1. The Inventor and Timeline
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a system of interconnected documents and resources accessible via the Internet and connected by hyperlinks. Is often mistakenly equated with the Internet itself, but it's actually an information-sharing model built on top of the Internet infrastructure.
Anyone can create their own Website on the Web and determine the content of the page themselves, from information about themselves or something else to their own network with which others can interact. There are no limits.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Father of the Web
- Inventor: Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist.
- Timeframe: He invented the Web between 1989 and 1990 while working at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland.
- Key Innovation: His initial proposal (March 1989) outlined a system for managing information using hypertext. By late 1990, he had implemented the first browser (WorldWideWeb.app), the first server, and the core technologies: HTML, URI (or URL), and HTTP.
- Crucial Decision (The Fact You May Not Know): In 1993, CERN made the underlying technology free and openly available to everyone, without charging any royalties. This crucial decision is why the Web exploded into the global, commercial force it is today.
HTML = Hypertext Markup Language - https:// = Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
Hyperlinks/Links are mostly Blue or Highlighted text and when you hover over them the mouse changes and you can click.
Can connect you to a other Website or a specific area within the same Website.
2. Webpage Ownership and Control
A central concept of the modern web is the decentralized nature of content creation.
- Exclusive Control: When you own a domain (like example.com) and host a website, only you (or your designated team) have the necessary credentials (SSH/FTP) to upload, modify, or delete the files (HTML, CSS, JS, images) that constitute your webpage.
- Domain vs. Hosting:
- Domain Name (e.g., example.com): Your address on the internet. You lease this name from a registrar.
- Web Hosting: The actual physical space on a server (a powerful computer) where your files are stored. This server is connected to the Internet 24/7.
- Permissioned vs. Permissionless: The Web is considered a permissionless platform for publishing-anyone can start a website without getting approval from a central authority, provided they secure a domain and hosting.
3. TLDs, ICANN, and Domain Structure
Every website address is structured, and its administration is handled by specific global non-profit bodies.
The Role of ICANN
- ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers): A non-profit organization established in 1998, responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring its stable and secure operation.
- What it Coordinates: The Domain Name System (DNS) and the system of Top-Level Domains (TLDs).
Top-Level Domains (TLDs)
The TLD is the last segment of a domain name (the part after the final dot).
- gTLDs (Generic TLDs): The most common.
- .com (Commercial): The most popular, originally for commercial entities.
- .org (Organization): Generally for non-profits.
- .net (Network): Originally for network technology providers.
- .edu (Education): This TLD is strictly restricted to postsecondary institutions (universities, colleges) that are accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It was one of the original six TLDs created in 1985.
- ccTLDs (Country Code TLDs): Used or reserved for a country or sovereign state (e.g.,.aq for Antarctica, .jp for Japan., .us for the United States., .de for Germany, .uk for the United Kingdom).
- Highly Specialized/Proprietary gTLDs: New TLDs introduced since 2012, often owned or strictly controlled by a single entity or industry.
- .orion (Specialized): While not currently a public, globally-recognized TLD in the ICANN root zone, it represents the trend of highly customized or internal network TLDs used for specific systems or brands (like .corp or .home for private networks).
- .bank (Controlled): Strictly regulated and only available to banks and related financial institutions, requiring deep validation and heightened security standards.
- .bmw (Proprietary/Brand): An example of a TLD owned exclusively by a single brand (BMW Group) for its own websites and marketing efforts, showing brand control over its digital namespace.
4. WebSurfer and Essential Categories of Web Sites
Fun Fact: A person who browses or explores the World Wide Web, typically by clicking on links and moving from one website to another is a WebSurfer.
It's essentially a synonym for "internet user" or "netizen," with an emphasis on the act of actively exploring the web, similar to "surfing" waves.
Example: "The website logs showed that the average websurfer spent about three minutes on the homepage."
The Web hosts an incredible diversity of sites. Here are five crucial, distinct categories and examples, including founding years where notable:
Server Hosting Providers (The Digital Landlords)
Companies that provide the physical servers and infrastructure where website files live.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) (2006) - The world's largest cloud computing platform, offering everything from simple hosting to complex enterprise solutions.
- Microsoft Azure (2010) - Microsoft's cloud computing platform, popular for organizations already using Microsoft enterprise tools.
- DigitalOcean (2011) - Focuses on simplicity and developer-friendliness, known for its "Droplets" (simple virtual machines).
- Hetzner Online (1997) - A major German provider known globally for powerful, reliable dedicated server hosting at competitive prices.
- Your computer Every server is simply a computer that processes data. Reservery Pi also works.
Domain Name Registrars (The Address Brokers)
ICANN-accredited companies that reserve and manage domain names for the public.
- GoDaddy (1997) - One of the largest registrars globally, known for massive marketing and hosting packages.
- Namecheap (2000) - Popular for competitive pricing and a strong focus on domain privacy (free WHOIS protection).
- Regery (2017) - Somewhat dubious but a huge selection of all TLDs worldwide.
- IONOS (1&1) (1988) - A major European provider offering domain registration and web hosting services.
- Cloudflare Registrar (2018) - Focuses on offering domains at wholesale cost with no markup, prioritizing security over profit margin.
Web Development, Standards & Technical Documentation
The sites that define, teach, and document how the Web is built.
- W3.org (W3C) (1994) - The World Wide Web Consortium, led by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, which develops Web standards (HTML, CSS, etc.).
- MDN Web Docs (developer.mozilla.org) (2005) - The definitive, comprehensive documentation for Web technologies, maintained by Mozilla.
- JS.org (Community Site) - A resource hub for the vast ecosystem of JavaScript, a core Web programming language.
- caniuse.com (2008) - A critical resource for developers to check browser support for various HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features.
- OpenJS Foundation (2019) - Hosts and supports key JavaScript projects like Node.js and jQuery, ensuring their long-term health.
Search Engines & Knowledge Aggregators
The main index and gateway to many websites.
- Google.com (1998) - Dominant search engine, revolutionized ranking via PageRank.
- Bing.com (2009) - Microsoft's engine, integrates with Windows and Office ecosystem.
- DuckDuckGo.com (2008) - Focuses on user privacy; avoids filtering results based on user profile.
- Baidu.com (2000) - China's largest search engine, controlling a vast domestic market share.
- Yandex.ru (1997) - Russia's most popular search engine, known for sophisticated linguistic search.
Community Forums & Social Aggregation
Platforms focused on user-generated content, discussion, and social signaling.
- Wikipedia.org (2001) - The largest collaboratively edited reference work, based on the Wiki software and maintained by the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Reddit.com (2005) - "The front page of the internet," highly diverse topic-based subreddits.
- 4chan.org (2003) - An infamous anonymous imageboard that heavily influences Internet meme culture.
- StackOverflow.com (2008) - A highly structured Q&A site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
- Fandom.com (2004) - Hosts thousands of wikis for specific cultural topics (movies, games, etc.), aggregating deep, collaborative knowledge.
Legacy & Alternative Hosting (The Spirit of the Old Web)
Platforms reviving the spirit of early, personalized web pages (like GeoCities/AOL Hometown).
- Neocities.org (2013) - A free web host dedicated to recreating the creative, "handmade" feel of the 90s web.
- Carrd.co (2016) - Specializes in building simple, single-page, responsive sites quickly.
- Blogger.com (1999) - One of the oldest blogging platforms, owned by Google, emphasizing personal journals and content.
- Tumblr.com (2007) - A microblogging and social networking site known for its creative freedom and visual content.
- Gitea Pages/GitHub Pages (GitHub: 2008) - Free static site hosting directly from code repositories, popular among developers for portfolios/projects.
Curious and Utility Web Sites (The Niche & Fun)
Sites that serve a single, specific purpose, provide specialized tools, or exist purely for amusement.
- chrismckenzie :D
- The Useless Web (2012) - A portal that redirects users to random, often strange or funny, single-purpose websites.
- Just F*ing Use HTML (Community Project) - A provocative educational site advocating for the proper semantic use of basic HTML over complex frameworks for simple content.
- Internet Archive (archive.org) (1996) - A massive digital library archiving billions of Web pages (The Wayback Machine) plus software, movies, and books.
- Unsplash (2013) - A leading source for free-to-use, high-quality stock photography, essential for modern web content creation.
Pioneer Social Networks & Historic Platforms
The early web platforms that defined online social interaction, paving the way for today's giants.
- SixDegrees.com (1997) - Often cited as the first true modern social network, enabling profiles, friend lists, and messaging, based on the 'six degrees of separation' theory.
- Classmates.com (1995) - An even earlier predecessor, focused primarily on reuniting high school and college alumni, but with limited social features.
- Friendster (2002) - Gained immense early traction and was a highly influential network, especially in Southeast Asia, before being overtaken by rivals.
- MySpace (2003) - Became the dominant social platform of the mid-2000s, pioneering user customization and deeply integrating music and personal content.
- Facebook (2004) - Launched the modern era of social networking, initially targeting college students before achieving global dominance.
The Oldest Websites & Early Milestones
Sites that represent the absolute genesis of the World Wide Web, many still preserved today.(who are still going)
- info.cern.ch (1990/1991) - The first-ever website, created by Tim Berners-Lee. It is now a restored historical page detailing the project's start.
- Symbolics.com (1985) - Recognized as the first registered .com domain name in the world, predating the launch of the World Wide Web itself.
- Wired Magazine (1993) - One of the very first major publications to establish a substantial, recognized online presence, focusing on tech culture.
- Space Jam (1996 Archive) (1996) - The iconic, preserved official website for the movie, serving as a nostalgic example of early commercial web design.
- Yahoo! (Jerry and David's Guide) (1994) - Started as one of the first human-edited web directories (before being a search engine), acting as a crucial index to the early Web.
Website Builders & No-Code Platforms
You would like to have your own website, but you don't feel like learning HTML or programming. Tools that allow users to create and launch websites without writing code.
- Wix.com - A popular, easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder known for its wide range of templates and built-in business features.
- Jimdo.com - A German-based builder favored for its simplicity and compliance with European privacy standards (GDPR).
- Squarespace.com - Known for award-winning, stylish, and professional design templates, popular among creative professionals and businesses.
- Webflow.com - A powerful visual development platform that bridges the gap between no-code and professional web development, allowing high design fidelity.
- Wordpress.com - The commercial, hosted version of the world's most popular Content Management System (CMS), simplifying setup for blogging and small business sites.
Web Games
Video games that can be played directly on the web.
- Agar.io - Agar.io is the first .io game and sparked a wave of games in this genre in 2015.
- Wilds.io - Is a browser-based multiplayer combat game. In the game, players control a barbarian to defeat enemies, grow, and climb the rankings.
- Slither.com - A multiplayer online game where players control a snake to eat pellets and grow as long as possible
- Warbrokers.io - No-download browser based FPS Battle Royale shoote.
- THERE IS NO GAME - no game.