(312) 550-4800
image

World Wide Web

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW), often called the Web, is a system of interconnected web pages and resources that can be accessed over the Internet using a web browser. Simple Definition The Web is a service that runs on the Internet and allows people to view websites, click links, watch videos, and access information. World Wide Web vs. Internet Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are different: Internet is a largest networks and Collection of websites and web pages are the world wide web Infrastructure that carries data Service that uses the infrastructure Supports email, gaming, cloud services, and the Web Focuses on websites and hyperlinks Think of it this way: Internet = Roads and highways World Wide Web = Destinations connected by those roads How the Web Works You enter a website address (URL) such as www.microsoft.com. Your browser contacts a web server. The server sends the webpage. The browser displays the content. Plain Text Browser | | HTTP/HTTPS Request v Web Server | | Web Page Response v Browser Displays Site Show more lines Main Components of the Web 1. Web Browsers Software used to access websites. Examples: Microsoft Edge Google Chrome Firefox Safari 2. Web Servers Computers that host websites. Examples: Microsoft IIS Apache Nginx 3. Web Pages Documents written primarily in HTML. Examples: News articles Online stores Blogs 4. URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) Addresses used to locate webpages. Example: Plain Text https://www.microsoft.com Show more lines 5. Hyperlinks Clickable links that connect webpages together. This is what makes the Web a "web" of interconnected information. Web Protocols HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol Used to transfer web content. HTTPS HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure Uses encryption to protect communications between your browser and websites. Why the Web Is Important The World Wide Web enables: Online learning Social media E-commerce Online banking News and information sharing Streaming services Cybersecurity Perspective When using the Web, security controls help protect users from: Phishing websites Malware downloads Data theft Fake login pages Common protections include: HTTPS encryption Firewalls Web application security Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.