Navigating the Web vs. the Internet: What's the Difference?
Tags: webdev, internet, learning, beginners
Published: 2024-01-23 05:03:59

In today's digital world, the terms "web" and "internet" are often used to mean the same thing, but they have different meanings.

Understanding the difference between the "web" and the "internet" can be tricky, but it's important to understand the differences between them to better navigate and utilize the online world effectively.

In this article, we will explain these concepts and provide a clear understanding of each term.

## Meet the Internet

The internet is like a giant connection of computers and devices all over the world. It's the foundation that lets us access tons of information and communicate with people globally.

![Internet Infrastructure](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/20rf5oji3vcnsqf0i9bn.jpg)

## What's the Web?

Now, meet the World Wide Web, simply known as the Web – a software application within the internet. It serves as our gateway to exploring websites, sending emails, and utilizing various online services. 

It is made up of interconnected documents and resources that we can access through a web browser.


![World Wide Web](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/nveptzmsxutzqeama2uf.jpg)

## Let's Talk Websites

A website is a bunch of related web pages and content hosted on a server.
To view a website, you need a web browser (like Chrome or Firefox) and a specific domain name such as www.example.com or www.google.com.

In simple terms, think of the  **internet** as a massive network connecting everyone. The **web** serves as our tool to navigate this network, and **websites** are the distinctive places we explore on the web.

Let's call this the "Digital Trio": 
- **Internet** (The Extensive Network)
- **Web** (Our Navigational Tool)
- **Websites** (Specific Destinations)


![Website Structure](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/a3mgqmrkqdwmglgf4sju.png)

## Functioning of the web and the internet

To grasp the functioning of the web and internet more easily, let's break it down step by step:

1. Looking around (Visualization)

2. Locating the address (Domain name resolution)

3. Setting up the online connection

4. Fetching web content

5. Handling the request

6. Sending the reply

7. Making the webpage

8. Displaying the webpage


## How It All Works

Let's break down how the web and internet work together:

### 1. Looking Around (Visualization)

Imagine the internet as a huge library, each website as a book, and your web browser as the friendly librarian helping you find and read these "books." You type a website address, hit enter, and voila! The librarian (your browser) fetches the "book" (web page) from the shelf (server) and shows it on your screen.

### 2. Locating the Address (Domain Name Resolution)

Assume you're looking for a book in an online library. When you enter a website name (such as www.example.com), your browser acts like a librarian trying to find the right shelf. The unique numerical code (Internet Protocol, or IP address) is like the specific shelf where that website's information is stored.

To find this shelf, your browser consults a special server known as the Domain Name System (DNS). It's like asking the library's catalog system for the exact location (IP address) of the shelf.

The DNS server then provides the IP address, acting as your librarian guiding you to the correct shelf in the library of the internet.


### 3. Setting Up the Online Connection

In the world of the internet, TCP/IP is like the magic formula that makes everything run smoothly. It's short for "Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol."

Let's simplify:

- TCP ensures that data reaches its destination accurately and in the right order.
- IP takes care of guiding data across the vast internet.

These two protocols work together seamlessly, making it possible for data to travel between any two points on the globe. This teamwork is what turns the internet into a global network.

Unlike a central control system, the internet is like a collaborative effort. It involves various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and networks working together to keep things running smoothly.

**Wondering what an ISP is?** Well, it stands for Internet Service Provider. ISPs are companies that offer you access to the internet. They connect to the internet backbone, which is like the heart of the internet's infrastructure. This connection is what enables ISPs to provide you with internet access.

There are different types of ISPs, like cable, DSL, fiber optic, and satellite providers. Some ISPs even offer extra services such as email, web hosting, and VoIP. These providers play a key role in delivering the data from the web to your computer.

Now, when you want to visit a website, your web browser uses the IP address it got from your ISP to connect to the device hosting that website. This connection, guided by the TCP/IP protocol, ensures safe data transmission and efficient routing across the internet.

### 4. Fetching Web Content: 

When you enter a website, a silent collaboration unfolds between the web server (where web pages reside) and your browser. This interaction relies on protocols like HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) for seamless communication.


#### How It Works:

- **Getting Connected:** Your browser connects with the web server, setting up a communication line.

- **HTTP Request:** Imagine your browser asking for a specific item in a store—it's like that. For example, requesting the content of a specific webpage.

This request might include extras like the type of browser you're using or your preferred language

In this process, your web browser pulls the content from the web server, creating a dialogue that lets you explore and enjoy the web pages.

### 5. Handling the Request

Once the server gets your HTTP request, it processes it and picks out the requested web page from its storage.

### 6. Sending the Reply

When your web browser seeks content, the server replies using the HTTP protocol. This reply packs all the elements needed for the webpage—HTML, CSS, and resources like images or JavaScript files.


#### How It Happens:

- **Building the Webpage:** The server assembles required files—HTML for structure, CSS for style, and additional resources.

- **Packet Transmission:** To ensure secure data transfer, these files break down into smaller packets traveling through the internet. Each packet carries different sections of the website's content.

- **Internet Journey:** Packets journey through the internet, traveling network to network until they reach your web browser.

This methodical packet-sending process fulfills the browser's request, guaranteeing that all the necessary files reach your device. This journey is what lets you access and enjoy the webpage.

### 7. Making the Web Page

When you visit a webpage, your browser gets a response from the server, telling it how to display the page. This reply packs in all the files—HTML, CSS, and crucial resources.

### What Comes Next:

- **Understanding the Response:** Your browser reads the server's response, figuring out HTML to lay out the page's structure.

- **Adding Styles:** While processing HTML, the browser applies styles from the CSS, making the webpage visually appealing.

- **Making It Interactive:** JavaScript steps in, bringing interactivity like clickable buttons or animations for a user-friendly experience.

- **Building the Page:** Finally, your web browser turns the composed webpage into a visual treat, showing content, style, and interactive features. This display is what lets you interact with the webpage—click buttons, scroll, type, you name it.

### 8. Displaying the Webpage

Voila! The fully processed webpage lands on your device screen. You can dive in—click on links, fill out forms, and perform other supported actions.

## Conclusion

This rundown demystifies the intricate process of the web and the internet, making sure web content arrives seamlessly. From translating user-friendly addresses to numerical IP addresses, setting up connections, grabbing web content, to building web pages and making user interactions possible—it's a coordinated blend of internet infrastructure and web protocols, ensuring smooth access to global information.