Ryan Harijanto It is very common for people to use the two terms interchangeably, mistakenly thinking that they refer to the same thing. In fact, they are not the same.
The Internet is a network that connects all computers in the world together.
The Web is one of many ways of accessing information over the Internet, that is very popular and widely used throughout the world.
Analogy
Here’s an analogy: the Internet is like the postal service.
| Postal Service | The Internet |
|---|---|
| The postal service provides the infrastructure that connects different buildings together. | The Internet provides the infrastructure that connects computers together. |
| It has certain rules (place the stamp on the outside of the envelope/package, return address goes on the top left corner, etc.). | It has certain rules (how information should be structured and transmitted). The rules are called the Internet Protocol. |
| Each building on the system is identified by a standardized address (which is assigned by an authoritative entity). | Each computer connected to theInternet is identified by an IP address (which is assigned by an authoritative entity). |
| But the postal service alone isn’t meaningful or useful without senders, recipients, envelopes/packages, and letters/package content(each has its own set of rules and protocol). | But the Internet alone isn’t meaningful or useful without computers, web browsers, and web pages (each has its own set of rules and protocol). |
| There are different kinds of packaging you can use to mail things, for example: bubble mailers, boxes, and envelopes. Each intended to carry different type of content (letters, posters, etc.). | There are different protocols you can use to transmit information over the Internet, for example the Web (HTTP), and Email (SMTP). Each intended to transmit different type of information (text, image, video, email, etc.). |
There are many others…
The World Wide Web is just ONE use of the Internet, a very popular one, but it’s just one of many other uses. Here are some popular uses of the Internet:
| Use | Example Protocol | Example Application |
|---|---|---|
| World Wide Web | Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) | Google Chrome |
| Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) | Microsoft Outlook | |
| Instant Messaging | Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) | Apple iMessage |
| File Transfer | File Transfer Protocol (FTP) | Filezilla |
| Voice Calling | Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) | Windows Messenger |
History of the Internet and the Web (Abridged)
- 1960s: U.S. Department of Defense funded the development of ARPANET, the first network to implement the Internet Protocol (IP) – the same protocol that is being used in the modern Internet we use today.
- 1980s: the academic community and the military began using the Internet.
- 1989: Tim Berners-Lee invented HTML, URI, and HTTP.
- 1990s: the participation of businesses/commercial entities on the Internet marks the beginning of the modern Internet.
- mid to late 1990s: rapid growth of the Internet in western countries and developing world.
){kind=link}
Never miss new posts
Get the latest tech innovation news from Ryan delivered straight to your inbox!
Ryan Harijanto
Head of Engineering. Former Sr. Engineer @Netflix , @HotelTonight , @Shutterstock. Previously a Senior Systems Engineer at Netflix, currently technology advisor and board member for emerging companies. Diverse technological knowledge and understanding of various industries.