Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Differentiate between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
- Describe the roles of a web browser and a web server.
- Explain the basic function of a search engine.
- Use search operators to search more effectively.
- Explain the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) for businesses.
The World Wide Web
It is important to understand the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web (or simply, “the Web”). The Internet is the massive, global network of computers. The World Wide Web is a service that runs on the internet. It is a system of interlinked hypertext documents that are accessed via the internet.
The Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1989–1991, combining three ideas: HTML (to write pages), URLs (to address them), and HTTP (to transfer them).
Key components of the Web include:
- Web Browser: The client software used to view websites (e.g., Chrome, Firefox).
- Web Server: The server software that stores websites and serves them to browsers upon request.
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The address of a specific resource on the web (e.g.,
https://www.google.com). - Hyperlink: Clickable text or images that take you to another page, which is what makes the Web a “web.”
- Web page and website: A web page is a single document; a website is a collection of related pages under one domain.
| Internet | World Wide Web |
|---|---|
| A global network of networks (infrastructure) | A service of linked pages that runs on the Internet |
| Started as ARPANET in 1969 | Created in 1989–1991 |
| Uses TCP/IP | Uses HTTP/HTTPS, HTML, and URLs |
| Supports many services: email, FTP, video calls, the Web | One of those services |
Search Engines
The Web contains billions of pages, and finding information would be impossible without search engines. A search engine is a software system that is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web.
How Search Engines Work
Search engines perform three primary tasks:
-
Crawling: They use automated programs called “spiders” or “crawlers” to constantly browse the web, following links from one page to another to discover new content.
-
Indexing: They analyze the content of the pages they crawl and store and organize this information in a massive database called an index.
-
Ranking: When a user performs a search, the search engine queries its index and uses a complex algorithm to rank the results, aiming to provide the most relevant and authoritative pages first.
- Examples: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo.
flowchart LR
W[Web pages] --> C[Crawling]
C --> I[Indexing]
I --> R[Ranking]
Q[User search query] --> R
R --> S[Results page]
Ranking factors include how well the page matches the search words, the quality and number of links pointing to it, freshness, page speed, mobile-friendliness, use of HTTPS, and the user’s location.
Search Engine vs Web Browser
A common confusion: Chrome is a browser (software to view pages); Google is a search engine (a website that finds pages). You use a browser to visit a search engine.
Searching Effectively
| Operator / technique | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation marks | "digital divide in Nepal" |
Finds the exact phrase |
| Minus sign | jaguar -car |
Excludes a word |
| site: | budget site:mof.gov.np |
Searches only within one website |
| filetype: | annual report filetype:pdf |
Finds a particular file type |
| OR | eSewa OR Khalti fees |
Finds either term |
Always evaluate search results: check who published the page, when, whether it is an ad (“Sponsored”), and whether other reliable sources agree.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Business
SEO is the practice of improving a website so that it ranks higher in organic (unpaid) search results. SEM (search engine marketing) includes paid ads that appear above results.
Basic SEO steps for a business:
- Use clear page titles and descriptions with the words customers search for.
- Publish useful, original content.
- Make the site fast, mobile-friendly, and secure (HTTPS).
- Create a Google Business Profile with address, hours, and photos.
- Earn links from reputable websites and encourage genuine reviews.
Scenario: a trekking agency in Thamel adds detailed pages on each route (for example, “Annapurna Base Camp trek in 10 days”), with photos, costs, and FAQs, and keeps its Google Business Profile updated. Over months, it appears higher for those searches and receives more direct enquiries from foreign trekkers without paying for every click.
Summary
The World Wide Web is a service that runs on the internet, providing access to a global collection of interlinked documents built on HTML, URLs, and HTTP. We access the web using a web browser, which requests pages from web servers. To navigate the vast amount of information on the web, we rely on search engines, which continuously crawl, index, and rank web pages to help us find what we are looking for. Search operators make searching more precise, and businesses use SEO to be found by customers.
Key Takeaways
- The Web is a service that runs on the Internet.
- A web browser is a client that requests pages from a web server.
- Search engines crawl, index, and rank web pages to help users find information.
- Search operators such as quotes, minus, and
site:refine searches. - SEO helps businesses appear in unpaid search results.
Discussion Questions
- In your own words, what is the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web?
- What is the purpose of a search engine’s index?
- Besides Google, what is another search engine you have used? How is it different?
Exam-Style Questions
Short answer
- Differentiate between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
- Differentiate between a web browser and a search engine.
- What is SEO?
Long answer
- Explain how a search engine works, with a diagram.
- Why is SEO important for a Nepali business? Suggest steps to improve a business website’s search ranking.
