History and Fundamentals of the World Wide Web

These flashcards review the origins, technology, milestones, and social impact of the World Wide Web—from Tim Berners-Lee’s 1990 invention at CERN to Web 2.0, mobile access, and the Internet of Things.

What does the acronym URL stand for and what is its function?

Uniform Resource Locator; it specifies the exact address of an Internet resource or file.

In the URL “http://www.yahoo.com”, what does “http” represent?

The protocol being used—HyperText Transfer Protocol.

Within the address “http://www.yahoo.com”, what does “www” indicate?

It designates that the resource is part of the World Wide Web domain hierarchy.

In the domain name “yahoo.com”, what does “Yahoo” identify?

The specific site (host) name registered in the Domain Name System (DNS).

What is the role of the “.com” portion in “yahoo.com”?

It is the top-level domain (TLD) indicating a commercial entity.

Who created the World Wide Web and in what year?

Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1990.

At which laboratory was Tim Berners-Lee working when he invented the Web?

CERN (European Organization for Particle Physics) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Name the first web browser, web server, and website.

Browser: WorldWideWeb; Server: a NeXT desktop computer; Website: info.cern.ch.

What does CERN primarily do, aside from being the birthplace of the Web?

Provides particle accelerators and infrastructure for high-energy physics research.

Why is Switzerland abbreviated "CH" on the Web and elsewhere?

It comes from the Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica (Swiss Confederation).

What original purpose did Berners-Lee envision for the WWW?

A tool for collaboration and information sharing among the high-energy physics community.

How does the Web allow users to navigate between related information?

Through hyperlinks—clickable links that connect documents and sections.

Which text-based, menu-driven system was widely used for information access before the Web?

The Gopher protocol and its servers.

Which command-line protocol was (and still is) used for file transfer before browsers became common?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Which 1993 browser from NCSA helped popularize the graphical Web?

Mosaic.

What significant step did Berners-Lee take on April 30, 1993 regarding Web technology?

He made the Web protocols and code royalty-free and founded the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Who co-authored Mosaic and later founded Netscape Communications?

Marc Andreessen.

What early search directory/site launched in 1994 became a prominent Web gateway?

Yahoo!

Which search engine from Stanford University introduced the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button?

Google.

Which online retailer, started in the mid-1990s, revolutionized e-commerce?

Amazon.com.

What term describes the second generation of the Web characterized by interactivity and user content?

Web 2.0.

List at least three hallmarks of Web 2.0.

Interactive sites, user-generated content, social knowledge sharing, online collaboration, embedded multimedia, mobile integration, and social media platforms.

What major shift in hardware usage affected how people accessed the Web in the 2000s?

Movement from desktop/laptop computers to mobile phones—creating the Mobile Web.

Name three early social media or networking services that predate Facebook.

ICQ, Friendster (2002), MySpace (2003).

Which professional networking site launched the same year as MySpace (2003)?

LinkedIn.

What is the Internet of Things (IoT) in the context of the Web’s evolution?

A network of interconnected everyday devices (e.g., smart home systems) that communicate over the Internet.

Give two examples of smart-home functions enabled by IoT.

Remote control of lighting and climate (thermostats), or security and entertainment systems.

Why is it said that the World Wide Web “saved the net”?

Because it introduced a universal, media-rich interface (text, images, sound) that made the Internet accessible and appealing to the general public.

What is the key difference between a URL and DNS?

URL specifies the full address of a resource, while DNS translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses.

Which organization sets open standards to ensure long-term growth of the Web?

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

What role did the browser Netscape Navigator play in Web history?

It commercialized and popularized web browsing in the mid-1990s, introducing many to secure e-commerce and JavaScript.

How has the invention of the Internet and Web transformed society overall?

It revolutionized business communication, social interaction, information access, and continues to drive new innovations shaping how we live and work.

Which early instant-messaging platforms were precursors to modern social media chat?

ICQ and AOL AIM.

What is meant by 'embedded applications' in a Web 2.0 context?

Software widgets or services (e.g., maps, videos) that run directly inside web pages to enhance interactivity without separate downloads.