The World Wide Web & Web Pages (CIE IGCSE ICT)

The Internet and the world wide web are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

The Internet

• The Internet refers to the global network of computers and other electronic devices connected through a system of routers and servers
• It is the infrastructure that allows us to send and receive information, including email, instant messaging, and file transfers
• It also provides access to other services such as online gaming, video streaming, and cloud computing
  
  

The World Wide Web

• The world wide web, or simply the Web, is a collection of websites and web pages that are accessed using the internet
• It was created in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee, who envisioned it as a way to share and access information on a global scale
• The web consists of interconnected documents and multimedia files that are stored on web servers around the world
• Web pages are accessed using a web browser, which communicates with a web server to retrieve and display the content
• It is used for browsing web pages, sending emails, social networking, online shopping, and much more
• Advantages include ease of communication, access to information, and online services
• Disadvantages include privacy concerns, cybercrime, and misinformation

What can I find online?

• An intranet is a private network within an organisation, while an extranet is an intranet that is partially accessible to authorised outsiders
• Blogs, forums, wikis, and social networks are types of web pages used for sharing information and social interaction

Blogs

• A blog (short for weblog) is a website or part of a website that is updated regularly with content, often written in an informal or conversational style like a journal
• They are usually presented in reverse chronological order
• They are usually managed by individuals or small groups
• They allow for reader comments, facilitating some level of discussion
• Blogs often focus on specific topics, such as food, travel, fashion, technology, or personal experiences
• They can also serve as a platform for sharing opinions or insights

Forums

• A forum is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages
• They are often organised around specific topics or interests, and divided into categories known as threads
• Unlike blogs, forums are primarily focused on peer-to-peer interaction
• They may require users to create an account before posting
• Forums can be moderated or unmoderated

Wikis

• A wiki is a type of website that allows users to add, remove, or edit content
• It is designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing from many people
• It holds information on many topics which can be searched
• Posts are not in chronological order
• The structure is determined by the content or its users
• The most famous wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopaedia
• Changes can be tracked and reverted if necessary, and the content is usually written in a neutral style

Social Networking

• Social networking sites are platforms where users can connect with others and share content
• They include platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Social networking platforms usually require users to create a profile and allow them to share text, images, videos, and links
• They facilitate interaction, collaboration, and information sharing on a large scale
• Privacy settings allow users to control who can see their content

The Functionality of the Internet

• Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide services for accessing and using the Internet
• A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is the address of a web page on the WWW

What is a URL?

• The URL is a text-based address that identifies the location of a resource on the internet
• It is the address of a web page, image, video, or any other resource available on the internet

• A URL can contain three main components:
• Protocol
• Domain name
• Web page / file name
• The protocol is the communication protocol used to transfer data between the client and the server 
• E.g. HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and others
• The domain name is the name of the server where the resource is located
• It can be a name or an IP address
• The web page / file name is the location of the file or resource on the server
• It can contain the name of the file or directory where the resource is located
• A URL looks like this: 
• protocol://domain/path
• E.g. https://www.example.com/index.html is a URL that consists of the HTTPS protocol, the domain name "www.example.com", and the file name is "/index.html".

Risks of Using the Internet

• Inappropriate and criminal material: The internet can expose users to harmful or illegal content
• Data restriction: Parental, educational, and ISP controls can limit access to certain information or websites

• A web browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve, and display content on the WWW, including web pages, images, video, and other files
• A hyperlink is a word/phrase/image which references data that the reader can follow by clicking or tapping, usually taking you to another web page