Unit 3.3
Understanding the World Wide Web
Learning Objectives 🎯
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- ✅ Differentiate between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
- ✅ Describe the function of a web server and a web browser.
- ✅ Define a URL and identify its components.
- ✅ Identify HTTP as the protocol of the web.
The Internet vs. The World Wide Web
The Internet 🌐
- The global network of computers.
- The infrastructure (hardware, cables, routers).
- Analogy: The physical road system.
The World Wide Web 🕸️
- A service that runs on the internet.
- The information (web pages, documents).
- Analogy: The cars, shops, and houses on the roads.
Key Takeaway: The Web is a service on the Internet. They are not the same thing!
How the Web Works: A Simple Model
1. Client (You)
Using a Web Browser (e.g., Chrome), you type a URL and press Enter.
2. The Request ➡️
Your browser sends an HTTP Request over the Internet, asking for the web page.
3. The Server 🗄️
The Web Server receives the request, finds the page, and sends an HTTP Response back.
This request-response cycle happens every time you click a link or load a new page!
Key Component: The Web Browser 💻
Definition: The client software that users run on their computers to request and view web pages.
- ⚡ Acts as your "window" to the Web.
- ⚡ Sends requests to web servers.
- ⚡ Renders HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to display a webpage.
- ⚡ Examples: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge.
Key Component: The Web Server 🗄️
Definition: A computer that stores web pages and serves them to users upon request.
- ⚡ Always on and connected to the Internet.
- ⚡ "Listens" for incoming HTTP requests from browsers.
- ⚡ Responds by sending the requested files (HTML, images, etc.).
- ⚡ Examples: Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS.
🔍 Anatomy of a URL
https://www.example.com.np/products/gadgets
https:// — The Protocol. The rules for communication.
www.example.com.np — The Domain Name. The address of the web server.
/products/gadgets — The Path. The specific resource on the server.
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the unique address for every single resource on the Web.
The Language of the Web: HTTP 🗣️
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The set of rules that web browsers and web servers use to communicate with each other.
- It's a request-response protocol.
- Browser Request: "GET me the homepage!"
- Server Response: "OK, here is the HTML for the homepage."
- Think of it as the grammar and vocabulary for a conversation between browser and server.
Practical Application: The Web in Nepal 🇳🇵
The Web is a vital tool for communication, business, and information in Nepal.
Popular Platforms
- Google (Search)
- Facebook (Social)
- YouTube (Video)
Local Giants
- Onlinekhabar: Top news portal.
- Hamro Patro: Calendar, news, and services.
E-Commerce Impact
- Businesses use websites and social media to reach customers.
- Built on these principles: Daraz, Sastodeal, etc.
Key Takeaways 📊
- The Web is a service that runs on the Internet; they are distinct.
- It works on a client-server model: Browsers (clients) request data from Servers.
- HTTP is the communication protocol, the "language" of the Web.
- Every resource has a unique address called a URL.
Discussion Questions
- In your own words, explain the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
- What happens, step-by-step, when you type a URL like `https://onlinekhabar.com` into your web browser?
- What is the relationship between HTTP and the TCP/IP protocols we discussed earlier?
Thank You!
Next Up: Unit 3.4 - Key Features of Internet and Web Technology