How the web works: page loading and beyond
Tags: webdev, beginners, codenewbie, javascript
Published: 2024-05-08 01:55:52

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before a website loads? It's a question that piques the curiosity of many internet users, and for good reason. Understanding the intricate processes in the moments leading up to the webpage display can unlock a deeper appreciation for the web's inner workings.

But the significance of this knowledge extends beyond mere curiosity. For users, it provides insights on navigating the web effectively and making informed choices about online interactions. For developers, it lays the foundation for building robust and maintainable web applications that deliver seamless user experiences.

In this article, we'll dive into the dynamics of the web, breaking down complex processes occurring behind the scenes.

Whether you're a curious user seeking to understand more about technology or a developer looking to enhance your web development skills, this article will provide a vivid and simplified explanation of the inner workings of the web.

### Web Architecture Overview
![Image of people working on the web](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kkj27av76gswy9vx93be.jpg)

The web is known as the World Wide Web in full. The web is a vast network of interconnected documents and resources that can be accessed over the Internet. 
So the _internet helps us access the web._ The internet allows data to be transmitted across far distances via wireless technologies.

The basic architecture is the client-server model. The user's device serves as the client, whereas the server is an interconnection of software.

This architecture allows for separate concerns, where clients handle user interfaces, while servers manage data storage and processing.


### The Web Page Loading Process

The page load process is a basic aspect of web browsing, which envelops a _sequence of actions that occur when a user requests and accesses a web page._
This website [dev. to](https://dev.to/) is displaying to you because of some intricate actions occurring over the web.

You can view this page because:

- You have a browser;

- you are connected to the internet 

- and this website lives on a server.

Let's have a brief definition of some terms:

- **Browser:** a software application used to access and view information on the web. They interpret the content received from servers and render it into a visual format that users can interact with. e.g. Chrome, Safari, etc.

- **Server:** Servers are software applications responsible for serving content to clients. They receive incoming requests, process them, and send back responses containing the requested resources. 

- **IP address:** It is a unique identifier for the client device, allowing data packets to be sent across the internet.

- **DNS:** Domain Name System is like a book that contains the server's IP address.

- **HTTP:** stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is a protocol that defines how messages are transmitted over the web. It is like the language that clients and servers communicate with.

####Here's how it works:

When a client enters a site URL(Universal Resource Locator) on their browser,

- The browser goes to the DNS and gets the real address(IP address)to the website server,

- the browser then sends an HTTP Request to that server, to retrieve a copy of the website,

- The server processes this request and sends a copy of the website as data packets to the browser. 

- the browser then parses the data packets, to display the text, images, etc. that you see on the web.

- The browser parses the HTML(structure) first. Followed by the CSS, and JavaScript DOM.

-  This is when a user sees a nice visual representation of page content to interact with.


![laptop image of html parsing](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/vysbtreb7oo8dj6e4fjz.jpg)

####How HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) Secures Web
####Communication.
is an extension of HTTP that uses encryption protocols to secure data over the internet.
 
Encryption is the process of encoding data transmitted between clients to prevent unauthorized access without an encryption key.

[Tech Target](https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/encryption) says that encryption is the method by which information is converted into secret code that hides the information's true meaning.

HTTPS through complex processes outside the scope of this article:

- Ensures Confidentiality 

- Instills trust and confidence

- Ensures data integrity by avoiding modification.



In Conclusion, 
For a web page to display on a screen, these actions must take place to ensure user experience and security.
For a recap; when a URL is sent from a client's browser to the server, a copy of the website is retrieved and parsed by the browser to be displayed as a web page. 

Web architecture may be difficult to grasp as a beginner but with time, everything gradually opens up.
For further details on the innermost workings of the web, you can  visit [mozilla developer network](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/) or [w3.schools](https://www.w3schools.com/)

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