Web vs. Internet

Web vs. Internet

Content vs. transport. Many people use the terms Web and Internet synonymously. In casual conversation such as "I was on the Internet" or "I was on the Web," there is no difference. However, the Web is only one of the many services deployed on the Internet. Just as cargo is transported in a truck on a highway, a Web page is transported in packets on the Internet.

Not Just Web Pages
Every form of information travels over the Internet, including Web pages, email messages, newsgroup news, instant messages as well as audio, video and data files of all description. Countless client-to-server and client-to-client (peer-to-peer) applications use the Internet as the transport between sending and receiving stations.

IP Packets
When information is sent over the Internet, it is first broken apart, and each part is placed inside an electronic package called an "IP packet" (Internet Protocol packet). At the receiving end, the data are removed from the packets and reassembled back into their original format. See World Wide Web, Internet, packet switching, IP and TCP/IP.

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.