other modules.
Im not sure it would be able. can the esp-01 power a 12v peristaltic pump? on top of other things...
I am powering a 12v peristaltic pump (PWM) from an ESP32 via a fet
Other fixed speed pumps just have their 12V switched by fets (+flywheel diodes)
"This will all end in tears. I just know it.", Marvin, the paranoid android.
If you want WiFi, just start with a board that has WiFi.
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show a schematic of your current circuit,
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describe what your system is doing today,
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define what you really want to do by "connect to the internet" (send data to a server and/or provide a html page to display data and/or allow to switch pins via a html page...)
and others can tell you, if this is possible on an ESP.
Not gonna lie. Im a complete beginner in the world of Arduino and this sort of coding and this is very confusing to me. The arduinos code Im starting to understand but how the esp8266-01 functions independently is a complete confusion for me. Not to mention I am on a strict time schedule as this a project that needs submission. Thanks for the help anyways!
I don't have much of a circuit, however, in terms of connect to the internet what I need for the project to do is fairly simple. I have an action set-up with IFTTT (If this then that) (more specifically a web hook) so when a link is launched an SMS is sent to my mobile stating a message. I have the action set up, all I need is for the Arduino to send that link when a push button is pressed. Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I am a complete beginner.
Google for [url]
https://www.google.com/search?q="programming+the+ESP8266+with+Arduino+IDE"[/url]
add the needed extension in your IDE setting.
See the build in Example " HTTP Client" to see how to send a HTTP request.
Could be working in 4 days on a Wemos D1 or NodeMCU.
Not taking into account that already 2 days passed by from you entry post.
Okay thankyou.
A BSS138 "small signal" FET is particularly inappropriate for that application unless the pump assembly already includes the driver. I very much doubt the OP has such a pump. 
No. And neither can an Arduino.
SCHEMATIC!
We can't help much without a schematic of your project. (NOT a pretty Fritzing picture. A pretty Fritzing picture is NOT a schematic.)
There is very little that an Arduino board can do that can't be done with an ESP board like the NodeMCU or Wemos D1 Mini.
As I've said before in another thread, only the most experienced users here have used the ESP8266-01 as a WiFi "shield". And I suspect that if asked if they would do it again, the reply would be a quick "NO!". Especially when there are boards with WiFi readily available.
Even more if you are on a time crunch- you will spend days just getting the ESP-01 to work (Sort-of) as a WiFi shield. If you start with a board that contains WiFi already, there are up to date libraries for easy integration into your project, plus lots of people here with recent experience.
If you insist on using the ESP-01 for connecting an Arduino to WiFi, just remember what Marvin said: "This will all end in tears. I guarantee it".
Yes, it can be done. But it would be so much easier to simply start with a board that already has WiFi.
OK my example was not very clear. That version of the pump is PWM controlled by a 5V signal voltage. So the BSS138 is fine.
For switching 12V On/Off pumps I use QS5U12 with built in flywheel diode. In hindsight that would have been the better circuit example.
My 'shield' examples are just WiFi Serial replacements trivial to use from telnet/teraterm
1 Amp, 25 V, true logic-level and it does actually have a flywheel diode!
Quite a useful part for low power applications. 
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