What is the Difference Between Internet and the World Wide Web? with Proper Definition and Brief Explanation

The main difference between them is that the Internet refers to hardware while the World Wide Web refers to software.

The terms Internet and World Wide Web are used interchangeably, but they do have a difference. The Internet is a huge network of networks. It is the massive computer network that connects devices using copper wires, wireless networks, or fiber optic cables. On the other hand, World Wide Web (WWW) is a large collection of web pages. These pages are linked to each other by hyperlinks. In short, the World Wide Web is a service provided by the Internet.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is the Internet?
     – Definition, Use
2. What is the World Wide Web?
     – Definition, Usage
3. Difference Between Internet and World Wide Web?
     – Key Differences Comparison

Key terms

 Internet, World Wide Web

What is internet

The Internet is a global system that interconnects computer networks around the world. Connect devices using copper cables, wireless networks, or fiber optic cables. It uses the TCP/IP protocol for data communication. This network consists of various devices such as computers, routers, hubs, switches, repeaters, and many more. Every device on the Internet has a unique IP address to identify the device.

The Internet allows users to exchange information and resources instantly. It is a public network; therefore, anyone can access the internet. In general, it is a large network of networks connecting business, academic, government, and non-government networks.

What is the World Wide Web?

World Wide Web (WWW) is an application that runs on the Internet. It refers to the great connection of web pages. These pages are linked by hyperlinks. Therefore, the user can visit from one page to another to easily access the required information. A combination of related web pages is called a website.

A web browser and HTTP protocol help to access web pages or websites on the World Wide Web. The HTTP protocol is a set of rules for transferring files such as text, images, audio, video, and other multimedia files on the WWW. There are various categories of web pages and websites available on the World Wide Web. Some common categories are academic, e-commerce, social media…

Key Differences

Definition

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the TCP/IP protocol to link devices around the world. World Wide Web refers to online content that is formatted in HTML and accessed through the HTTP protocol.

Functionality

Internet is a massive interconnection of computer networks around the world while the other one is a service provided by the Internet.

Protocols

The Internet uses Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). On the other hand, World Wide Web uses Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

Conclusion

Although many people confuse them to be the same, there is a clear difference between them. The Internet refers to hardware, while the other one refers to software. In short, the World Wide Web is an application that runs on the internet.

Reference:

1. “What is the World Wide Web (WWW)? – Definition of WhatIs.com. WhatIs.com, available here.
2. “Internet”. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, June 27, 2018, Available here.

Courtesy image:

1. “Réprésentation d’internet” By Vector Background – (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “982050” (CC0) via Pixabay

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