By : Neha Dhyani
Updated : Mar 23, 2022, 10:54
The World Wide Web (WWW) and the Internet are those two significant inventions of the technological world where the whole world revolves around them. But these two terms are not similar and are not supposed to be used interchangeably.
People can send text messages, chat with their families and friends by sitting in any corner of the world because of the internet. But to collect any data about a particular topic, for any purpose, on Google is the expertise of WWW.
We will look at the difference between www and the internet. But first, understand what these terminologies are.
The Internet, commonly known as the net is a complex network of interconnected networks that links devices across the world. It is a physical network containing wired (fibre optical or copper wired) and wireless connections. Internet connects global users through various devices, namely TV, desktops, computers, routers, switches, etc.
It facilitates the process of global communication. A computer with an internet connection is sufficient to connect you with the person sitting miles away from your location. A plethora of information is disseminated on the web through the internet.
Think of a games store, where the store is your internet, and the games available in the store are the websites from which you will get your information
Services offered by the internet –
World Wide Web, commonly known as the web, is a collection of web pages or websites by which information is shared and received over the internet. It is a medium of communication through which activities like retrieval and exchange of information take place with the help of the internet.
The method or language www uses is called hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The links which connect various web pages on browsers are called hyperlinks. With hyperlinks, users can explore different web pages just by clicking the links and exploring the pieces of information quickly.
A separate address is assigned to these web pages to be identified on the web which is called Uniform Resource Locator (URL). It facilitates the process of searching and finding information. The data is retrieved through software like google chrome, internet explorer, UC browser, etc.
In simple terms, when you search for specific information on Google, it shows different web pages or websites. The combination of those websites forms a web that can be accessed globally by anyone and is known as the World Wide Web. And it can not be possible without the internet. So it is proved that www is a subsection of the internet.
Let's look at the difference between www and the internet in points:
Basis | WWW | Internet |
Definition | It Is a collection of web pages that consists of pieces of information | It is a global network of networks that facilitates the working of www. |
Commonly known as | It is commonly known as web | It is commonly known as net |
Protocol | www uses HTTP as its protocol | The Internet has an internet protocol (IP) for its functioning |
Nature | It is considered as software oriented | It is considered as hardware with a physical infrastructure |
Originated | It was invented in 1989 by Tim Berners Lee. It was built by research physicists to share their research findings among their colleagues | It was invented in 1960 during an experiment by the U.S. military to stay in touch in case of nuclear strikes. |
Connection | It connects people around the globe | It connects computers and other devices |
Dependency | It is dependent on the internet in order to perform its functions | It is independent of WWW and has its own functioning |
First Version | The first version was NSFNET | The first version was formed was Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) |
Users/Websites | There are over 1.8 billion websites on the internet. These numbers change regularly | There are around 4.66 billion internet users. These numbers are subject to change as users numbers increase or decrease on a daily basis |
We saw how www and the internet are completely different from each other. They have their own protocols and usage. The only thing that is common between them is the point of communication. Both are used for some form of communication whether it is the communication of text messages or the information being searched by an individual on the web.
To name a few:
Web browsers are software applications on which the data retrieval process takes place. For example, google, google chrome, internet explorer, etc.
Hypertext markup language (HTML) is one of the popular languages of web pages. It's a markup language that instructs the web browser on how should be the structure of the document.
Local Area Network(LAN). Lan is a network of two to three devices connected in a smaller geographical area. Usually, it is in the same building or office. For example, wifi in home and in restaurants, etc.