World Wide Web

The World Wide Web and Websites

The World Wide Web (abbreviated WWW or the Web) is an information space where documents and other web resources are identified by Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), interlinked by hypertext links, and can be accessed via the Internet.

URL (internet address/web address)

URL is the short version for : Uniform Resource Locator, previously Universal Resource Locator, usually pronounced by sounding out each letter. URL is the unique address for a file that is accessible on the Internet. A common way to get to a Web site is to enter the URL of its home page file in your Web browser’s address line.

Web Browser

Is a software application used to locate, retrieve and display content on the World Wide Web, including Web pages, images, video and other files. As a client/server model, the browser is the client run on a computer that contacts the Web server and requests information. The Web server sends the information back to the Web browser which displays the results on the computer or other Internet-enabled device that supports a browser. Example of web browser is Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox etc.

Website

A website is a collection of related web pages, including multimedia content, typically identified with a common domain name, and published on at least one web server. A website may be accessible via a public Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet, or a private local area network (LAN), by referencing a uniform resource locator (URL) that identifies the site.

Types of Websites

There are basically two main types of website static and dynamic.

• A static website is one that is usually written in plain HTML and what is in the code of the page is what is displayed to the user. 
• A dynamic site is one that is written using a server-side scripting language such as PHP, ASP, JSP, or Coldfusion.

Tools used to create websites

Using Search Engines

You do not always have to know a website’s address in order to use the Internet. It is important to know how to search for information. One of the best methods to search is to use a search engine. A search engine is a software system on the Internet that will conduct a search of its own database of websites based on terms you have entered. As a result, you will be shown a list of web addresses that contain the term you were looking to find. An example of a popular search engine is www.google.com.
Steps to follow while searching:

• First you will need to open web browser then enter www.google.com in the address bar.
• To conduct the search, point and click your mouse in the search textbox. Type in the textbox the words or words you would like to search. Then point and click your mouse on the Google Search button below the search textbox.
• Every phrase in either blue with an underline may be clicked on to visit that particular site. These are hyperlinks to websites. The websites deemed most fitting for the search are found at the near the top of the list. There are also paid sponsors found at the top (shaded) and to the right of the screen that you may visit if you wish. You can see actual web addresses in green text.

Note:You may not always get the results you are looking for so you will need to play with searchable terms. Using more words in combination, and especially more specific words will help.  Be aware that not all websites that are found in the results are appropriate to your search. Read the blurb under the result name on the list before you click. In addition, do not click on anything that seems inappropriate, too good to be true, or dangerous. Use your gut instinct before you click. There are many websites out there on the Internet that will mislead and try to take advantage of beginners. Use caution.

Prerequisites for Website

Before creating your website, you need to look at these three important things:

1. Domain Name and Registration - Create your domain name and reserve it. In order to reserve a domain, a registrant must register it. Registrant will register your domain name according to your instructions, either .com , .gov ,.edu, .org, e.t.c. It is better to reserve your domain name even if you are not to design your website now
2. Web Host - After creating your domain name and reserve it, you need to know how you are going to host your website. There are two ways of hosting your website, either using your own company or using rent space. Hosting a website is kinda hard because you need to have a big server, full time computer technician and a reliable network, for a small company that is hard. That is why most of the people go with rent space companies. Companies like Dreamhost, Bluehost, A Small Orange etc. offer great web hosting services.
3. Web Design - After knowing where you will be hosting your website then that is where designing come.

Tools used to create website

1. Template-based editors like iWeb etc
2. Text-based editors like Notepad++, Atom etc
3. WYSIWYG editors like Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expression Web etc