Module 4 notes
World Wide Web (WWW)
The World Wide Web (WWW), often called the Web, is a system of interconnected
webpages and information that you can access using the Internet. It was created to help
people share and find information easily, using links that connect different pages together.
The Web allows us to browse websites, watch videos, shop online, and connect with
others around the world through our computers and phones.
All public websites or web pages that people may access on their local computers
and other devices through the internet are collectively known as the World Wide
Web or W3.
Users can get further information by navigating to the links interconnecting these
pages and documents.
This data may be presented in text, picture, audio, or video formats on the internet.
Key Parts of the Web
The Web has three main building blocks that make it work:
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): This is the address of a webpage, like
[Link] It tells your browser exactly where to find the page.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): This is the set of rules that lets your browser
and the server talk to each other to send and receive webpages.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): This is the code that tells browsers how to
display a webpage, including where to put text, pictures, and links.
Working of World Wide Web(WWW)
A Web browser is used to access web pages. Web browsers can
be defined as programs which display text, data, pictures,
animation and video on the Internet. Hyperlinked resources on
the World Wide Web can be accessed using software interfaces
provided by Web browsers. Initially, Web browsers were used
only for surfing the Web but now they have become more
universal.
The below diagram indicates how the Web operates just
like client-server architecture of the internet. When users
request web pages or other information, then the web browser of
your system request to the server for the information and then
the web server provide requested services to web browser back
and finally the requested service is utilized by the user who
made the request.
World Wide Web (WWW) Vs Internet
HTTP
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and it’s the system that allows communication
between web browsers (like Google Chrome or Firefox) and web servers.
HTTP is a set of rules that lets your browser and web server communicate, ensuring
websites load correctly.
When you visit a website, your browser uses HTTP to send a request to the server
hosting that site, and the server sends back the data needed to display the page.
How HTTP Works: Step-by-Step Process
Here’s how HTTP works when you visit a website:
1. Open Web Browser: First, you open your web browser and type a website URL
(e.g., [Link]).
2. DNS Lookup: Your browser asks a Domain Name System (DNS) server to find out the
IP address associated with that URL. Think of this as looking up the phone number of
the website.
3. Send HTTP Request: Once the browser has the website’s IP address, it sends an
HTTP request to the server. The request asks the server for the resources needed to
display the page (like text, images, and videos).
4. Server Response: The server processes your request and sends back an
HTTP response. This response contains the requested resources (like HTML, CSS,
JavaScript) needed to load the page.
5. Rendering the Web Page: Your browser receives the data from the server and
displays the webpage on your screen.
Understanding HTTP Request and Response
1. HTTP Request
An HTTP request is how your browser asks the server for something. It includes:
HTTP Version: The version of HTTP (like HTTP/1.1 or HTTP/2) being used.
URL: The specific address of the resource (e.g., [Link]
HTTP Method: The type of action being requested (e.g., GET to retrieve information
or POST to send data).
HTTP Request Headers: Extra information about the request, like what kind of
browser you're using or what kind of content you’re expecting.
HTTP Request Body: In some cases, the request will include a body that contains
data (e.g., when you submit a form).
2. HTTP Response
An HTTP response is the server’s answer to your request. It includes:
HTTP Status Code: A number that tells you if the request was successful or not (e.g.,
200 OK means everything is fine, 404 Not Found means the requested page doesn’t
exist).
Response Headers: Information about the response, like what kind of data is being
sent (e.g., Content-Type: text/html means it’s an HTML page).
Response Body: The content that the server sends back (e.g., HTML code that the
browser will use to display the webpage).
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an application-layer protocol that is used to transfer
files between a client and a server over a TCP/IP network. It provides a standardized
method for file exchange across different systems.
Supports text, binary, image, and program files.
Enables uploading, downloading, and remote file management.
Uses TCP to ensure reliable communication.
FTP Transmission Modes
ASCII Mode – Transfers plain text files with character conversion if needed.
EBCDIC Mode – Used for systems based on EBCDIC encoding.
Image (Binary) Mode – Transfers binary data without modification (default mode).
Working and Uses of FTP
FTP follows a client–server model and uses two connections:
Control connection (Port 21) for commands
Data connection (Port 20) for file transfer
Users connect to the server using login credentials.
Users navigate directories using commands ls and cd.
For transferring files uses get and put.
Supports both active and passive modes for communication.
Types of Connection in FTP
FTP uses two separate TCP connections to handle communication—one dedicated to
control information and another dedicated to actual data transfer. This separation
makes FTP an out-of-band protocol.
1. Control Connection
This connection is used to exchange commands and responses between the client
and server.
Established on TCP port 21.
Transfers user authentication details (username and password).
Sends commands for directory navigation and file operations.
Remains active for the entire FTP session.
2. Data Connection
This is used to transfer the actual file content and directory listings.
Traditionally uses TCP port 20 (in active mode).
Created separately for each file transfer.
Transfers files and directory information.
Closes automatically after data transmission completes.