How do websites work
Tags: website, domain, javascript, html
Published: 2022-01-14 07:09:42

I know lots of us here use website or web app everyday but we don't know what happens under the hood. IAM here to educate you.

Say you open your web browser and type in a domain name(eg. www.danitiestech.com), your browser will display the web pages of the domain name you’ve entered. 

But have you wondered how your web browser knows what information to display? 

Each website will have a website address, or a domain name, and each domain name is tied to the IP address of the web server(a computer that keep your data) resides on. IP addresses are managed and tracked via the Domain Name Server (or DNS for short). 

I know you are getting confused already, that is why I am writing this post to educate you.

Just stick with me…...

You would agree with me that before you begin creating your own website and launching it to the Internet or as a user who uses the internet each day, it’s important to know how websites work.

Here are some basic terms: 

A website is simply a collection of web pages(just like pages of books) of codes – codes that describe the layout, format and content of a page. 

The web server is a internet-connected computer that receives the request for a web page sent by your browser.

The browser connects your computer to the server through an IP address(eg. www.danitiestech.com). The IP address is obtained by translating the domain name(the address that you type into your web browser address bar to get to a website.). (Don’t worry, this part is all done automatically by your browser so you don’t have to look up the IP addresses yourself.)

In other words, in order to display your website on the Internet, you will need:

1. A website
2. A domain name
3. A server 

1. A website

A website is typically a collection of web pages, images and other elements that are linked together to form a larger, well arranged document. 
Think of a website as a book and each individual page is a web page.

A website can be made up of a single page or it could have thousands of pages. Each page will have its own text, images and other elements. All web pages and elements are then placed in a folder and stored on your web host server(a computer that hosts or houses websites). 


Each web page is written in codes and these codes describe the layout, format and content on the page. The most common coding language used to create web pages is HTML.
HTML is the building block of every website. 

2. A domain name

A domain name is the address that you type into your web browser address bar to get to a website. An example of a domain name is www.danitiestech.com. A domain name is unique to a website. In other words, no two websites can have the same domain name.

3. A web server

A web server is the computer that receives the request for a web page sent by your browser. 

Consider this: your company is hiring for a position that has just opened up and you are in charge of writing the job ads. You may have crafted the most compelling ads but unless you post the ads on a job board, no one will see it.

This is the same with websites. You could create the most stunning website but unless it’s uploaded to a web server, it is not accessible or viewable on the Internet.

How it all comes together

Say you open your web browser and type in a domain name, your browser will display the web pages of the domain name you’ve entered. 

But have you wondered how your web browser knows what information to display? 

Each website will have a website address, or a domain name, and each domain name is tied to the IP address of the web server it resides on. IP addresses are managed and tracked via the Domain Name Server (or DNS for short). 

DNS works very similarly to the Contacts app on your mobile phone – you open up the Contacts app, type in a person’s name and your mobile phone returns with the person’s phone number and other contact information you might have entered. You can then decide if you want to call, email or text that person. 

When you type in a domain name in your web browser, your web browser is actually conducting a series of inquiries that include looking up the IP address of the domain name, locating the web server that hosts the web pages of the domain name, submitting a request to that server for a copy of the web page(s), receiving the web page(s) from the server and finally translating the codes on the web page to present the information on your screen.