How a Website Works
Ever wonder how a website makes it to your computer? Well, several things happen after you enter or click on a web address, I’ll explain.
First let’s start with that web address, actually it is called a URL (Universal Resource Locator) and has 3 basic parts. Part one is the “protocol” (http, ftp). Think of this as the instruction set of the requested document. Second is the server name (www.lonebird.com). And third, the name of the file requested (index.html).
When you hit enter you computer sends a request for this address to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) who forwards it to DNS.
What is DNS? Only the most important part of the Internet and yet, almost invisible.
Domain Name Servers store the location of websites. If one server does not know the address of a website it forwards the request down the line to the next one. This happens until one responds with an IP address (street address of the website) and sends your request to that server where the site is stored. This, in turn sends the information to your computer. The DNS system forms one of the largest and most active distributed databases on the planet. Without DNS, the Internet would shut down very quickly.
The real amazing part is how fast the process completes. You can click on a web address located on the opposite side of the world and have the information in seconds. Even if you have dial up and it takes half a minute, it is still pretty amazing when you consider what has to be done.
So the next time you are tapping your foot waiting for a page to load just remember your request may have had to search the world to find it.
Author Chris Kaminski is head web designer at Lone Bird Studio, an Asheville web design and SEO company located in North Carolina.
First let’s start with that web address, actually it is called a URL (Universal Resource Locator) and has 3 basic parts. Part one is the “protocol” (http, ftp). Think of this as the instruction set of the requested document. Second is the server name (www.lonebird.com). And third, the name of the file requested (index.html).
When you hit enter you computer sends a request for this address to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) who forwards it to DNS.
What is DNS? Only the most important part of the Internet and yet, almost invisible.
Domain Name Servers store the location of websites. If one server does not know the address of a website it forwards the request down the line to the next one. This happens until one responds with an IP address (street address of the website) and sends your request to that server where the site is stored. This, in turn sends the information to your computer. The DNS system forms one of the largest and most active distributed databases on the planet. Without DNS, the Internet would shut down very quickly.
The real amazing part is how fast the process completes. You can click on a web address located on the opposite side of the world and have the information in seconds. Even if you have dial up and it takes half a minute, it is still pretty amazing when you consider what has to be done.
So the next time you are tapping your foot waiting for a page to load just remember your request may have had to search the world to find it.
Author Chris Kaminski is head web designer at Lone Bird Studio, an Asheville web design and SEO company located in North Carolina.
Labels: Internet Info
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