Internet vs World Wide Web
Students often confuse these — they are NOT the same thing:
- The Internet is the global network of interconnected computers — the physical and logical infrastructure (routers, cables, protocols like TCP/IP)
- The World Wide Web (WWW) is a service that runs ON the internet — it is a collection of web pages and websites accessed via a web browser using HTTP/HTTPS
Other services that use the internet (but are not the WWW): email, FTP, online gaming, video streaming, VoIP (Voice over IP).
URLs — Uniform Resource Locators
A URL is the address used to locate a specific resource (web page, file, image) on the WWW.
https://www.cszone.co.uk/lessons/topic1
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|
| Protocol | https:// | The communication protocol used (HTTPS = secure) |
| Domain name | www.cszone.co.uk | The human-readable address of the server |
| Path/resource | /lessons/topic1 | The specific page or file on the server |
Domain Name System (DNS)
Computers use IP addresses (e.g. 142.250.74.14) to locate each other — but humans prefer domain names (e.g. www.google.com). The DNS translates domain names into IP addresses.
DNS Process:
- User types a URL in the browser
- Browser checks its local cache for the IP address
- If not cached, browser sends a request to a DNS server
- DNS server looks up the domain name and returns the corresponding IP address
- Browser connects to the web server using that IP address
DNS is sometimes called the "phone book" of the internet.
Digital Footprints
A digital footprint is the trail of data left behind by a user's activity online.
Active digital footprint
Data deliberately shared by the user, e.g. posting on social media, filling in forms, uploading photos.
Passive digital footprint
Data collected without the user's direct awareness, e.g. cookies tracking browsing history, location data from apps, IP address logs.
Implications of digital footprints:
- Employers may check online profiles before hiring
- Targeted advertising based on browsing history
- Personal data can be sold to third parties
- Difficult or impossible to fully delete data once shared
- Can be used in legal/criminal investigations
Cookies
Small text files stored on a user's device by websites. Used to remember login sessions, preferences, and track browsing behaviour. Cookies are a key source of passive digital footprint data.
Exam tip: The Internet vs WWW distinction is a common exam question — always be precise. DNS questions often ask you to describe the process — include all steps. For digital footprints, know the active/passive distinction and be able to give examples of each.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Saying "the internet is the same as the WWW" — they are different; the WWW is just one service on the internet
- Not describing ALL steps in DNS resolution when asked
- Confusing active and passive digital footprints — active = you chose to share it; passive = collected without you realising