Question: Are "Internet" and "World Wide Web" the same thing?
Answer: No, they are not the same thing. The Internet is to the World Wide Web as Europe is to France. One is the container, the other is an item within the container.
There are four major concepts behind this important distinction:
Concept 1: The Big Infrastructure.
The "Internet" (or "Net" for short) is a massive public broadcast medium founded in the 1960's. At first glance, the Internet is an infrastructure of millions of cables and computers. Upon deeper inspection, the Internet is really a combination of several smaller digital "subnetworks" that share those cables and computers.
Concept 2: The Web is Really a Subnetwork.
The World Wide Web, or "Web" for short, is the single largest and most popular subnetwork on the Internet. Born in 1989, the Web is based on hypertext transfer protocol, the language which allows you and me to "jump" (hyperlink) to any other public web page. There are over 30 billion public web pages on the Web.
Concept 3: Protocols = The Languages of Subnetworks.
Let's add a little technospeak to this explanation: every subnetwork on the Internet is founded upon a specific digital language called a "protocol". These many protocols are invisible to you and me, but are crucial for behind-the-scenes document transmission. Each protocol achieves a specialized goal.
These different subnetwork protocols include:
Each of the above protocols is effectively its own subnetwork with a particular intent. HTTP is for Web pages. HTTPS is for logging into your bank account. SMTP/POP is for emailing, FTP is for file downloading, IM is for live chat, P2P is for file trading, Telnet is for remote control mainframe access, NNTP is for discussion groups, and so on. With each protocol you wish to participate in, you will need to install a specialized software. A more detailed explanation of protocols is available here. An illustration of the Internet protocols is available here.
Concept 4) Each Subnetwork Requires a Special Software
To browse the World Wide Web, you need one basic HTTP software product: a "web browser" like Firefox, AOL, Netscape Navigator, Opera, or Microsoft IE (Tip: you also get optional "plug-ins" to enhance your web browser). To experience the other protocol networks, you will need additional software like MSN Messenger, Netscape News Reader, FTP Voyager, Azureus Torrent client, and others.
Bottom Line.
Contrary to popular misconception, the Internet and the Web are NOT the same. The Internet is the large infrastructure that CONTAINS the World Wide Web, along with many other protocol subnetworks. You experience the Web using a web browser. You can go beyond the Web and experience the other Internet subnetworks, if you are willing to install and use other software for the other protocols.
So, what seems like a massive single experience on your Internet computer is really a combination of many smaller subnetworks converging on your screen. If you are using a web browser like IE or Firefox, then you are surfing the World Wide Web subnetwork. If you are emailing someone through your Outlook or Eudora, you are using the SMTP/POP subnetwork of the Internet. If you are downloading shareware from ftp.download.com, then you are on the FTP subnetwork. If you're ripping music and movies, then you are using P2P networking.
With time and perseverance, it is possible to vividly understand all of these protocol layers. In the meantime: just as Europe and France are different, so are the Internet and the World Wide Web. Next time you talk to that snotty kid or coworker, you can put them in their place with this techno trivia!
Next: Internet 101.
Next: Understanding URL and Internet Addresses
Next: What is "P2P" Networking?
Next: The Internet Search Handbook for Newbies
There are four major concepts behind this important distinction:
Concept 1: The Big Infrastructure.
The "Internet" (or "Net" for short) is a massive public broadcast medium founded in the 1960's. At first glance, the Internet is an infrastructure of millions of cables and computers. Upon deeper inspection, the Internet is really a combination of several smaller digital "subnetworks" that share those cables and computers.
Concept 2: The Web is Really a Subnetwork.
The World Wide Web, or "Web" for short, is the single largest and most popular subnetwork on the Internet. Born in 1989, the Web is based on hypertext transfer protocol, the language which allows you and me to "jump" (hyperlink) to any other public web page. There are over 30 billion public web pages on the Web.
Concept 3: Protocols = The Languages of Subnetworks.
Let's add a little technospeak to this explanation: every subnetwork on the Internet is founded upon a specific digital language called a "protocol". These many protocols are invisible to you and me, but are crucial for behind-the-scenes document transmission. Each protocol achieves a specialized goal.
These different subnetwork protocols include:
- Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
- Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPs or SSL)
- Email (SMTP, POP, MAPI)
- File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
- Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
- Instant Messaging (IM)
- Gopherspace (GOPHER)
- Telnet (TELNET)
- Network News Discussion Groups(NNTP)
- P2P Networking (P2P)
- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), which binds all of the above protocols together.
Each of the above protocols is effectively its own subnetwork with a particular intent. HTTP is for Web pages. HTTPS is for logging into your bank account. SMTP/POP is for emailing, FTP is for file downloading, IM is for live chat, P2P is for file trading, Telnet is for remote control mainframe access, NNTP is for discussion groups, and so on. With each protocol you wish to participate in, you will need to install a specialized software. A more detailed explanation of protocols is available here. An illustration of the Internet protocols is available here.
Concept 4) Each Subnetwork Requires a Special Software
To browse the World Wide Web, you need one basic HTTP software product: a "web browser" like Firefox, AOL, Netscape Navigator, Opera, or Microsoft IE (Tip: you also get optional "plug-ins" to enhance your web browser). To experience the other protocol networks, you will need additional software like MSN Messenger, Netscape News Reader, FTP Voyager, Azureus Torrent client, and others.
Bottom Line.
Contrary to popular misconception, the Internet and the Web are NOT the same. The Internet is the large infrastructure that CONTAINS the World Wide Web, along with many other protocol subnetworks. You experience the Web using a web browser. You can go beyond the Web and experience the other Internet subnetworks, if you are willing to install and use other software for the other protocols.
So, what seems like a massive single experience on your Internet computer is really a combination of many smaller subnetworks converging on your screen. If you are using a web browser like IE or Firefox, then you are surfing the World Wide Web subnetwork. If you are emailing someone through your Outlook or Eudora, you are using the SMTP/POP subnetwork of the Internet. If you are downloading shareware from ftp.download.com, then you are on the FTP subnetwork. If you're ripping music and movies, then you are using P2P networking.
With time and perseverance, it is possible to vividly understand all of these protocol layers. In the meantime: just as Europe and France are different, so are the Internet and the World Wide Web. Next time you talk to that snotty kid or coworker, you can put them in their place with this techno trivia!
Next: Internet 101.
Next: Understanding URL and Internet Addresses
Next: What is "P2P" Networking?
Next: The Internet Search Handbook for Newbies
