Summary and Exam Tips for The Internet and The World Wide Web (WWW)
The Internet and The World Wide Web (WWW) is a subtopic of The internet and its uses, which falls under the subject Computer Science in the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum. The internet is a global network of interconnected networks, essentially a concept rather than a physical entity. In contrast, the World Wide Web (WWW) is a part of the internet that can be accessed via web browsers and is based on the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is used to request resources from the WWW and consists of an access protocol, domain name, and file name. The transition from HTTP to HTTPS ensures secure data transmission. Web browsers are software programs that retrieve and display web pages, managing various protocols and offering features like bookmarks, history, and multiple tabs. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are key components in creating web pages, with HTML providing structure, CSS styling, and JavaScript adding interactivity. The Domain Name Server (DNS) translates domain names into IP addresses, simplifying web navigation. Cookies are small text files stored on a user's computer to maintain preferences and track behavior, with persistent cookies remaining on the hard drive and session cookies stored temporarily in RAM.
Exam Tips
- Understand the distinction between the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW); remember that the WWW is a subset of the internet.
- Familiarize yourself with the structure of a URL and its components: access protocol, domain name, and file name.
- Know the difference between HTTP and HTTPS and why HTTPS is preferred for secure data transmission.
- Be able to identify the main features of a web browser and their functions, such as bookmarks, history, and tabs.
- Learn the roles of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in web development, focusing on how they contribute to the structure, style, and functionality of web pages.
- Understand how the DNS system works to convert domain names into IP addresses, facilitating easier web navigation.
- Differentiate between persistent and session cookies and their uses in maintaining user preferences and tracking behavior.
