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    First, I would like to clarify something about the article I'm going to write, its not "How the internet works" but " How the web works". There's some differences between them.

    Before I bring out a more understandable metaphor, let's start off with a brief explaination - How the web works.

    The first basic of web is that it, and maybe internet, works on a client ~ server relationship.

• A Client, web browser in this case, is a User Interface software that runs on your computer that communicates with server(s).
• While the other half - Server, is a computer that performs task for other computers, such as rendering queries of a forum tasks.i>

    By the time you entered a URL/search term into your browser address/search bar, or clicking on a hyperlink. 2 or more technologies (HTTP & TCP/IP) are used to send your request to a router/ISP.

• ISP - Internet Services Provider, the company that you get your internet access from.

Router is a piece of hardware that sits between user's computer and web server. It looks for request and decides to which web server it should request the document from. The server examines the request, est., locates and retrieves it from its directory structure, finally, routes the result back to where it came from. The last leg happens when the client, your web browser, receive the requested document, decode and display it to you. That's the basic of how the web works.

    Confused? Try reading the comparison article ahead, and take a look of the image below:

Here's a trope with restaurant:

    You sat down at your favorite table, have a look on the menu and decided what you would like to have. Waiter came to your table and asked you what you've like to have.

• You launched your favorite browser and decide what you're gonna surf for.

And you say you would like to start of with some coffee and bread.

• You typed a URL to your browser address bar and hit ENTER button.

Waiter nods his head, quickly moves to the restaurant kitchen and hands the order to the head chef.

• Your browser sends your request to router/ISP.

Head chef ordered one of the chef to make your meal.

• Router examines and redirect your request to the appropriate server.

Your meal was ready, chef handed it to the head waiter.

• Server proceeded your request and reply the result back to your ISP.

Head waiter passed it to the waiter.

• ISP routes the result to your browser.

Waiter checks if your orders are correct and finally, you are served with coffee and bread.

• Browser received the result, decode it and display it to you.

More understandable?

    I wrote this article from my re-reading of HTML Complete from Sybex, which is really a good piece of work. If you're interested in web creation, and a beginner, this is a good book to start with, as it covers not only HTML but also XHTML, DHTML and CSS. As for advanced user, this is...well, quite outdated (no new revision).