Differences between the Internet & WWW (College Board AP® Computer Science Principles): Study Guide
The Internet & the World Wide Web
What is the World Wide Web?
The World Wide Web (WWW) is a system of linked pages, programs, and files that uses the Internet
Web pages are connected to each other through hyperlinks, allowing users to navigate between related content
The Web operates using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), a protocol that defines how web browsers request and receive content from web servers
Web and Internet relationship
The Internet is the network of interconnected computing devices that provides the infrastructure for data transmission
The World Wide Web is a service that runs on top of the Internet
The Internet existed before the Web and supports many other services beyond it (e.g., email, file transfer, video streaming)
Without the Internet, the Web could not function, but the Internet can operate without the Web
Term | What it is | Role |
|---|---|---|
Internet | Global network of interconnected computing devices | Provides the infrastructure for data transmission |
World Wide Web | System of linked pages, programs, and files accessed via HTTP | A service that uses the Internet to deliver content |
HTTP | A protocol used by the World Wide Web | Defines how web content is requested and delivered |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A common exam question asks students to distinguish between the Internet and the Web. Remember: the Internet is a computer network of interconnected computing devices; the World Wide Web is a system of linked pages, programs, and files that uses the Internet; and HTTP is a protocol used by the Web.
For the CPT, your program may use web-based resources or APIs that rely on HTTP to send and receive data; understanding this relationship helps you explain how your program interacts with external services in your written response.
Worked Example
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Internet and the World Wide Web?
(A) The Internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing
(B) The World Wide Web is the infrastructure that the Internet runs on
(C) The Internet is a network infrastructure, and the World Wide Web is a service that operates on it
(D) The World Wide Web connects devices, and the Internet links web pages together
[1]
Answer:
(C) The Internet is a network infrastructure, and the World Wide Web is a service that operates on it [1 mark]
The Internet is a network of interconnected computing devices that provides the infrastructure for data transmission. The World Wide Web is a system of linked pages, programs, and files that uses the Internet — and HTTP is a protocol used by the Web.
Unlock more, it's free!
Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:
Was this revision note helpful?
