This paper provides a comprehensive survey of context-aware computing in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT). It begins by introducing the IoT paradigm, its evolution, and key characteristics, emphasizing the role of sensor networks. The paper then delves into the fundamentals of context awareness, including definitions, types, categorization schemes, and levels of context awareness. It discusses the importance of context in enhancing the value of raw sensor data and the challenges in managing and processing large volumes of data. The authors evaluate 50 projects from 2001 to 2011, using a taxonomy to analyze their features, models, and functionalities. The evaluation highlights the need for context-aware middleware solutions that can handle the complexity and scale of IoT. The paper concludes with lessons learned and future research directions, emphasizing the importance of context-awareness in IoT applications.This paper provides a comprehensive survey of context-aware computing in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT). It begins by introducing the IoT paradigm, its evolution, and key characteristics, emphasizing the role of sensor networks. The paper then delves into the fundamentals of context awareness, including definitions, types, categorization schemes, and levels of context awareness. It discusses the importance of context in enhancing the value of raw sensor data and the challenges in managing and processing large volumes of data. The authors evaluate 50 projects from 2001 to 2011, using a taxonomy to analyze their features, models, and functionalities. The evaluation highlights the need for context-aware middleware solutions that can handle the complexity and scale of IoT. The paper concludes with lessons learned and future research directions, emphasizing the importance of context-awareness in IoT applications.