10.2 Effective use of the internet

2026 Syllabus Objectives

  • Understand the characteristics, uses, advantages and disadvantages of using the internet including the differences between the internet, an intranet, an extranet and the World Wide Web (WWW), blog, forum, wiki, social networking
  • Understand functionality including Internet Service Provider (ISP), structure of a web address, Uniform Resource Locator (URL), hyperlink, web browser
  • Understand use of search engine including speed of searching, amount of information, the speed of finding relevant information, ease of finding reliable information
  • Evaluate information found on the internet including how up to date, reliable, biased and valid this information is
  • Understand internet protocols including HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), HyperText Transfer Protocol secure variant (HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
  • Understand risks of using the internet including inappropriate and criminal material, restricting data through parental, educational and ISP control

The Internet and World Wide Web

https://cambridgeassistant.com

🌐 What is the Internet?

The internet is a worldwide collection of networks which allows a subscriber to send and receive emails, chat (using text or voice), or browse the World Wide Web. It functions as a Wide Area Network (WAN) that extends over a large geographical area, connecting millions of computers and networks globally.

The term 'internet' comes from 'international network'

🌍 The World Wide Web (WWW)

The World Wide Web (WWW or web) is the part of the internet which users can access by way of a web browser. It is important to understand that the WWW is not the same as the internet - rather, it is a service that runs on the internet infrastructure.

Key characteristics of the WWW:

  • Made up of millions of websites and web pages
  • Accessed through web browsers
  • Contains multimedia content including text, pictures, sounds, animation, and video

📄 Web Pages and Websites

Web pages are multimedia documents on a computer screen which may consist of text, pictures, sounds, animation, or video. A website consists of many of these pages linked together to form a coherent collection of related information.

🔍 Web Browsers

A web browser is software that allows the user to display and interact with pages and files from the web. Examples include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Web browsers enable users to:

  • View web pages with multimedia content
  • Navigate between pages using hyperlinks
  • Enter URLs to access specific websites
  • Use search engines to find information

Sign in to view full notes