Web mechanics

This section covers questions relating to general knowledge of the web ecosystem and how it works.

• How does the Internet work?
  • : The Internet is the backbone of the web, the technical infrastructure that makes the web possible. At its most basic, the internet is a massive network of computers communicating with each other. This article discusses how it works, in broad terms.
• What is the difference between webpage, website, web server, and search engine?
  • : In this article we describe various web-related concepts: webpages, websites, web servers, and search engines. These terms are often a source of confusion for newcomers to the web, or are used incorrectly. Let's discover what they actually mean!
• What are hyperlinks?
  • : In this article, we'll go over what hyperlinks are and why they matter.
• What is a URL?
  • : With {{Glossary("Hypertext")}} and {{Glossary("HTTP")}}, URL is a key concept when it comes to the Internet. It is the mechanism used by {{Glossary("Browser","browsers")}} to retrieve any published resource on the web.
• What is a domain name?
  • : Domain names are a key component of the Internet infrastructure. They provide a human-readable address for any web server available on the Internet.
• What is a web server?
  • : The term "web server" can refer to the hardware or software that serves websites to clients across the web — or both of them working together. In this article we go over how web servers work, and why they're important.