What is World Wide Web (WWW)

The World Wide Web (WWW), also known as the Web, is a system that allows public web pages to be accessible through the Internet. It's like a giant digital library of information, stored on servers around the world. The World Wide Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while working at CERN, a European particle physics research organization.

Key Features of the World Wide Web

• Public: Anyone with an internet connection can access the Web.
• Decentralized: There is no single central authority that controls the Web.
• Open: The Web is open to anyone to use and contribute to.
• Hypertext: The Web is based on hypertext, which allows users to easily navigate between different web pages.
• Multimedia: The Web can be used to display text, images, videos, and other multimedia content.
• Interactive: The Web allows users to interact with web pages and applications.
• Universal: The Web is universal, meaning that it can be used by anyone, regardless of their location or language.

How does the World Wide Web work?

Behind the working World Wide Web working plays complex programs but Here's a simplified breakdown of how it works:

• Browsing: You use a web browser like Chrome or Firefox to navigate the web. This browser acts as your client.
• Websites and Servers: Websites are stored on powerful computers called servers. These servers can be located anywhere in the world.
• Understanding Addresses: To find a specific website, you type its address (URL) into the browser. This URL is then translated by a Domain Name System (DNS) into a numerical IP address the computer can understand. Imagine this like looking up a library branch's address in a directory.
• Request and Response: The browser sends a request to the server using a special language called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This request asks for the webpage you want to see. Think of this like placing an order at the library.
• Delivering the Webpage: If the server finds the webpage, it sends the information back to your browser using HTTP. This data might include text, images, and videos. The browser interprets this data and displays the webpage for you. This is like the librarian giving you the book you requested.
• Hyperlinks: Webpages are linked together using hyperlinks. These are clickable words or phrases that, when clicked, take you to a new webpage. This allows you to easily navigate between related information, just like following references in a library book.

Web vs Internet

While talking about Web, let's clear the confusion between web and internet. Because The Web is not the same as the Internet, although the two are often confused.

• The Internet is the physical network of cables, routers, and other devices that connect computers together.
• The Web is one of many applications built on top of the Internet, and it uses certain protocols and technologies, such as HTTP and HTML, to enable users to access and interact with web pages.

The World Wide Web has revolutionized the way we access and share information. The World Wide Web is a constantly evolving platform, and new technologies and applications are emerging all the time. However, the basic principles of the Web remain the same: sharing information and connecting people.

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