5.1 The Internet and World Wide Web

Question 1

Definition of Internet

Answer 1

The internet is a worldwide collection of interconnected networks. It relies on a physical infrastructure that allows networks and individual devices to connect to other networks and devices.

Question 2

Definition of World Wide Web

Answer 2

The World Wide Web (WWW) is only a part of the internet that users can access using web browser software. The World Wide Web consists of a massive collection of web pages, and is based on the hypertext transfer protocol.

Question 3

What are the differences between Internet and World Wide Web?

Answer 3

It is a worldwide collection of
interconnected networks and devices it is a collection of multimedia web pages and other information on websites
It makes use of transmission protocols (TCP) and internet protocols (IP) It uses Uniform resource locators (URLs) to specify the location of web pages
Http(s) protocols are written using
hypertext mark-up language (HTML)
The users can send and receive emails Web resources are accessed by web
browsers
It allows online chatting (via text, audio and video) It uses the internet to access information
from web servers

It is a worldwide collection of
interconnected networks and devices it is a collection of multimedia web pages and other information on websites
It makes use of transmission protocols (TCP) and internet protocols (IP) It uses Uniform resource locators (URLs) to specify the location of web pages
Http(s) protocols are written using
hypertext mark-up language (HTML)
The users can send and receive emails Web resources are accessed by web
browsers
It allows online chatting (via text, audio and video) It uses the internet to access information
from web servers

Question 4

What are URLs?

Answer 4

Uniform resource locators (URLs) are text addresses used to access websites. A URL is
typed into a browser address bar using the following format:

protocol: //website address/path/file name
https: //www.hoddereducation.co.uk/ict

Note: The path is the web page, but is often omitted

The web address can be split into

1. Domain host (www)
2. Domain name (website name e.g. hoddereducation)
3. Domain type (e.g. .com, .org, .net, .gov)
4. Country code (e.g. .uk, .de, .cy)

Question 5

What is HTTP?

Answer 5

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a set of rules that must be obeyed when transferring files across the internet.

When some form of security (for example SSL or TLS) is used this changes to HTTPs.

Question 6

What is HTTPs?

Answer 6

HTTP over secure (HTTPS) uses SSL or TLS certification and encryption to protect sensitive data being transferred across the internet.

Question 7

What is a web browser?

Answer 7

Browsers interpret (translate) the HTML from websites and show the result of the translation; for example, videos, images/text and audio.

Question 8

What is ISP?

Answer 8

Internet Service Provider (ISP) are companies that provide the user with access to the internet. A monthly fee is usually charged for this service.

Question 9

What are the features in a web browser?

Answer 9

1. They have a home page
2. They use an address bar
3. They can store a user’s favourite websites/web pages (referred to as bookmarks)
4. They keep a history of websites visited by the user
5. They allow the user to navigate forwards and backwards through websites/web pages
6. Many web pages can be open at the same time by using multiple tabs
7. They make use of cookies
8. They make use of hyperlinks that allow navigation between websites and web
9. Data is stored as a cache

Question 10

10. How does the browser retrieve the web pages?

Answer 10

1. The user opens their browser and types in the URL
2. The browser asks the DNS server for the IP address of the website.
3. The DNS server finds the URL and the IP address is sent back to the user’s computer
4. HTML files are sent from the website server to the computer.
5. The browser interprets the HTML, which is used to structure content, and then displays the information on the user’s computer.

Question 11

What are cookies?

Answer 11

Cookies are small files or code stored on a user’s computer and tracks data about users, such as IP addresses and browsing activity.

Question 12

What are the two types of cookies?

Answer 12

1. Session cookie

2. Persistent cookie. (Permanent cookie)

Question 13

What is a session cookie?

Answer 13

Session cookie is used for making online purchases and is stored in temporary memory on the computer. It doesn’t collect any information from the user’s computer.

Session cookies cease to exist on a user’s computer once the browser is closed or the website session is terminated

Question 14

What are the uses of session cookies?

Answer 14

1. Session cookies are used when making online purchases.

2. They keep a user’s items in a virtual shopping basket.

Question 15

1What are the uses of persistent cookies?

Answer 15

Persistent cookies are used to store a user’s log in details on the user’s computer.

They are stored on the hard drive of a user’s computer until the expiry date is reached or the user deletes it.

Question 16

What are the uses of persistent cookies?

Answer 16

1. Allow the website to remember users’ passwords, email addresses and invoice details, so they won’t have to insert all of this information every time they visit or purchase something from that website
2. Serve as a memory, enabling the website to recognise users every time they visit it
3. Save users’ items in a virtual shopping basket/cart
4. Track internet habits and users’ website histories or bookmarks
5. Target users with advertising that matches their previous buying or surfing habits
6. Store users’ preferences (e.g. customised web pages)