How to access the Internet :once you are on the Internet, your computer becomes an extension of what seems like a giant computer—a computer that branches all over the world. when provided with a connection to the Internet, you can use a browser program to search the web.
Internet service providers are connected to the Internet, providing a path for individuals to access the Internet. Connection technologies include DSL, cable, and wireless modems.
Browsers are programs that provide access to Web resources. This software connects you to remote computers, opens and transfers files, displays text, images, and multimedia, and provides in one tool an uncomplicated interface to the Internet and Web documents.
For browsers to connect to resources, the location or address of the resources must be specified. These addresses are called Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). All URLs have at least two basic parts. The first part presents the protocol used to connect to the resource. Protocols are rules for exchanging data between computers.The second part presents the domain name. It indicates the specific address where the resource is located. Once the browser has connected to the Web site, a document file is sent back to your computer. This document typically contains Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The browser interprets the HTML formatting instructions and displays the document as a Web page. This page presents information about the site along with references and hyperlinks or links that connect to other documents containing related information—text files, graphic images, audio, and video clips.
Web pages also can contain special programming to add interest and activity. A language called javascript is often used to trigger simple interactive features, such as opening new browser windows and checking information entered in online forms. An advanced use of javascript called AJAX can be found on many interactive sites. This technology is used to create interactive Web sites that respond quickly, like traditional desktop application software. applets are written in the Java programming language. These program can be downloaded quickly and run by most browsers. Java applets are used to present animation, display graphics, provide interactive games, and much more.
Today it is common to access the Internet from a variety of mobile devices like cell phones. Special browsers called mobile browsers are designed to run on these portable devices. Unlike a tradition Web browser that is typically displayed on a large screen, a mobile browser is displayed on a very small screen and special navigational tools are required to conveniently view Web content.
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