Intro to the Internet and Web Development

Overview of the Web: Unit Topics

• The unit will cover the topics of the internet and world wide web, different types of websites, web development life cycle, web development languages, and tools needed for creating web pages

Intended Learning Outcomes for the Unit

• To understand each type of website, define key terms, and explain its purpose and characteristics
• Key terms such as the Internet, World Wide Web, Web Browsers, URLs, Web Servers, and Internet Service Providers will be covered
• The unit will cover the phases of the Web Development Life Cycle (WDLC)
• The role of HTML is structuring content and CSS in styling web pages will be presented
• Common tools used for web development will be listed such as code editors, browsers, and validation tools

The Internet

• The Internet is a massive network that connects millions of computers together globally
• The internet connects billions of devices and allows for transferring of information
• In 1969, the first message was transmitted over ARPANET which laid the foundation for today's global network
• This networking infrastructure uses languages called Protocols

Internet Service providers

• Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide users access to the Internet and maintain a connection to the Internet
• ISPs maintain a permanent connection to the Internet backbone
• Some major ISPs include PLDT, GLOBE, SKY BROADBAND, EASTERN TELECOM and CONVERGE ICT

The World Wide Web

• The World Wide Web, or simply Web, is a way of accessing information over the internet
• The Web uses the HTTP protocol to transmit data
• Web services using HTTP allow applications to communicate and share information

Internet v World Wide Web

• The terms Internet and World Wide Web are often used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous
• The Internet and the Web are two separate but related things

Categories of Websites

• Internet websites are accessible to anyone worldwide with an internet connection in order to disseminate information, services, or resources
• Intranet websites are private networks for internal use within an organization for collaboration, communication, and data sharing
• Extranet websites extend limited access to external users like partners and vendors, which enables secure collaboration with external stakeholders

Common Types of Websites

• Personal
• Business
• E-commerce
• Educational
• Portfolio
• Blog
• News and Media
• Community and Forum
• Nonprofit
• Entertainment

Web Browsers

• A Web Browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve, and display web content, including pages images and videos
• A web browser in a client/server model is the client
• Popular web browsers are Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Maxthon

Uniform Resource Locator

• A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is the address used to access a specific resource on the internet

URL Components:

• Protocol specifies the method used to access the resource; the common protocols include http:// and https://
• Domain Name indicates the server's address and the website's name
• Path specifies the location of the resource within the server
• Query String passes additional information or parameters to the server for search queries
• Fragment Identifier refers to a specific section within a web page indicated by a #

Domain Extensions

• .com is for commercial sites
• .gov is for government sites
• .edu is for educational institution sites
• .net is for network sites
• .org is for organizational sites
• .biz is for business sites
• .mil is for military sites

Web Servers

• Web Servers are specialized computers that store and serve web pages to users upon request
• Each server is identified by an IP address and often a domain name

Web Development Life Cycle

• The Web Development Life Cycle is a systematic process used to develop web pages, ensuring they meet user needs and function effectively
• The steps, including Planning, Analysis, Design, Testing, Implementation, Publishing and Maintenance

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for creating web pages and web applications

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document in a markup language like HTML
• To apply CSS to a Web page Inline, Internal or External CSS can be used, as well as CSS Frameworks
• Inline CSS applies style to a particular HTML Tag, is least recommended and good for testing
• A style attribute is used to style a particular HTML Tag

Tools Needed for Web Pages

• Text Editor is a type of program that edits plain text
• Microsoft Notepad is readily available in Windows Operating Systems
• Source Code Editor is a designed text editor for editing source code of computer programs by programmers like Sublime Text and Notepad++

Other tools

• Code Editors like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom provide environments for writing and editing code with syntax highlighting and code completion features
• Web Browsers like Chrome and Firefox are essential for testing and viewing web pages during development and offer developer tools for debugging and analyzing web performance
• Validation Tools like W3C Validator, check for code for adherence to web standards, ensuring compatibility and accessibility
• Version Control Systems like Git track changes in code, manage versions, and facilitate collaboration
• Graphic Design Tools like Adobe Photoshop and Canva help in creating visual elements for web pages