Web Technologies: Internet and the Web

Introduction to Web Technologies

• An overview of terminology, the Internet and the Web, client-server architecture, a web application roadmap, and tools for web application development will be covered.

Terminology

• Internet is a global network of many computer networks linked by data lines and wireless systems.
• World Wide Web (WWW) is an information space linking computer-based resources globally.
• HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) involves data transfer between a client's request and a browser's response versus encrypted data transfer.
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol) enables file transfer from one machine to another.
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) sees messages sent from a source in packets to a destination for reassembly.
• IP (Internet Protocol) address identifies one computer/host to another on the internet.
• URL, a universal resource locator, identifies the location and type of resources on the Web.
• Domain Name method identifies a computer address, such as unimas.my.
• Virus is a computer program hidden in an existing program that attaches itself to other programs or files when activated.
• IP (Internet Protocol) address identifies one computer/host to another on the Internet.
• SMTP sends and distributes outgoing email, while POP receives incoming email.
• ISP (Internet Service Provider) companies provide access to the Internet for individuals/businesses.
• Web Page is a worldwide collection of electronic documents displayable in a web browser.
• Web site is a collection of web pages.
• Web server is a computer that hosts a website on the Internet.
• Search engine is a web service that helps users find web pages.
• Browser is an application used to access and view websites
• Web Application is a software program that runs on a web server
• Client-side scripting languages include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and ActionScript.
• Server-side scripting languages include Perl, C++, PHP, ASP, C#, Java, Python, and Ruby.

The Internet and the Web

• The Internet is a global system of interconnected networks that interchange data by packet switching using the standardized Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP).
• The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks that links millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals.
• The structure of the internet is provided by telco/satellite/commercial companies, and the government.
• The internet is public, cooperative and independent, and no one controls it.
• The standards are set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
• The ways to acess internet are Dial-up, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable, Wireless, Satellite, Cellular, etc.
• World Wide Web (WWW, or simply Web) is an information space in which items of Interest, referred to as resources, are identified by global identifiers called Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI).
• The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community that develops open standards to ensure the long-term growth of the Web.
• Internet and the World Wide Web are not the same.
• The Internet is a network of networks, defined by the TPC/IP standards.
• The World Wide Web (WWW, or simply Web) is an information space of the items of interest, referred to as resources, are identified by global identifiers called Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI).

Client-Server Architecture

• Early Computing (1940-1950s) involved mainframe computers, centralized computing power, and batch processing with punch cards.
• Time-Sharing Systems (1960s) introduced multiple users interacting with the mainframe simultaneously and the creation of early operationg systems such as MULTICS.
• Local Area Network or LAN (1970s) saw the emergence of networking, connecting computers within a limited area, and shared resources like printers and storage.
• Personal Computers (1970s) introduced affordable personal computers and Applications began requiring server-like functionality that called for shared services among PCs
• Network Applications and Protocols (1980s-1990s) led to TCP/IP adoption and networked applications across different machines.
• Transition to Client-Server Architecture formalized the client-server model and Graphical User interfaces (GUIs) emerged that provide better user experiences.
• A distributed computing model divides tasks between clients, which request services/ resources, and servers, which provide them.
• Characteristics include separation (easier maintenance), scalability (handling multiple clients), and communication over a network via protocols.
• Fundamental to modern computing helps with efficient resource sharing, improved user experiences. Such as web Applications, E-mail services and database applications.

Cloud Computing

• Cloud Computing Model that enables ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources networks, servers, storage, applications and services; that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
• Cloud Computing is used because IT Company provide IT infrastructure must setup Server Room.
• It aims to decrease hardware & software demand from user's side with interface software (web browser)

Modern Web Application Roadmap

• Includes planning and Design, define project requirments set a design user experience, and Create wireframes and prototypes.
• Includes front-end Development, using Framework / libraries, Responsive design (HTML, CSS and JavaScript).
• Back-end Development, Framework, such as SQL, NoSQL, RESTful or other APIs.
• DeVops and Development will need a Setup CI/CD pipelines automated testing and deployment.
• Need Containerization and orchestration.
• Deploy on cloud platforms.
• Security measures, authentication, authorization, and data protection against vulnerabilities.
• Optimizing assets for faster load times, caching strategies, and monitoring user analytics can improve performance.
• Regular updating dependencies, planning scaling based on growth, and gathering user feedback for continuous improvement for Maintenance and scaling

Tools for Web Application Development

• Front-end Development use HTML & CSS, Javascript, Framework/libraries.
• Back-end Development Database, Framework/libraries.
• Testing tools, Markup validation, CSS Validation, Link checker.
• Deployment tools, such as Heroku, etc.

Etiquette

• Netiquette is the code of good behavior on the internet.
• A golden rule for communication on the Internet: Treat others as you would like them to treat you