AAll the things you do, whether it's streaming movies, browsing Facebook, or whatever, you do on the web, not the internet. The Internet is a network of computer devices, routers, and servers spread across the globe. Although the Web or the World Wide Web is like software running on the Internet, it does not have any physical existence. The web provides access to all websites and services using various protocols.
We generally assume that the Internet and the World Wide Web (commonly known as the Web or WWW) are the same things. But they are not, although they are required to exist together to get things done. Most of the time, we don't think about using one word for the other.
So what is the Internet?
Internet is the physical network of networks of networks, etc. The devices connected to your home router are part of the local area network (LAN). Likewise, if a computer network develops in your city, it would be known as the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). The wide area network (WAN) can have its reach across the country or even abroad. You can check the differences between LAN, MAN, WAN, etc. in our detailed article.
In short, countless numbers of small, medium, and large networks contribute to a large computer network called the Internet. It consists of various devices for end users, routers, switches, data servers, etc. Special submarine cables are laid across countries and continents to make the Internet a global thing.
When was the Internet born?
The first attempts to build computer networks date back to the 1950s, mainly in the United States. ARPANET began in 1969 (until 1990) and is often considered the first wide area network across the United States. It was intended to serve as a communication aid for the US defense forces and to create links between different research institutes. ARPANET used early versions of the TCP / IP protocol suite that has become the backbone of the modern Internet.
Learn more: What is Domain Name System (DNS) and how does it work?
And what is the World Wide Web?
Now, not all computers connected together via the Internet will transfer information by themselves.
Let's take an example of a chat club. Think of the people sitting in the club as devices connected to the Internet. Now, they can communicate on many media. For example, they can talk to each other or write their thoughts on a piece of paper and pass it on.
You can associate the World Wide Web with one of the means of exchanging information on the Internet. Usually, we define WWW as the information space where web pages (and other things) are identified using their Unique Resource Locator (URLs), interconnected using hyperlinks, and can be consulted on the Internet. Web pages are stored on computers from where they can be requested by other computers.
Suppose you are sitting in one of these clubs (Internet) with other people (devices connected to the Internet). You can ask one of them what they think (web pages) while speaking (using the web). Their identifying details (URLs) can be their name or face, in case you are new to the club. And the hyperlink is "you" trying to make an effort to access more of their thoughts.
In reality, hyperlinks are the clickable links that you find on websites. So if someone gives you information and you want to know more, you can ask related questions (visit the links). For example, you can find many links on this page and click on any of them to learn more.
Now there might be some rules in the club regarding how you should speak. For example, it may be mandatory to speak in a low voice or you may have to close your eyes while speaking. We have the protocols to maintain a smooth flow of data from a web server to your web browser. And we call it HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), or a newer one, HTTP / 2.
HTTPS is a variant of HTTP that secures the connection by adding a layer of encryption. However, HTTP is only one component that enables communication. There are other helpers like TCP / IP and UDP. But it is in another depth of history.
Usually we do not visit websites directly. We take the help of the search engines that crawl all over the place and index the sites. There is a part of the web beyond the reach of search engines. It's called the Deep Web and there is also something called the Dark Web.
Also Read: What is the Difference Between Deep Web, Darknet, and Dark Web?
Who invented the World Wide Web? Who owns the web?
No one owns the web. It was created by computer scientist Tim-Berners Lee in 1989 while working at CERN. He also headed the foundation of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which deals with the development of Web standards. Lee is the current director of the consortium.
What about other means of conversation?
Talking is one way of exchanging information, but there are other ways as well. For example, you prefer to write things down on a piece of paper. You can assume this thing as the email. Yeah, email is a different thing from WWW. And I hope you don't try to mix the two technologies.
The use of electronic mail or electronic mail consists of exchanging messages between two devices over the Internet. Previously, there was only text in emails, but nowadays emails have started to include rich media content. There are separate protocols to ensure that email delivery across devices and platforms remains uninterrupted. For example, there could be a rule to put the piece of paper in a box next to the recipient.
Some of the common email protocols are SMTP, POP3, IMAP; they have their own advantages and disadvantages. Likewise, there may be other modes of conversation. You can also transfer files over the Internet directly using FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
So, speaking of the Internet versus the World Wide Web, it is now clear that the two technologies go hand in hand. They contribute to the overall connectivity experience we have today and provide information at your fingertips.
Did you find this useful? Let go of your thoughts and comments.
