the world wide web

The World Wide Web (www) is an Internet service that provides connectivity between computers. The www uses 'pages' linked to other pages. A web page can be just text or it can look like a magazine with a combination of text and pictures. The links create connections to other web pages. These might be on the same computer, or on computers anywhere in the world. The WWW breaks down geographic barriers. There are no regulations, no visas or passports needed to gain access to computers connected to the Internet.

Clicking on a link results in things like:

• another web page being displayed
• a graphic being displayed
• a file being downloaded
• a sound or video being played
• or whatever programming can be imagined.

Sometimes it is possible to predict what will happen by the information given on the page. Sometimes, a badly designed page leaves out some information and the results of clicking on a link can be unpredictable. You learn the tricks by trial and error.