World Wide Web (WWW)
The World Wide Web (WWW), often called the Web, is a system of interconnected webpages and information that you can access using the Internet. It was created to help people share and find information easily, using links that connect different pages together. The Web allows us to browse websites, watch videos, shop online, and connect with others around the world through our computers and phones.
All public websites or web pages that people may access on their local computers and other devices through the internet are collectively known as the World Wide Web or W3. Users can get further information by navigating to links interconnecting these pages and documents. This data may be presented in text, picture, audio, or video formats on the internet.
Fact: Today, it connects over 63% of the world’s population, making it one of the most powerful tools for communication and information sharing.
Key Parts of the Web
The Web has three main building blocks that make it work:
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): This is the address of a webpage, like https://www.example.com. It tells your browser exactly where to find the page.
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): This is the set of rules that lets your browser and the server talk to each other to send and receive webpages.
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): This is the code that tells browsers how to display a webpage, including where to put text, pictures, and links.
Working of World Wide Web(WWW)
A Web browser is used to access web pages. Web browsers can be defined as programs which display text, data, pictures, animation and video on the Internet. Hyperlinked resources on the World Wide Web can be accessed using software interfaces provided by Web browsers. Initially, Web browsers were used only for surfing the Web but now they have become more universal.
The below diagram indicates how the Web operates just like client-server architecture of the internet. When users request web pages or other information, then the web browser of your system request to the server for the information and then the web server provide requested services to web browser back and finally the requested service is utilized by the user who made the request.
Web browsers can be used for several tasks, including conducting searches, mailing, transferring files, and much more. Some of the commonly used browsers are Internet Explorer, Opera Mini, and Google Chrome.
World Wide Web (WWW) Vs Internet
It’s easy to mix up the Web and the Internet, but they’re different:
Aspect | World Wide Web | Internet |
|---|---|---|
What It Is | A collection of webpages and websites you access with a browser. | A global network connecting computers. |
Started | 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN. | 1960s as ARPANET. |
Purpose | To share and explore information like text, images, and videos. | To connect devices and share data. |
How You Use It | Through browsers like Chrome or Firefox. | Through any connected device for email, apps, etc. |
Example | Visiting a website like Wikipedia. | Sending an email or streaming a video. |
Note: In short, the Web is just one part of the Internet, like a library is one part of a city.
Challenges of the Web
The Web is amazing, but it has some problems that you should know about:
- Privacy: Some websites collect information about you, like what you search for, and might share it without asking.
- Safety: Hackers can try to steal your information or send viruses through fake links or ads.
- False Information: Not everything on the Web is true, so you need to check if a website is trustworthy.
- Bullying: Some people use the Web to be mean or bully others, which can hurt feelings.
- Too Much Screen Time: Spending too much time online can make it hard to focus on school or sleep well.
- Access Issues: Not everyone has fast Internet, especially in some countries, which makes it harder to use the Web.
History of the WWW
It is a project created, by Tim Berner Lee in 1989, for researchers to work together effectively at CERN. It is an organization, named the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which was developed for further development of the web. This organization is directed by Tim Berner's Lee, aka the father of the web. CERN, where Tim Berners worked, is a community of more than 1700 researchers from more than 100 countries. These researchers spend a little time on CERN and the rest of the time they work at their colleges and national research facilities in their home country, so there was a requirement for solid communication so that they can exchange data.
How Web Evolves?
World Wide Web(WWW) Evolved so much from web 1.0 to web 4.0 (Future of WWW) as follows:
- Web 1.0 (1990–2000) Introduced static websites,
- while Web 2.0 (2000–2010) brought interactive and social platforms.
- Web 3.0 (2010–2020) focused on the semantic web, enabling machines to understand data and offer personalized experiences.
- Looking ahead, Web 4.0 (2020–2030) is expected to be a fully intelligent web ecosystem powered by AI and integrated web operating systems.
Some Facts About the Web
- The first website ever is still online! You can visit it at "http://info.cern.ch"
- There are over 1.5 billion websites in the world, and that number grows every day.
- Google Chrome is used by more than 60% of people browsing the Web.
- The Web is available in over 150 languages, so you can explore in your language or learn a new one!
Conclusion
The World Wide Web is like a magical doorway to a world of knowledge, fun, and creativity. Since Tim Berners-Lee created it in 1989, it’s grown into something we use every day for school, games, and staying connected. By understanding how the Web works and using it safely, you can make the most of this incredible tool. So, grab your browser, explore, and have fun learning something new today!
