Introduction to Websites and Web Servers

What is a Website?

• A collection of interconnected web pages accessible through a domain name, for example, wlu.ca/
• Websites are built using: - HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - Defines webpage structure and content
  • CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) - Formats webpage appearance, including fonts and colors
  • JavaScript: Adds interactivity and dynamic behavior to the website.

Types of Websites

• Static Websites: Content remains unchanged unless manually updated.
• Dynamic Websites: Content is generated based on user interactions.
• E-commerce Websites: Dynamic websites designed for buying and selling products online.

Web Servers

• Apache HTTP Server: A widely used open-source web server, known for its flexibility and support for various technologies.
• Nginx: A high-performance server efficient for handling large numbers of connections simultaneously.
• Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Services): Integrated into Windows Server environments, commonly used in enterprise settings.
• LiteSpeed: A commercial web server, known for its speed and resource efficiency.

Role of Web Servers

• Hosting Websites: Web servers store all website files, including HTML documents, images, and scripts.
• Processing Requests: When a browser sends an HTTP or HTTPS request, the server processes the request and sends the appropriate files back to the browser.
• Dynamic Content Generation: For dynamic websites, the server executes scripts to generate HTML before sending to the browser.
• HTTP/HTTPS Protocols: The server and browser communicate using these protocols, which define message formatting and transmission.

Web Browsers

• Definition: A software application that allows users to access and interact with websites.
• Purpose: Interprets code sent by web servers and renders it into a visual user-friendly interface.

Components of a Web Browser

• User Interface (UI): Visual elements users interact with, including address bar, back/forward buttons, bookmarks.
• Rendering Engine: Interprets HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to render web pages. Examples include WebKit (Safari) and Blink (Chrome and Edge).
• JavaScript Engine: Executes JavaScript code for interactivity and dynamic content. Examples include V8 (Chrome) and SpiderMonkey (Firefox).
• Networking: Manages network communication between the browser and web servers.

How Browsers Display Web Pages

• DNS Lookup: The browser translates the domain name into an IP address.
• Request and Response: The browser sends a request to the web server associated with the IP address. The server responds with the requested webpage.
• Rendering: The browser's rendering engine processes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files and displays the webpage visually.
• Interactivity: JavaScript code enables interactive elements on the webpage, such as user input response, dynamic content updates, and event handling.

HTTP, HTTPS, and Web Communication Protocols

• HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): The foundational protocol for transferring hypertext (HTML) between web servers and browsers.

• HTTP operates on a request-response model:

  • GET: Retrieves data from the server.
  • POST: Submits data to the server.
  • PUT: Updates data on the server.
  • DELETE: Removes data from the server.

• HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure):

  • The secure version of HTTP.
  • Benefits:
    • Encryption: Protects sensitive data.
    • Authentication: Verifies website legitimacy.
    • Data Integrity: Ensures data is not altered during transmission.

Other Web Protocols

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Used for transferring files between a client and a server. Commonly used for uploading website files to a web server.
• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): Protocol used for sending email messages.

Web Development Technologies

• Frontend Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Frontend Frameworks such as Bootstrap, React, Angular.
• Backend Development:
  • Server-Side Languages: PHP, Python, Node.js, Ruby on Rails
  • Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB
  • Web Frameworks: Django, Laravel, Express.js
• Content Management Systems (CMS):
  • WordPress, Joomla, Drupal

Content Management Systems (CMS)

• What is a CMS? A software application that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content, often for websites.

• Key Features:

  • User-Friendly Interface: Allows easy content creation and editing.
  • Themes and Templates: Pre-designed layouts.
  • Plugins and Extensions: Add functionality such as contact forms, SEO tools, and e-commerce features.
  • User Management: Control access to the website.

Advantages of CMS

• Ease of Use: Non-technical users can manage website content.
• Cost-Effective: Reduces development and content update costs.
• Customization and Flexibility: Use themes, templates, and plugins to customize the website.
• SEO-Friendly: CMS platforms often include built-in or plugin-based SEO tools.
• Community and Support: Large communities provide documentation, forums, and resources for troubleshooting and enhancement.

Challenges of Using a CMS

• Learning Curve: Beginners may experience a learning curve, especially when dealing with advanced customization and settings.
• Security Risks: CMSs can be vulnerable to security threats if not updated regularly or if using poorly coded plugins.
• Performance Issues: Adding too many plugins or using poorly optimized themes can slow down the website.
• Dependency on Plugins: Plugins can lead to compatibility issues, making it crucial to choose reliable plugins and test them thoroughly.

Popular CMS Platforms

• General Purpose:

  • WordPress: Powers over 40% of websites globally, known for its ease of use, plugin ecosystem, and community support.
  • Joomla: Offers advanced user management and flexible content organization, suitable for complex websites with multiple user types.
  • Drupal: Known for its robustness, scalability, and security. Often used for large-scale enterprise websites.

• E-Commerce Specific:

  • Shopify: Provides a complete solution for building and managing online stores, with integrated payment gateways and inventory management.
  • Magento: An open-source e-commerce platform with advanced features for large-scale online stores.