Unit – III

Introducing to Internet, WWW and Web Browser

A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order to share resources
(such as printers and CDs), exchange files, or allow electronic communica=ons.

LAN(Local Area Network)

LAN stands for Local-area Network. It is a computer network that covers a rela=vely small
area such as within a building or campus of up to a few kilometres in size. LANs are generally
used to connect personal computers and worksta=ons in company offices to share common
resources, like printers, and exchange informa=on.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is a type of computer network that spans over a
metropolitan area, typically a city. It provides high-speed data communica=on services such
as video, audio, and data transfer between mul=ple LANs (Local Area Networks) and WANs
(Wide Area Networks). The main purpose of a MAN is to connect different LANs in a city to
share resources and exchange data, as well as to provide internet access to users. A MAN
typically covers a geographic area of several kilometres and is larger than a LAN but smaller
than a WAN.
MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network. It is a computer network that connects
number of LANs to form larger network, so that the computer resources can be shared. This
type of network covers larger area than a LAN but smaller than the area covered by a WAN
which is designed to extend over the en=re city. MAN is specially designed to provide high-
speed connec=vity to the users in which the speed ranges in terms of Mbps. The
architecture of MAN is quite complicated hence, it is hard to design and maintain.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

WAN stands for Wide Area Network. It is a computer network that covers a large
geographical area consis=ng of two or more LANs or MANs. These networks are established
with leased telecommunica=on circuits, in which two sides which are connected have
routers that connect the LAN of both sides together in a network to facilitate communica=on
Internet

The Internet is a globally connected network system that facilitates communication and data
services through a vast collection of private, public, business, academic, and government
networks.

The Internet is decentralized, which means there is no central authority governing its
operations. To enable communication between devices, the internet relies on protocols and
standards that govern how small units of data are formatted, addressed, and transmitted.

The terms internet and World Wide Web (WWW) are often used as synonyms, but
technically they are not the same thing. The Internet is a global network of interconnected
computers and networks. The World Wide Web is a service that uses the Internet’s
infrastructure to provide digital devices and applications with access to websites. Popular
internet services include email, VoIP (Voice over IP), and SMS (Short Message Service).

Protocol

A protocol is a set of rules and guidelines for communicating data. Rules are defined for each
step and process during communication between two or more computers. Networks have to
follow these rules to successfully transmit data.

World Wide Web(WWW)

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a network of online content that is formatted in HTML and
accessed via HTTP. The term refers to all the interlinked HTML pages that can be accessed
over the Internet. The World Wide Web was originally designed in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee
while he was a contractor at CERN.

Internet Protocol (IP)

Internet Protocol (IP) is the method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to
another on the internet. Each computer -- known as a host -- on the internet has at least one IP
address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the internet.

Domain

A domain name is your website name. A domain name is the address where Internet users
can access your website. A domain name is used for finding and identifying computers on the
Internet. Computers use IP addresses, which are a series of number. However, it is difficult
for humans to remember strings of numbers. Because of this, domain names were developed
and used to identify entities on the Internet rather than using IP addresses. A domain name
can be any combination of letters and numbers, and it can be used in combination of the
various domain name extensions, such as .com, .net and more.
HyperText Transfer Protocol(HTTP)

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. Tim Berner invents it. HyperText is the type
of text which is specially coded with the help of some standard coding language called
HyperText Markup Language (HTML).

The protocol used to transfer hypertext between two computers is known as HyperText
Transfer Protocol.

HTTP provides a standard between a web browser and a web server to establish
communication. It is a set of rules for transferring data from one computer to another. Data
such as text, images, and other multimedia files are shared on the World Wide Web.
Whenever a web user opens their web browser, the user indirectly uses HTTP. It is an
application protocol that is used for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information
systems.

Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS)

Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, which is the
primary protocol used to send data between a web browser and a website. HTTPS is
encrypted in order to increase security of data transfer. This is particularly important when
users transmit sensitive data, such as by logging into a bank account, email service, or health
insurance provider.

Any website, especially those that require login credentials, should use HTTPS. In modern
web browsers such as Chrome, websites that do not use HTTPS are marked differently than
those that are. Look for a padlock in the URL bar to signify the webpage is secure. Web
browsers take HTTPS seriously; Google Chrome and other browsers flag all non-HTTPS
websites as not secure.

Difference between HTTP and HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a protocol using which hypertext is transferred over
the Web. Due to its simplicity, HTTP has been the most widely used protocol for data
transfer over the Web but the data (i.e. hypertext) exchanged using HTTP isn’t as secure as
we would like it to be. Cryptographic protocols such as SSL and/or TLS turn HTTP into
HTTPS i.e. HTTPS = HTTP + Cryptographic Protocols.
HTTP HTTPS
HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer
Protocol. In HTTP, the URL begins with Protocol Secure. In HTTPS, the URL starts
“hRp://”. with “hRps://”.
HTTP uses port number 80 for HTTPS uses port number 443 for
communica=on. communica=on.
Hyper-text exchanged using HTTP goes as HTTPS is considered to be secure but at the
plain text i.e. anyone between the browser cost of processing =me because Web Server
and server can read it rela=vely easily if one and Web Browser need to exchange
intercepts this exchange of data and due to encryp=on keys using Cer=ficates before
which it is Insecure. actual data can be transferred.
HTTPS works at Transport Layer. HTTPS works at Transport Layer.
HTTP does not use encryp=on, which HTTPS uses Encryp=on which results in
results in low security in comparison to beRer security than HTTP.
HTTPS.
HTTP speed is faster than HTTPS. HTTPS speed is slower than HTTP.
HTTP does not use data hashtags to secure HTTPS will have the data before sending it
data. and returning it to its original state on the
receiver side.
HTTP is used to transfer text, video, and HTTPS is used to transfer data securely via a
images via web pages. network.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a unique iden=fier used to locate a resource on the
Internet. It is also referred to as a web address. URLs consist of mul=ple parts -- including a
protocol and domain name -- that tell a web browser how and where to retrieve a resource.

End users use URLs by typing them directly into the address bar of a browser or by clicking a
hyperlink found on a webpage, bookmark list, in an email or from another applica=on.
Example: hRp://www.tezu.ernet.in