Navigation
Learning the difference between the physical wires of the internet and the digital pages of the World Wide Web.
Did you know that the Internet and the World Wide Web are actually two different things? It’s like the difference between a massive set of train tracks and the trains that travel on them!
The Internet is the physical infrastructure that connects computers all over the world. Think of it as a massive city of wires, cables, routers, and satellites. It is the 'hardware' part of the equation. The Internet was born in the late s, long before most people had computers at home. It is a 'network of networks' that allows data to travel from point A to point B. Without the Internet, your computer would be like a house with no roads leading to it. It provides the path, but it doesn't decide what travels on that path.
Quick Check
Is the Internet made of physical things like cables, or is it just the websites we see?
Answer
The Internet is made of physical things like cables, routers, and satellites.
The World Wide Web (or just 'the Web') is the collection of digital pages and content we access using a browser. While the Internet is the road, the Web is the traffic—the cars, buses, and trucks carrying information. It was invented in by a scientist named Tim Berners-Lee. He wanted a way for scientists to share their research easily. He created HTML (the language of web pages) and the first web browser. The Web is a service that lives on top of the Internet. You use the Internet to reach the Web!
To understand the difference, imagine a library: 1. The Internet is the physical building, the bookshelves, and the lights. 2. The World Wide Web is the collection of books and stories inside that you actually read. 3. You need the building (Internet) to hold the books (Web)!
Quick Check
Who is the person credited with inventing the World Wide Web?
Answer
Tim Berners-Lee.
It is a common mistake to think the Web is the Internet, but the Web is just one way to use the Internet. Other services use the Internet too! For example, Email uses the Internet to send messages, but it isn't part of the World Wide Web. Online gaming, video calls (like Zoom), and file sharing also use the Internet's 'roads' to move data without needing a web browser. The Web is like the most popular store in a giant mall; the mall (Internet) has many other shops too!
Let's look at how data moves: 1. You open Chrome to read a Wikipedia article: You are using the World Wide Web via the Internet. 2. You play an online multiplayer game on a console: You are using the Internet, but likely not the World Wide Web. 3. Your smart fridge sends an alert to your phone: This is the Internet of Things, not the Web.
Which of these is a physical part of the Internet?
In what year did Tim Berners-Lee invent the World Wide Web?
True or False: Every time you use the Internet, you are using the World Wide Web.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a friend why the Internet is like a 'road' and the Web is like a 'car'.
Practice Activity
Look at the apps on a tablet or computer. Try to guess which ones use a web browser (The Web) and which ones use the Internet in other ways (like a weather app or a game).