The World Wide Web - What it is, How it Works and Why it's so popular

Internet for Business

The World Wide Web - what it is and how it can benefit your small business

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World Wide Web Explained

The World Wide Web (usually referred to simply as “the Web”) is a universal language or subset of the Internet, organised in such a way that any computer connected to the Internet can understand it, assisted by software known as a web browser.

On a second level, the Web also comprises the many millions of web pages that have been created.

To better grasp the concept of the Web, imagine a network of answering machines across the globe.

When you call up a number (or “web address”), you get a message in the form of a web page on your screen.

These web pages are stored on servers - powerful computers with large amounts of memory that “serve out” web pages on request.

So when you want to see a web page, you call it up from the server and it’s sent to your computer (the client). This is known as client/server computing.

What’s great about this system is that numerous clients can request identical information or web pages from the same server, all at the same time.

Think how powerful that is for business. A hundred or more potential customers can be looking at your web site, with information about your service or products, at any one time. And, compared to printing and mailing a brochure, the cost is minimal.

The Amazing Hyperlink

Another amazing feature of the Web is the hyperlink - a predefined link between two web pages. Hyperlinks - or simply “links” - allow users to access web pages stored on various servers, irrespective of where the user or server is located.

You could be in England reading a web page about the summer Olympics - you click on a link that offers more information about the Modern Pentathlon and the relevant page is sent to your screen from a server in California. Hundreds, possibly even thousands, of sports fans around the world could be calling up the identical document at the same time.

This web page could in turn have hyperlinks to each of the disciplines that make up the Modern Pentathlon - or links to pages providing information about previous winners of the event.

This system of hyperlinks allows the reader or “web surfer” to jump from topic to topic in a random way. There are no constraints obliging you to follow topics in any set order.

However, as many have found, this freedom can be seductive and a hazard for the busy person looking for specific information.

Next ... What a Web Browser Does

Last updated: August 2008. Copyright © 2006-2008 Scotch Macaskill, 18 Strawberry Fields, 36 College Road, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Tel: +27 33 3422811. Privacy: Your privacy is guaranteed. Personal information, including email addresses, will never be sold or given to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for further details.

Internet for Business
The World Wide Web - what it is and how it can benefit your small business
Home > Internet Primer > World Wide Web Explained World Wide Web Explained The World Wide Web (usually referred to simply as “the Web”) is a universal language or subset of the Internet, organised in such a way that any computer connected to the Internet can understand it, assisted by software known as a web browser. On a second level, the Web also comprises the many millions of web pages that have been created. To better grasp the concept of the Web, imagine a network of answering machines across the globe. When you call up a number (or “web address”), you get a message in the form of a web page on your screen. These web pages are stored on servers - powerful computers with large amounts of memory that “serve out” web pages on request. So when you want to see a web page, you call it up from the server and it’s sent to your computer (the client). This is known as client/server computing. What’s great about this system is that numerous clients can request identical information or web pages from the same server, all at the same time. Think how powerful that is for business. A hundred or more potential customers can be looking at your web site, with information about your service or products, at any one time. And, compared to printing and mailing a brochure, the cost is minimal. The Amazing Hyperlink Another amazing feature of the Web is the hyperlink - a predefined link between two web pages. Hyperlinks - or simply “links” - allow users to access web pages stored on various servers, irrespective of where the user or server is located. You could be in England reading a web page about the summer Olympics - you click on a link that offers more information about the Modern Pentathlon and the relevant page is sent to your screen from a server in California. Hundreds, possibly even thousands, of sports fans around the world could be calling up the identical document at the same time. This web page could in turn have hyperlinks to each of the disciplines that make up the Modern Pentathlon - or links to pages providing information about previous winners of the event. This system of hyperlinks allows the reader or “web surfer” to jump from topic to topic in a random way. There are no constraints obliging you to follow topics in any set order. However, as many have found, this freedom can be seductive and a hazard for the busy person looking for specific information. Next ... What a Web Browser Does
Last updated: August 2008. Copyright © 2006-2008 Scotch Macaskill, 18 Strawberry Fields, 36 College Road, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Tel: +27 33 3422811. Privacy: Your privacy is guaranteed. Personal information, including email addresses, will never be sold or given to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for further details.