Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
How the.Web Works
The
Internet
is a global network of millions of computers that can
communicate with each other. Provided that two computers are con-
nected to the Internet, they can share information between them. The
World Wide Web (WWW)
, often referred to as “the web,” is part of the
Internet; it is a network of interconnected pages of information stored
on publicly accessible servers using a consistent page layout and format-
ting language.
Internet
A global packet-switched network
created cooperatively by multiple companies,
governments, and standards organizations.
World Wide Web (WWW)
A network of inter-
connected pages of information stored on publicly
accessible servers.
Web Browsing Components
Web browsing involves three components:
◾
Web servers:
Store and provide access to websites
◾
Web browsers:
Request and display information to individuals
◾
Web pages:
The individual documents that web servers store and
web browsers request.
Web Servers
When someone connects to the Internet, he typically uses a computer
with a desktop operating system, such as Windows 7. The informa-
tion accessed by that person, however, is stored on a different type of
computer, called a web server. As you learned in
Chapter 8
, a server is
a powerful computer that exists in order to provide data or services to
other computers. A
web server
is a server on which web pages are stored
and made available to the public.
web server
A server that receives requests for
web page data and supplies it by sending it over
the Internet.
Web Designer
A web designer creates websites for businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals. Web designers not only
have a strong background in programming tools like HTML, Java, and ASP, but also an eye for what makes a page
functional, attractive, and easy to use. If you are interested in being a web designer, you will want to study com-
puter technology, programming, user interface design, and computer graphics.
Web Browsers
A
web browser
, often referred to simply as a
browser
, is an applica-
tion used to access websites and to retrieve or upload information. The
browser runs on an individual user's computer and provides a communi-
cation interface to web servers.
web browser
An application used to access
websites and to retrieve or upload information.
Often referred to as a
browser
.
Many different browsers are available. The most popular ones include:
◾
Internet Explorer
◾
Firefox
◾
Chrome
◾
Safari
All these browsers work in a similar fashion. Typically, if you know how
to use one, you'll be able to find your way around any of the others.
