Communication Skills - Internet Skills - The Internet and World Wide Web

In order to understand what the World Wide Web is and how to use it effectively, it is important to understand how it is related to the Internet.

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a globally distributed, cooperatively run network of computer networks that can exchange and share information. Computers on the Internet can provide (serve) information and/or access and view information. Information found through the Internet is located on the many computers that comprise it.

For a complete history of the Internet, see Hobbes' Internet Timeline This is a link to another web site, <http://www.zakon.org/robert/internet/timeline/>

What can you do through the Internet?

The Internet provides access to the following services:

  • Send and receive electronic mail (e-mail)
  • Subscribe to electronic discussion lists (listserv.html)
  • Participate in chat rooms
  • Transfer files using the file transfer protocol (ftp)
  • Connect to remote computers (telnet)
  • Connect to the World Wide Web (http)

What is the World Wide Web?

The World Wide Web (also known as the Web or WWW) is a way of accessing information through the Internet using the hypertext transfer protocol (http). The Web allows you to view images and film clips, listen to sound recordings, connect to other documents, and search for information on a variety of topics.

Information available via the Web is displayed on a web page. Links to other documents (hypertext) and links to images or sound files (multimedia) may be displayed on the same page. Because of its synthesis of hypertext and multimedia, the Web is also known as a hypermedia system. It is a non-linear (not a straight line) way of accessing information. This means that you can jump from web page to web page by following links on the page, in any order that you choose.

The web page below illustrates this integration of page elements:

Parts of a Web page

(InterNic/LITA 15 Minute Series)


What can you find through the World Wide Web?

The Web provides a single, uniform environment in which to use the different Internet services of e-mail, telnet, ftp, http, chat, and discussions lists. To take full advantage of this information resource, you need to use software, called a web browser.

How does the World Wide Web work?

The Web "works" because computers on the Internet can communicate and share information. This standard of communication is called Client-Server technology.

The image below illustrates this process:

  • Your computer is the client, with browser software.
  • It accesses a server via a link on a web page, and the server sends the file requested (e.g. a web page).
  • The client uses the browser software to interpret and display the file.
Client-server

(L.J. Waber University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

What is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)?

A Uniform Resource Locator, or URL, identifies the unique address or location of every Internet resource. It is a standardized addressing scheme that consists of specific parts. URLs may be used to access any Internet service (or protocol). The example below describes a URL for a web site:

URL

(Stacey Kimmel, Lehigh University Libraries)

The general form looks like this:

Internet service://machine address/directory/filename

where Internet service can be http, telnet, or ftp and location includes the machine address and any subdirectories.

Additional Reading

Ackermann, E. & Hartman, K. (1998). Searching and Researching on the Internet and World Wide Web. Wilsonville, OR: Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc.
Thorough treatment of search engines, directory services, strategies for using the Internet and Web for research and more; filled with examples and practical advice.

Leiner, Barry M., Cerf, Vinton G., Clark, David D., et. al. (2000, August 4). A Brief History of the Internet. Retrieved September 11, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://info.isoc.org/internet-history/brief.html This is a link to another web site
Describes the history and origins of the Internet as we know it today.

Enzer, Matisse. (1994-2003). ILC Glossary of Internet Terms This is a link to another web site. Retrieved September 11, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html
A web glossary that defines common terms or jargon used to describe aspects of the Internet.

Maze, S., Moxley, D., and Smith, D. J. (1997). Authoritative Guide to Web Search Engines. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.
Easily understood description of search engine technology, advice for optimum searching, and thorough explications of the most popular search engines.

National Cable Television Association and TechCorps. (2000-2003). Web Teacher Tutorial This is a link to another web site. Retrieved September 11, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.webteacher.org/winnet/indextc.html

The Ohio State University Libraries. (1997-2003). net.Tutor This is a link to another web site. Retrieved September 11, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/index.html

Whatis.Com This is a link to another web site. (2000-2003). Retrieved September 11, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://whatis.techtarget.com/
A very complete online dictionary service that also includes information about file formats, creating home pages, graphic design, and more.