The Learning Ladder Computer Basics Module

Part 5: Using the Internet

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers. Today, people use the Internet for everything from electronic mail to shopping, from learning to entertainment.

What is the World Wide Web?

The World Wide Web is a very popular part of the Internet. It allows people to make web pages (like this one) that have words, pictures, and even video. Web pages can be read by anybody using a computer connected to the Internet, anywhere in the world!

Also, web pages can connect to each other by using hyperlinks. Hyperlinks are what you click to move from page to page, or even from website to website. This reminded some people of a spiderweb, so it was nicknamed "the Web".

The "web" was invented by scientists who wanted a way to show their work to each other over long distances using their computers. Today, the web is used for business, shopping, entertainment, travel, education - just about everything.

In fact, the web has grown so big that people sometimes incorrectly use the term "Internet" to mean the web. There are many kinds of activities that happen on the Internet, including electronic mail and bulletin boards, but the web is definitely the fastest-growing and richest part of the Internet.

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