Chapter 10
Introduction to internet and web
Question 1
What is WWW ? How does it function ?
Answer
WWW stands for World Wide Web. The World Wide Web is an Internet
system i.e., a set of programs, standards, and protocols that allows the
multimedia and hypertext files to be created, displayed and linked on
the Internet.
World Wide Web uses different technologies and protocols such as
Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Hypertext Transfer Protocol
(HTTP), web browser, internet etc. The basic functioning of WWW is as
follows:
1. A client uses a web browser to make HTTP request to a web
server to get some resource on World Wide Web.
2. This request reaches the web server via Internet.
3. The web server locates the required resource on the database
and makes it available to the client via Internet.
For example, if the client enters the URL
: http://www.edupillar.com/index.htm in the browser, a request is sent to
the web server whose domain name is edupillar.com. The server then
fetches the page named index.htm and send it to the browser of the
client.
Question 2
What is a server ? What is a web server ?
Answer
A server is a computer that has server software loaded on it. Its main
job is to manage network resources and share resources for clients.
There are many types of servers — file server, mail server, web server
etc.
A web server is a World Wide Web server that stores web documents
and responds to the requests made by web browsers. It is a specific
protocol type of server, looking only for HTTP requests instead of
many different types of resource requests.
Question 3
Enlist some services provided by a web server.
Answer
A web server is completely dedicated to handling requests for
webpages. It provides following major services :
1. Serving Web Pages — The primary function of a webserver is to
deliver web pages on the request of clients using the Hypertext
Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This means delivery of HTML
documents and any additional content that may be included by a
document, such as images, style sheets and scripts.
2. Running Gateway Programs (CGI) and Returning Output — In
order to process the requests received, the webservers need to
run special programs called CGI programs which help them fetch
the required output as per the request made by the client.
3. Controlling Access to the Server — A full implementation of HTTP
also includes ways of receiving content from clients. This feature
is used for submitting web forms, including uploading of files.
4. Monitoring and Logging all Access — The web servers also
ensure that only authenticated access takes place and thus they
keep running many monitoring programs and keep logging all
the activities.
5. Server Side Scripting — Many generic web servers also support
server-side scripting using Active Server Pages (ASP), PHP, or
other scripting languages.
Question 4
Name some web server software prominently in use.
Answer
Some web server software prominently in use are :
1. Apache Webserver
2. Apache Tomcat
3. Webserver IIS
4. The Lighttpd Server
5. Jigsaw web server
6. Sun Java system web server
Question 5
Differentiate between a web page and a home page.
Answer
Web page Home Page
Home page is the
A document
top-level web page of
using http and
a web site. This is the
that resides on a
page that gets
web-site is
displayed first of all
known as a web
when a web-site is
page.
opened.
Only one web page
A website can
can be set as the
contain many
home page for a web
web pages.
site.
Question 6
How is a web site different from that of a web portal ?
Answer
Web
Web site
Portal
Collection
of launch
webpages
of array of
web-
Collection of webpages offering a specialized content
services
pertaining to the need and goal of the organization
like email,
owning the website.
search
engine,
weather,
gaming,
news etc.
It is
normally
an entry
point or
It is often the final destination to access and use the gateway
provided specific information. for using
the
offered
web-
services.
Generally
linked to
A website is generally linked to its own webpages. many
other
websites
that
Web
Web site
Portal
provide
these
web-
services.
A
complete
environm
ent for
managing
Caters to or delivers one specific type of application and
or content as per the goal of the website. integratin
g a large
number
of diverse
applicatio
ns.
Examples
: Google,
Examples
Yahoo,
: knowledgeboat.com, edupillar.com, cbseacademic.in, ncer
Rediff,
t.nic.in etc.
MSN, AOL
etc.
Question 7
What are the components of a website ?
Answer
The essential components of a website are as follows:
1. Webhost — A website is physically located on a Webhost. A
group of linked webpages qualify to be called a website only
when hosted on a web server. When the user specifies the
address of the website, the webpages are transmitted to the
user's computer from a webhost.
2. Address — This is the address (URL) of the website. One needs
to put this address into the web browser to see a website, and
the asked site is delivered by the webserver.
3. Homepage — The first page that appears when viewers go to a
website is called the Homepage. Home page is very important as
it sets the look and feel of the website and directs viewers to the
rest of the pages in the website.
4. Design — It is the overall look and feel the website has as a
result of proper use and integration elements like navigation
menus, graphics, layout etc.
5. Content — All the webpages contained in the website together
make up the content of the website.
6. The Navigation Structure — The navigation structure of a
website is the order of the pages, the collection of what links to
what. Usually it is held together by at least one navigation menu.
Question 8
What are the components of a webpage ?
Answer
The components of a webpage can be categorized in two ways:
1. Content wise components — Content wise components of a web
page are as follows:
1. Hypertext — It refers to a digital text, which is more than just
text as it can include information in various media formats such
as text, graphics, sound, images, videos and hyperlinks.
2. Hyperlink — It refers to a link from a hypertext file to another
such file. A hyperlink can be in the form of a graphic or text,
upon clicking where the linked document opens up.
2. Structure wise components— Structure wise components of a web
page are as follows:
1. Page Title — This is a single line text which is displayed on the
title bar of the browser displaying web page.
2. Header — This is generally a one or two line text defining the
purpose of the web page. It is displayed at the top of the web
page, below the address bar of the browser.
3. Body of the web page — This is the section below the header of
the web page and it contains the actual content of the web page.
4. Navigational Links — These are the hyperlinks placed on the
web page using which we can move to the linked web
pages/documents.
5. Footer — This is the bottom section of the web page. This is the
section where usually the copyright notice, website contact
information, etc. is put.
Question 9
Discuss some elements of a website.
Answer
The elements of a website are as follows:
1. Webhost — A website is physically located on a web host. A
group of linked web pages qualifies to be called a website only
when hosted on a web server. When the user specifies the
address of the website, the web pages are transmitted to the
user's computer from the web host.
2. Address — This is the address (URL) of the website. One needs
to put this address into the web browser to see a website, and
the asked site is delivered by the webserver.
3. Homepage — The first page that appears when viewers go to a
website is called the Homepage. Home page is very important as
it sets the look and feel of the website and directs viewers to the
rest of the pages in the website.
4. Design — It is the overall look and feel the website has as a
result of proper use and integration elements like navigation
menus, graphics, layout etc.
5. Content — All the webpages contained in the website together
make up the content of the website.
6. The Navigation Structure — The navigation structure of a
website is the order of the pages, the collection of what links to
what. Usually it is held together by at least one navigation menu.
Question 10
The first page on a website that allows you to navigate to other page
via menu system or links, is known as :
(a) front page
(b) primary page
(c) home page
(d) first page
(e) main page
Answer
home page
Reason — The first page on a website that allows us to navigate to
other pages via menu system or links, is known as home page.
Question 11
What is a web site ? How is it related to a web page and a home page ?
Answer
A website is a group of related web pages hosted on a web server and
are linked together and share a common interface and design.
The web pages of a website are linked together through hyperlinks
and hypertext, and share a common interface and design. All these
web pages contain information related to the topic of the website.
The first page that appears when viewers go to a website is called the
home page. Home page is very important as it sets the look and feel of
the website and directs viewers to the rest of the pages in the website.
Question 12
What do you understand by a
(i) Web browser
(ii) Web server ?
Answer
(i) A web browser is a program that lets us visit different websites on
the internet and display their offerings on our own computer. For
example, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.
(ii) A web server is a World Wide Web ( WWW) server that stores web
documents and responds to the requests made by web browsers. For
example, Apache Webserver, Apache Tomcat, Webserver IIS, etc.
Question 13
What is a URL ? What are its components ? Examplify.
Answer
A location on a net server is called a URL or Uniform Resource Locator.
A URL is written as type://address/path
Thus, the components of a URL are:
1. type — The type of server or protocol
2. address — The name/address of the server on the Internet
3. path — The location of the file on the server
For example, in the following URL:
http://encycle.msn.com/getinfo/styles.asp
1. http — specifies the type of server and protocol
2. encycle.msn.com — specifies the name/address of the server on
the Internet
3. getinfo/styles.asp — specifies the location of the file on the
server
Question 14
How is an absolute URL different from a relative URL ?
Answer
Absolute URLs Relative URLs
Relative URLs are
Absolute URLs contain both the
just with the path
domain name and directory/page
excluding the
path.
domain name.
It does not
It includes the protocol (http://,
include the
https://, ftp://).
protocol.
The syntax is
Ths syntax is : protocol://domain/path .
: path.
It doesn't give the
full information
It gives complete information about about the file
the file location. location but just
gives a reference
of the file.
They are used to
They are used to link to resources on link to resources
different domains or servers. within the same
domain or server.
Absolute URLs Relative URLs
Example Example
: http://www.edupillar.com/aboutus.aspx : category/file.htm
Question 15
What do you understand by http ? How is it related to world wide web
?
Answer
The HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the set of rules for
transferring hypertext (i.e., text, graphic, image, sound, video etc.)
on WWW(World Wide Web).
HTTP is the protocol that enables the functioning of the World Wide
Web by facilitating the exchange of information between clients (web
browsers) and servers, allowing users to access and interact with web
content.
Question 16
What are the two parts of an email address ? Which character is used
to separate these two parts ?
Answer
An e-mail address has two parts separated by '@' symbol :
1. Username — On the left side of @ operator is the username.
2. Domain name for the host server — The portion to the right of @
identifies the server or host or network that services our e-mail.
Question 17
Explain the structure of an email address.
Answer
E-mail addresses are commonly written in the form given below:
username@hostname
An email-address has two parts separated by '@' symbol.
1. Username — On the left side of @ separator is the user name. A
user name can not have blanks.
2. Domain name for the host server — The portion to the right of @
identifies the server or host or network that services your e-mail.
It is sometimes also called the e-mail server.
Question 18
Explain the structure of an email message. Also differentiate between
cc: and bcc: fields.
Answer
The general structure of an e-mail message is as follows:
1. From — This is the address of the sender of the e-mail.
2. To — This is the address or addresses to which the e-mail is sent.
3. CC — It stands for Carbon Copy. Here we specify the
address/addresses of those to whom we want to send a copy of
the e-mail. The CC recipient's name is visible to all recipients.
4. BCC — It is for Blind Carbon Copy. This is also a list of addresses
that will receive a copy of the e-mail but BCC recipient's name is
not visible to other recipients. The BCC recipients can see the TO
and CC addresses.
5. Subject — A short title for the mail which speaks about contents
of the message.
6. Body — It is the actual message.
7. Attachments — We can attach one or more pictures and
documents or any other file with our e-mail.
8. Date — This is the date and time on which the message was sent
from the sender's computer.
9. Message-id — Every message will have a unique id, which is used
to track replies to it. The message id is not visible to us. It is used
internally by the e-mail program and the e-mail system.
The difference between cc and bcc is as follows:
Cc Bcc
It stands for It stands for Blind
Carbon Copy. Carbon Copy.
The e-mail It hides the e-mail
addresses of all addresses of all
the recipients are recipients such that
displayed in the they are not visible
message. in the message.
It does not
It protects the
protect the
privacy of our
privacy of our
recipients.
recipients.
Question 19
What are plugins ? How do you install these on a web browser ?
Answer
A plug-in (also called plugin, add-on, or extension) is a software
component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer
program such as a web browser.
To install a plugin on a web browser, we need to look for extensions
store, which for example, on Google Chrome, it is Chrome web store
and for Opera, it is Opera Extension Store.
For Google Chrome,
(i) Open extensions by typing chrome://extensions in the address bar
and from the side bar, click at Open Chrome web store at the bottom.
(ii) It will open Chrome web store, wherefrom choose the desired plug
in/add on and click on it to install.
For Opera browser,
(i) Click on Opera menu → Extensions → Get Extensions command.
(ii) It will open the Opera extension store, wherefrom we can look for
desired plug in/add on and click on it to install it.
Question 20
What are cookies ? What is their utility ?
Answer
Cookies are small text files stored on user's computer and created and
used by websites.
Cookies are used by websites to remember basic information of the
user and to record the user's browsing activity which helps in
enhancing the user experience and making browsing time more
productive.
Question 21
What is VoIP ? How is it useful ?
Answer
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that enables audio
and video calls from any internet-connected device with a microphone
and speakers.
VoIP takes analog audio/voice input and converts it into digital
information, allowing it to be transmitted over the Internet alongside
other data using IP. It is cost-effective and highly functional, as it can
be used by any internet-enabled device.
Question 22
List some advantages/disadvantages of VoIP ?
Answer
The advantages of VoIP are as follows:
1. It does not cost extra as long as we have a device with an
Internet connection and are using it for personal use. Of course
there are paid versions available for professional requirements.
2. Many VoIP based software such as Skype, are easily
downloadable.
The disadvantages of VoIP are as follows:
1. VoIP is possible if both the caller and the receiver have the right
software and hardware to speak to one another.
2. There is no guarantee of call's audio and video quality when
using the Internet.
3. It uses Internet Protocol's packets so if packets get dropped
along the way then voice quality drops.
4. Even with its high quality, it cannot match up the voice quality of
a normal telephone line.
5. It may not work for emergency service numbers like Police or
Fire Services regular numbers.
