What is the World Wide Web
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
Worked example
Tick whether the following refer to moderated or un-moderated forums
[2]
Moderated | Un-moderated | |
All posts are held in a queue. | ||
Posts are not policed. | ||
This forum reduces the chance of offensive messages. | ||
This forum stops several postings on the same topic. |
4 correct answers – 2 marks
2 or 3 correct answers – 1 mark
1 correct – 0 marks
Moderated | Un-moderated | |
All posts are held in a queue. | χ | |
Posts are not policed. | χ | |
This forum reduces the chance of offensive messages. | χ | |
This forum stops several postings on the same topic. | χ |
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
Worked example
HotHouse Design is a large design company. It has recently created a new web address for its design portfolios. The web address is:
https://www.hothouse-design.co.uk/portfolios
a. Describe the following parts of the web address.
[4]
https://
1 of:
This is the hypertext transfer protocol secure [1]
Set of rules/protocol [1]
hothouse-design
this shows the domain name that the company have purchased [1]
.uk
The company/domain is registered in the UK [1]
/portfolios
The folder in which the work is stored on Hothouse’s server [1]
b. Hyperlinks are widely used in web pages.
Explain what is meant by a hyperlink.
[2]
Word/phrase/image [1]
When clicking links to another document/page/website/top or bottom of the page [1]