Introduction to the Internet

What is the Internet

• The Internet, or World Wide Web, is global network linking various computers and networks together

• The Internet began as a small network of govt. computers using a text based system

• Evolved into a graphical user interface which we recognize today (web pages)

• Web pages contain links to other pages (distinguishing feature)

Connecting to the Internet

• Connection to the internet requires an Internet Service Provider (the bridge between computers)

• Connection types: Dial-up, DSL, Cable, Wireless (Costs vary)

Web Browsers

• Software used to view web pages on the internet (uses GUI)

• Allows viewing and moving between pages by left-clicking links or entering web addresses

Web Address Structure

• 1) http:// (hypertext transfer protocol- identifies language being used to view pages)

• 2)WWW (identifies use of the World Wide Web) – most need this, some dont

• 3)Site name - name of the site to be visited• 4)Domain name – identifies type of webpage

(ex. .com, .org, .gov)• Ex. http://www.nypl.org

Web Address Structure

• Domain names can tell you who is providing the website, where .com generally refers to commercial, .gov to government, .edu to educational institutions, etc

• There are no spaces in a web address, separation is represented with underscores (“_”)

• Email addresses are different than web addresses (web addresses do not use the @ symbol seen with email addresses)