The web is a massive network of interconnected devices that communicate using standardized protocols. Understanding how it works at a high level involves looking at key components and their interactions.
1. The Internet vs. the Web
The Internet is the global network of computers.
The Web (World Wide Web – WWW) is a system of information sharing over the Internet, using web pages linked together via URLs (Uniform Resource Locators).
2. Key Components of the Web
a. Clients (Users’ Devices)
Devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
Use browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) to access web pages.
b. Servers
Computers that store and serve web pages.
Handle requests from clients and return data.
c. HTTP & HTTPS (Protocols)
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP): Rules for communication between clients and servers.
HTTPS (Secure HTTP): Encrypts data using SSL/TLS for security.
d. DNS (Domain Name System)
Translates human-readable domain names (e.g., google.com) into IP addresses (e.g., 142.250.190.46).
e. HTML, CSS, JavaScript
HTML (HyperText Markup Language): Structures web pages.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): Styles web pages.
JavaScript: Adds interactivity and dynamic behavior.
3. How a Web Page Loads (Step-by-Step)
User enters a URL (e.g., www.example.com).
Browser contacts a DNS server to get the website’s IP address.
Browser sends an HTTP request to the server.
Server processes the request and sends back HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
Browser renders the web page using these files.
4. Frontend vs. Backend
Frontend (Client-Side): What users see and interact with (HTML, CSS, JS).
