The internet: fundamental network over which different communication technologies can work (including email, file transfer, the web). Generally regarded as those elements using the TCP/IP protocol (more later).
The web: a hypertext (linked text) system with embedded media based within/utilising the internet.
Java and the internet
Java first major language to be built for/after the web.
To understand the web-based elements we need to first understand the basics of the web and webpages.
The web
The web has a client-server architecture.
Webpages
As we've mentioned they're usually sent out by a web server to clients who ask for them, but you can open them directly on your harddrive.
They consist of text that will be displayed and tags that won't, which include formatting details or references to other files like images or java code.
The tags are referred to as the HyperText Markup Language (HTML).
Saved as text files with the suffix .html (or sometimes .htm).
A basic webpage
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Title for top of browser</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<!--Stuff goes here-->
</BODY>
</HTML>
The HEAD contains information about the page, the BODY contains the actual information to make the page.
The break tag breaks a line<BR />
like that.
<P>
The paragraph tags
</P>
leave a line.
This is <B>Bold</B>.
This is <I>Italic</I>
<IMG src="tim.gif" alt="Photo: Pic of Tim" width="50" height="50"></IMG>
<A href="index.html">Link text</A>
The text in the file will only be shown with the format set out in the tags. Any line breaks etc. won't show up on screen.
Good web design
Like any GUI, good web design concentrates on usability.
There are a number of websites that can help you - these are listed on the links page for this course.
See also the tutorial on the course pages.
Review
The web is a client-server based architecture.
It is used to link and distribute hypertexts and embedded media.
It runs on the internet.
The text is coded using the HyperText Markup Language.
