The World Wide Web
The World Wide Web, commonly known as the Web, is an information system that allows documents and other resources to be accessed over the Internet through Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). These resources are interlinked by hyperlinks and can be accessed using web browsers.
History
The inception of the World Wide Web can be traced back to Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, who invented it in 1989 while working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Berners-Lee's initial proposal for the Web was made in March 1989, and by November 1990, in collaboration with Belgian systems engineer Robert Cailliau, the proposal was formalized as a management project. The key components of the Web were outlined, including concepts of hypertext and linked documents.
By late 1993, over 500 web servers were identified, and the Web began to account for a significant portion of Internet traffic. The year 1994 was marked as the “Year of the Web," and the first International World Wide Web Conference was hosted at CERN. This event emphasized the Web's increasing importance and was described as the "Woodstock of the Web."
In 1994, Berners-Lee transitioned from CERN to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he founded the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C was established to develop open web standards and ensure the Web's accessibility and interoperability.
Development and Technologies
The Web is built on a collection of technologies, with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) serving as its foundational markup language. Together with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript, HTML forms the triad of standard technologies that define how information is presented and interacted with on the Web.
Web resources are accessed using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or its secure variant HTTPS. These protocols are application-level protocols that utilize the Internet's transport mechanisms for data exchange. The Web, while utilizing the global network that is the Internet, is distinct in that it represents an interconnected collection of hyperlinked resources.
Current Applications
The World Wide Web has evolved significantly since its inception. It now supports a vast array of applications that include but are not limited to, social media platforms, e-commerce, online education, and cloud computing. The Web has transformed from a static collection of documents to a dynamic and interactive ecosystem that supports multimedia, user-generated content, and complex applications.
The traditional use of the "www" prefix in web addresses has seen a decline, as web applications and services have aimed to make domain names more brandable and easier to pronounce. The Web continues to expand its reach and capabilities, reflecting the ongoing advancements in digital communication and information technology.