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Let’s begin by admitting that the majority of us have used the terms “Internet” and “Web” interchangeably. When browsing through cat memes or placing an online pizza order, you most likely say, “I’m on the Internet.” However, surprise! The Web and the Internet are not synonymous. They’re not exactly the same, but they’re more like cousins.
Consider the Web as one of the packages that the Internet delivers, and the Internet itself as the invisible delivery system. The Web is merely one stream of data moving through a vast subterranean network of pipes, much like the Internet itself. It’s similar to confusing Spotify with your car’s engine in that while both allow the other to function, they are not the same thing.
The Internet: What Is It?
Imagine a vast network of computers, cables, satellites, and wireless connections that spans the entire planet. The Internet is that. From your phone to your grandmother’s sluggish laptop, it connects everything. In essence, it is the framework that enables communication between various computers.
Back in the 1960s, when phones had cords and color TVs were glitzy, the Internet was born. The foundation was set by a project named ARPANET, which sounds like a bad guy in a science fiction film. It was made to allow computers to communicate with one another even in the event that a system component failed. And you know what? The Internet was born out of that geeky little project.
You are therefore using the Internet when you send emails, stream videos, or check your cloud storage. Emails, files, phone conversations, and even your strangely specialized Google searches, like “how to peel a mango with a spoon,” are all handled by it.
What is the Web, then?
Well, the portion of the Internet that most people use is the World Wide Web. It’s what you can access through your browser (hello, Chrome, Firefox, or that one guy who still uses Internet Explorer). The Web is made up of pages, blogs, streaming platforms, memes, and websites.
The Web was created in 1989 to facilitate information sharing among researchers by Tim Berners-Lee, a man who is deserving of more than a thank-you card. He developed the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and a hyperlinking system for documents. All of a sudden, you could click between documents. Boom! The Web was created by them. Conspiracy theories and cat videos were also posted shortly after.
Consequently, links are used to connect the Web’s pages, and web pages make up websites.
The Web is the collection of roadside attractions if the Internet is the highway system. Some, like Wikipedia, are helpful. Some are dubious, such as the blog that asserts pigeons are government drones.
Hold on, what exactly is email?
Excellent query! The Web does not include email. Isn’t that shocking? It uses protocols like SMTP, POP3, or IMAP to move over the Internet. It is comparable to the postal service on the Internet. Although we typically use web browsers to access email, it doesn’t require the Web to function. However, it’s taking a completely different path under the hood. Like a digital rebel.
The same is true for services like video calls, online gaming, and file transfers (FTP). They all use the Internet, though not necessarily the Web. You and your friends could still play Minecraft even if the Internet went down. You mean priorities?
The Broad View
This is the synopsis, then:
Internet = The physical and logical infrastructure that connects computers and devices worldwide.
Web = An Internet-based service that allows users to access websites and web pages through browsers.
In other words, the Web is a subset of the Internet. Not everything you do is “on the Web.” Pretending to be online while using an app like Spotify is similar to pretending to read a book when you’re actually just hugging it. It’s a pleasant sentiment, but not quite true.
A Few Amusing Comparisons (Because Why Not?)
- The Web is a tasty topping on pizza dough. Perhaps email is the cheese. FTP? Perhaps that strange anchovy that everyone keeps bringing up.
- The highway system is the Internet. The cars on the Web are the vehicles. The mail truck is email. Netflix is a party bus.
- Your body’s nervous system is the Internet. Your sense of sight is all that the Web is. You would still be able to function without it, but it would be less colorful.
Finally (Before We Go Down a Rabbit Hole)
The next time someone says, “I was on the Internet,” you can ask in jest, “Oh, do you mean the Web?” And in silence, feel like a genius. You can anticipate a few eye rolls.
Knowing the difference could make you appear more intelligent at parties, but you will still click, stream, and scroll in your daily life. or at least somewhat less perplexed when talking about technology.
Additionally, don’t panic if the Internet goes down. Simply step outside. There’s another “web” out there with spiders.
