Now that we comprehend that the World Wide Web (WWW) is a network of interconnected websites accessible through the internet for searching and sharing information, let's delve into how it operates.
The functioning of the Web adheres to the fundamental client-server structure of the internet, as depicted in the accompanying image. Servers play a pivotal role by storing and transmitting web pages or information to users' computers on the network upon request. A web server, functioning as a software program, serves the web pages requested by users employing a browser. The user's computer, which initiates the request for documents from a server, is termed a client. The browser, installed on the user's computer, facilitates the viewing of the retrieved documents.
All websites find their storage space in web servers. Analogous to someone residing in a rented house, a website occupies a designated space in a server and remains stored within it. Whenever a user requests the web pages of a website, the server hosts the content, and the website owner incurs hosting costs for this service.
The initiation of the World Wide Web begins the moment you open your browser and enter a URL in the address bar or perform a search on platforms like Google. The process involves three key technologies in the transfer of information (web pages) from servers to clients (users' computers). These technologies encompass Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and Web browsers. Together, they facilitate the seamless flow of information, enabling users to access and interact with content on the vast landscape of the World Wide Web.