The World Wide Web, commonly referred to as the Web, constitutes a compilation of websites and web pages stored on web servers, interconnected with local computers through the internet. These websites encompass a variety of content such as text pages, digital images, audios, videos, and more. Users can access the content from any corner of the globe using devices like computers, laptops, or cell phones. Working in tandem with the internet, the WWW facilitates the retrieval and display of text and media on user devices.
At its core, the Web is comprised of web pages formatted in HTML, linked together by "hypertext" or hyperlinks, and accessed through HTTP. Hypertext, essentially electronic connections, interlink related pieces of information, allowing users to swiftly access the desired content. This unique feature enables users to select a word or phrase within text, granting access to other pages providing additional information associated with the chosen word or phrase.Each web page is assigned a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) as its online address. A group of web pages falling under a specific URL is termed a website; examples include www.facebook.com and www.google.com. Essentially, the World Wide Web functions as an extensive electronic book, with its pages stored on numerous servers distributed globally.
While smaller websites may store all their web pages on a single server, larger websites or organizations often distribute their web pages across different servers in various countries. This strategic placement ensures that users in a specific country can swiftly retrieve information from the nearest server when searching the site.
In essence, the Web serves as a communication platform, allowing users to retrieve and exchange information over the internet. Unlike the sequential progression through pages in a book, navigating the World Wide Web involves following a web of hypertext links to move from one web page to another. To access the Web, users need a browser installed on their computers, providing a gateway to the vast expanse of information available online.