WWW Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Qustions (FAQs) are just what the name says; a list or file of answers to common questions about a particular subject, usually asked by beginners. FAQs are an extremely valuable resource. They help you get up to speed quickly on a topic, without taking up other Internet users' time and resources. Almost all newsgroups, mailing lists, and other special interet groups maintain a FAQ file for new users.

Here, you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the World Wide Web. Check the list of questions to see if yours, or one like it, is among them. If not, use a search engine to track down the information. If you don't know what a search engine is, click here.

Is the World Wide Web the same thing as the Internet?
What are hypertext and HTML?
What is a link?

Is the World Wide Web the same thing as the Internet?

No, the World Wide Web isn't the Internet. The Internet is a collection of computers and computer networks throughout the world. The World Wide Web is a collection of documents and files on the Internet that are housed on some of those computers (called Web Servers), and viewed with certain clients (called Web Browsers). Like ftp, e-mail, or usenet, the WWW is just another way of communicating over the Internet.

What are hypertext and HTML?

Hypertext is text that contains links to other documents. Hypertext is written in HTML. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is the language of the World Wide Web.

What is a link?

A link is what connects one document to another on the World Wide Web. Links are created by using HTML. On a Web page, a link might appear as an icon or text of a different color. When you move your cursor onto a link, your cursor usually changes shape. When you click on a link, it is like issuing a command to your computer. Your Web browser "understands" HTML. So, when it receives the command, it does whatever the markup language at the link instructs it to do. For example, clicking on the link might take you to another spot on the page you are reading. Or, it might download a file from someone else's computer to yours. It could open a Web page on another computer somewhere else on the Internet. Or, it could put a picture on your screen.

Further Reading: Entering the World Wide Web: A Guide to Cyberspace by Kevin Hughes.