World Wide Web
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| File:WorldWideWebAround1993.png | |
| A web page from 1993 viewed using an early browser | |
| Invented | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Tim Berners-Lee |
| Organization(s) | CERN, W3C |
| Type | Information system |
| Website | www.w3.org |
Overview
The World Wide Web (commonly known as the Web) is an information system that enables users to access documents and other web resources through the internet. It was invented by British scientist Tim Berners-Lee in **1989** while working at CERN in Switzerland and became publicly available in **1991**.
The Web revolutionized communication and information sharing, forming the foundation of the modern digital world.
Key Components
The World Wide Web is built upon three core technologies:
- HTML (HyperText Markup Language): the standard language for creating web pages.
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): the address used to locate web resources.
- HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): the protocol used to access web pages.
These technologies allow documents to be linked and accessed across different systems in a seamless way.
History
- **1989** – Tim Berners-Lee proposes a hypertext-based system.
- **1990** – The first web browser/editor (called *WorldWideWeb*, later renamed *Nexus*) is created.
- **1991** – The Web is opened to the public.
- **1993** – The Mosaic browser is released, making the Web user-friendly and popular.
- **1994** – The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is founded to develop open standards.
Growth and Impact
The Web rapidly expanded in the 1990s and 2000s. It enabled the creation of:
- Websites for commerce, news, education, entertainment, and social interaction.
- Online services like search engines, e-commerce, video streaming, and social media.
- The transition to a global digital economy.
By the 2020s, billions of people were using the Web daily across multiple devices and platforms.
Differences from the Internet
The Web is not the same as the Internet:
- **The Internet** is the global network of computers.
- **The Web** is a service built on top of the Internet that uses browsers to access websites.
Standards and Organizations
The Web is governed by open standards managed by the **W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)**, led by its inventor Tim Berners-Lee. These standards ensure interoperability, accessibility, and the continuous evolution of the web.
Modern Developments
- **Web 2.0** – Introduced interactive and user-generated content (e.g., social media).
- **Web 3.0** – Refers to a decentralized web leveraging blockchain and semantic technologies.
- **Mobile Web** – Access to the web via smartphones and tablets.
- **Progressive Web Apps** – Websites that behave like native apps.