The Web
The World Wide Web, commonly known as the Web, is an information system where documents and other web resources are identified by Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), which may be interlinked by hypertext links, and are accessible over the Internet. The Web has a rich history that intertwines with the development of the Internet itself.
History
The Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while working at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland. His original proposal was for a system to manage and share documents among researchers. Here are key milestones:
- 1990: Berners-Lee wrote the first web browser, called WorldWideWeb (later renamed Nexus), and the first web server, httpd.
- 1991: The Web became publicly available on August 6, when the first website went live at info.cern.ch.
- 1993: The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) released Mosaic, the first widely used web browser.
- 1994: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was founded by Berners-Lee to develop Web standards, guidelines, and protocols.
- 1995: Netscape Navigator was released, becoming the dominant browser until the rise of Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Core Concepts
Development and Evolution
The Web has evolved significantly since its inception:
- Web 1.0: Characterized by static HTML websites with little user interaction.
- Web 2.0: Introduced dynamic content, user-generated content, and social media.
- Web 3.0: Envisions a more intelligent and interconnected Web with semantic web technologies, personalized experiences, and decentralized applications.
Impact
The Web has had a profound impact on society, economy, and culture, enabling:
- Global communication and information sharing.
- E-commerce and online business models.
- New forms of entertainment and media consumption.
- Social networking and community building.
- Open access to education and knowledge.
Challenges
Despite its benefits, the Web faces several challenges:
- Privacy and security concerns.
- Digital divide issues.
- Content moderation and misinformation.
- Net neutrality debates.
Sources
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