UNIT-1: Basics of Internet and Web

The Basics of Internet, World Wide Web, Web Page, Home Page, Website, Static , Dynamic and
Active web page, Overview of Protocols, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, Gopher, Telnet, Emails, TFTP,
Simple Network Management Protocol, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, Client Server Computing
concepts, Web client and web server, web browser, Browsers e.g., Netscape navigator, Internet
Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Client side scripting languages, VB Script and Java Script, Active X Control
and plug-ins, Web Server Architecture, Image maps, CGI, API, Web database connectivity, DBC,
ODBC.

BASICS OF INTERNET:

Internet- The Internet is a global network of billions of computers and other electronic devices.
Internet is a worldwide network of devices like computers, laptops, tablets, etc.
It enables users to send emails to other users and chat with them online.
For example, when you send an email or chatting with someone online, you are using the internet.

World Wide Web- is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents that runs over the Internet.
World Wide Web, which is also known as a Web, is a collection of websites or web pages stored in
web servers and connected to local computers through the internet. These websites contain text
pages, digital images, audios, videos, etc. Users can access the content of these sites from any part
of the world over the internet using their devices such as computers, laptops, cell phones, etc. The
WWW, along with internet, enables the retrieval and display of text and media to your device.
when you have opened a website like google.com for information, you are using the World Wide
Web; a network of servers over the internet.

Difference between World Wide Web and Internet:

Webpage – single page of information on the web.

 web pages are formatted in HTML and connected by links called "hypertext" or hyperlinks and
accessed by HTTP.
 These links are electronic connections that link related pieces of information so that users can
access the desired information quickly.
  Hypertext offers the advantage to select a word or phrase from text and thus to access other
pages that provide additional information related to that word or phrase.

Web browser- A web browser is a type of software that allows you to find and view websites on the
Internet.
 It provides a software interface that allows you to click hyperlinked resources on the World
Wide Web.
 The most popular desktop browsers as of this writing include Internet
Explorer for Windows, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and Opera.

Home Page- The homepage or home page is the name of the main page of a website where a user
can find hyperlinks to other pages on the site.
By default, the homepage on all web servers is index.html; however, it can also be index.htm,
index.php, or whatever the developer decides.
Ideally, a website homepage should include a link to all pages or for a big website (over 100 pages)
all sections. Other important things to consider are including a company phone number, contact
information, and the website's popular web pages.

Website- A particular collection of web pages that belong to a specific URL is called a website, e.g.,
www.facebook.com, www.google.com, etc.
The website’s web pages are linked with hyperlinks and hypertext and share a common interface
and design.
The website might also contain some additional documents and files such as images, videos, or
other digital assets.
Components of a Website: These are the components for making a website.
 Webhost: Hosting is the location where the website is physically located. Group of
webpages (linked webpages) licensed to be called a website only when the webpage is
hosted on the webserver. The webserver is a set of files transmitted to user computers
when they specify the website’s address.

 Address: Address of a website also known as the URL of a website. When a user wants to
open a website then they need to put the address or URL of the website into the web
browser, and the asked website is delivered by the web server.

 Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

 A client that wants to access the document in an internet needs an address and to facilitate
the access of documents, the HTTP uses the concept of Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
 The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a standard way of specifying any kind of information
on the internet.
 The URL defines four parts: method, host computer, port, and path.

o Method: The method is the protocol used to retrieve the document from a server.
For example, HTTP.
 o Host: The host is the computer where the information is stored, and the computer is
given an alias name. Web pages are mainly stored in the computers and the
computers are given an alias name that begins with the characters "www". This field
is not mandatory.
o Port: The URL can also contain the port number of the server, but it's an optional
field. If the port number is included, then it must come between the host and path
and it should be separated from the host by a colon.
o Path: Path is the pathname of the file where the information is stored. The path
itself contain slashes that separate the directories from the subdirectories and files.

 Homepage : Home page is a very common and important part of a webpage. It is the first
webpage that appears when a visitor visits the website. The home page of a website is very
important as it sets the look and feel of the website and directs viewers to the rest of the
pages on the website.

 Design : It is the final and overall look and feel of the website that has a result of proper use
and integration elements like navigation menus, graphics, layout, navigation menus etc.

 Content : Every web pages contained on the website together make up the content of the
website. Good content on the webpage makes the website more effective and attractive.

 The Navigation Structure: The navigation structure of a website is the order of the pages,
the collection of what links to what. Usually, it is held together by at least one navigation
menu.

Types of Website:
 Static Website
 Dynamic Website

Static Website: In Static Websites, Web pages are returned by the server which are prebuilt source
code files built using simple languages such as HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. There is no processing of
content on the server (according to the user) in Static Websites. Web pages are returned by the
server with no change therefore, static Websites are fast. There is no interaction with databases.
Also, they are less costly as the host does not need to support server-side processing with
different languages.

Dynamic Website: In Dynamic Websites, Web pages are returned by the server which is processed
during runtime means they are not prebuilt web pages, but they are built during runtime
according to the user’s demand with the help of server-side scripting languages such as PHP,
Node.js, ASP.NET and many more supported by the server. So, they are slower than static
websites but updates and interaction with databases are possible. Dynamic Websites are used
over Static Websites as updates can be done very easily as compared to static websites (Where
altering in every page is required) but in Dynamic Websites, it is possible to do a common change
once, and it will reflect in all the web pages.

Static, Dynamic and active web-pages

static web pages are basic and don’t change in response to user actions, dynamic web pages can
change their content in response to user actions or data from a database, and active web pages
use JavaScript to update the content of the page in real-time

Static Web Pages

  A static web page is a basic web page that is written in HTML code and remains the same for
every user who views it.
 It doesn’t change in response to user actions or data from a database.
 These web pages are simple and easy to create, as they don’t require complex programming
or scripting.
 They are also fast to load because they consist of static files, such as text, images, and videos.
 For example, a static web page could be a simple website that displays basic information
about a company, such as its mission, products, and contact information. The content of the
web page remains the same for every user, regardless of their location or browsing history.

Dynamic Web Pages

 Dynamic web pages are more complex than static web pages.
 They are created using programming languages such as PHP, Python, and Ruby.
 Dynamic web pages can change their content in response to user actions, data from a
database, or other external factors. This means that the same web page can display different
content for different users, based on their preferences, browsing history, or location.
 For example, a dynamic web page could be an e-commerce website that displays different
products to different users, based on their search history or previous purchases. The content
of the web page is generated on the server-side, in response to user requests.

Active Web Pages

 Active web pages are a type of dynamic web page that uses JavaScript to update the content
of the page in real-time, without the need for a page refresh.
 Active web pages can create a more interactive and engaging user experience by allowing
users to interact with the page in real-time.
 For example, an active web page could be a social media platform that updates the content of
the page in real-time, such as new posts, comments, or messages. The content of the web
page is updated dynamically, without the need for the user to refresh the page.

Client server computing concepts:

 In client server computing, the client requests a resource and the server provides that
resource.
 A server may serve multiple clients at the same time while a client is in contact with only one
server.
 Both the client and server usually communicate via a computer network but sometimes they
may reside in the same system.
An illustration of the client server system is given as follows −

Characteristics of Client Server Computing

The salient points for client server computing are as follows:
 The client server computing works with a system of request and response. The client sends a
request to the server and the server responds with the desired information.
 The client and server should follow a common communication protocol so they can easily
interact with each other. All the communication protocols are available at the application
layer.
 A server can only accommodate a limited number of client requests at a time. So it uses a
system based to priority to respond to the requests.
 Denial of Service attacks hindera servers ability to respond to authentic client requests by
inundating it with false requests.
 An example of a client server computing system is a web server. It returns the web pages to
the clients that requested them.

Web client and web server:

Difference between Web Browser and Web Server:

Scripting Language:
Scripting languages are a type of computer language that may be used to communicate with other
software, such as a web browser, server, or standalone programme.
Scripting languages,
Scripting may be used to add dynamic content to web pages. A script is a series of instructions that
are carried out under specific circumstances. Validating a user's entries, for example, is a good
practise when they fill out an online form. This is when scripting enters the picture. Small
programmes called web scripts are run when a user interacts with a web page.

1. Client scripts – These are scripts executed . by the browser(client) hence reduces network traffic
and workload on the server.
2. Server scripts – These are scripts executed by the server and the results as a webpage returned to
the client browser.

CLIENT-SIDE SCRIPTING Languages:

Scripts are small programs embedded in the HTML pages, to write scripts <SCRIPT> tag is used.

Client-side scripting enables the construction of quicker and more responsive online applications by
executing source code on the client's browser rather than the web server.

The script is run by the user's web browser, which subsequently displays the page, including any
visible script output.
client-side scripts may include instructions for the browser to execute in response to certain user
activities (e.g., clicking a button).
These instructions are frequently obeyed without the need for further contact with the server.
To reduce communication burden, server load, and response time, balancing the execution of client
and server scripts is utilised.
Key differences between server side scripting and client side scripting languages
SERVER SIDE SCRIPTING CLIENT SIDE SCRIPTING
BASIS OF COMPARISON
LANGUAGES LANGUAGES
 It's utilised in backend
It is utilised at the front end,
applications when the source
Use which is visible to users
code isn't visible or concealed
through their browser.
from the client (browser).
A web server executes the
The script for client-side scripting
server-side scripting script
that is already on the user's
Script Running that generates the page that
computer is run by the
must be delivered to the
browser.
browser.
When a user's browser sends a
It occurs when the browser has
server request, this occurs.
all of the codes and then
Occurrence After that, dynamic pages are
changes the page based on
produced based on a number
the user's input.
of factors.
When opposed to server side
Because the server-side
scripting, the client server
programming is done on a
scripting procedure is
Execution remote computer, the
performed on a local
response time is slower than
computer, resulting in a faster
the client-side response time.
response.
A server can run a server-side After receiving the page supplied
Operation script, but it cannot run client- by the server, the browser can
side scripts. conduct client-side scripting.
It facilitates the connection to
It doesn't connect to any of the
Connection to the database databases already existing on
web server's databases.
the web server.
It's ideal for any application that It's ideal for any situation that
Suitability necessitates the loading of necessitates user
dynamic data. engagement.
Ruby on Rails, PHP, ColdFusion, Javascript, HTML, CSS, VB script,
Python, ASP, Perl, and more and other languages are
Languages
languages are used in server frequently used for client-side
programming. scripting.
It has full access to all files on It does not have access to all of
Access To Files
the web server. the files on the web server.
Because server side scripts are
Because the scripts are generally
generally concealed from the
Security not concealed from the client,
client end, it is more secure
it is less secure.
than client side scripting.

Eg: VB Script, Javascript etc

Advantages of client side scripting languages

 Allows for more interactivity
 Can perform actions quickly without going to the server
 May be easier to use for those whose browsers don’t support the script
Disadvantages of client side scripting languages
 If the user’s browser is out of date, the website will not display properly.
  More quality assurance testing is required because different browsers support script
differently
 Not secure because anyone can look at the code in the page source
 Some browsers will disable the active content and tell the user they may be harmful

VBscript-
 VB Script(developed by Microsoft) is a platform-dependent scripting language. Means it
requires a particular browser(MS Internet Explorer) to work which is why it is not a widely
accepted scripting language.
 VBScript is based on Microsoft's Visual Basic, which was released in 1996.
 It is a scripting language that is lightweight, quick, and simple to learn.
 VBScript is a scripting language that may be used to create sophisticated administrative
programmes and utilities.
 In terms of functionality, VBScript is identical to JavaScript. However, Microsoft browsers are
the only ones that use it. Other browsers do not have built-in VBScript functionality.
 Furthermore, event-driven computation and forms are not supported by VBScript. As a
result of the compatibility concerns, it is no longer widely used for web development.

 VBScript is a scripting language, not an object-oriented programming language.

 It is, nevertheless, an object-oriented language, similar to JavaScript.

Javascript-
Javascript is a dynamic computer programming language. It is lightweight and most
commonly used as a part of web pages, whose implementations allow client-side
script to interact with the user and make dynamic pages.
Java script developed by Brendan Eich for the Netscape browser) is a platform-independent scripting
language. Means It does not require a particular browser. That is it runs on any browser hence it is
mostly accepted scripting language.
Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari, and
other major web browsers are all supported.
Using form components such as buttons, menus, and text boxes, JavaScript makes it easy to make a
web page interactive. When an event may be triggered by a mouse movement or a keyboard, it's
easier to write event handling in JavaScript.

Active X controls:
 An ActiveX control is a component that can be inserted into a Web page or application
in order to reuse the object's functionality programmed by someone else.
 ActiveX controls were created to improve on Visual Basic extension controls.
 ActiveX controls provide a way to allow the tools and applications used on the Web to be
integrated together.
 The greatest benefit of ActiveX controls is the ability to reduce development
time, and to enhance Internet applications.
 With thousands of reusable controls available, a developer does not have to start from
scratch.
 The controls available to the developer also aid in increased functionality.
 Some controls that have already been developed will allow the developer to add options to
the Web site without having to know how to implement functions.
 The ability to view movie files, PDF files, and similar interactive applications is made possible
through the use of ActiveX
Plug-ins:
Plug-ins are computer programs that extend the standard functionality of the browser.
A plug-in is piece of code written in a standard JavaScript file. These files provide useful jQuery
methods which can be used along with jQuery library methods.
HTML Plug-ins
 To run Java applets.
 To run Microsoft ActiveX controls.
 To display Flash movies.
 To display maps.
 To scan for viruses.
 To verify a bank id.

A plug-in is a piece of software that acts as an browser and gives the browser additional
functionality. Plug-in can allow a web browser to display additional content it was not originally
designe to display.

An example of a plug-in is the free Macromedia Flash Player, a plug in that allows the web browser
to display animations using the Flash format. As the Web has become more commercial, Flash has
become popular format for displaying ads in web pages. As a result, many web users have been
prompted to download the Flash plug in and have it installed on their systems.

Other popular plug-in include QuickTime Player (available on the Apple website) and Acrobat Reader
(which in addition to being a plug-in for th major browsers is also a stand alone application used
to display files usin the PDF format).

Most plug-in are available as free downloads. To install the plug you visit the website of the plug-ins
developer and click on a link that download the installer for the plug-in you have selected. You can
save installer to an easy to find location such as the Desktop or a spe folder you have created to
organize all of your downloads. Once you downloaded the installer, you can open it and follow the
prompts to in the plug-in on your system. You may have to restart your web brows enable the
additional functionality provided by the plug-in.

Architecture of web server

Web server is a computer where the web content is stored. Basically

language theb server is used to host the web sites but Outed suppolso such as gaming, storage, FTP,
email etc. LL) modul, web pages to users in response to their requests, which is sent by their
(DCOM). there exists other web servers Web server is a program that uses HTTP to serve files that
create applicatio, computers HTTP connection. faces. Thi

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delivers an XML document to another device can be server that responds to HTTP requests to
deliver content and services. Web Server Working: Web server respond to the client request in
Windows Microsoft

either of the following two ways:

1. Sending the file to the client associated with the requested URL. 2. Generating response by
invoking a script and communicating with database.

Application Data Store

Application Server

Web Container

Other Services

Key Points: 1. When client sends request for a web page, the web server search for the requested
page if requested page is found then it will send it to client with an HTTP response. 2. If the
requested web page is not found, web server will the send

Static Data Store

ONL

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Web Server

HTTP Response

HTTP Request

Servient Request

Servient Response

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an HTTP response :Error 404 Not found. 3. If client has requested for some other resources then the
web server will contact to the application server and data store to construct the HTTP response.

HTTP Transactions

Messages
HTTP messages are of two types: request and response. Both the message types follow the
same message format.