Module 1: Title

Introduction To Web
Programming and
Development

1
 Module 1:Overview

•This module introduces the fundamentals of

web programming, focusing on server-side
development, HTTP communication, and the
basic architecture of web applications.

2
 Learning Outcomes
•By the end of this module, the students
should be able to:
• Understand the structure and functioning of
web applications and servers.
• Develop basic server-side scripts using web
development technologies.
• Apply HTTP protocols in designing interactive
web applications.
• Demonstrate awareness of web security basics
and best practices.
3
 Structure of Web
Applications
o Client-Side (Frontend):
 User Interface (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
 Client-Side Logic
 Web Browser
o Server-Side (Backend):
 Web Server
 Application Logic
 Databases
o API:
 REST, for communication

4
 Structure of Web Servers

 Key Components of Web Servers

o Operating System (Linux, Windows Server)
o Web Server Software (Apache, Nginx)
o Application Server (PHP, Node.js, Python)
o Database Server (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
o Security Features (SSL/TLS, Firewalls)

5
 Functioning of Web
Applications and Servers
• How Web Applications Work
• Client Request to Server
• Server Processes Request (Static or
Dynamic)
• Response sent to Client (HTML, JSON)
• Example: Form Submission

6
 Request-Response Cycle

• Understanding the Request-Response Cycle

•HTTP Request from Client
•Processing by Web Server
•Generating Response from Application
Server
•Response Back to Client

7
 Stateless
Communication
•Stateless Nature of Web Applications
•HTTP is Stateless
•Sessions and Cookies for Tracking State
•JWT Tokens for Authentication

8
 Caching and Scalability

•Enhancing Performance and Scalability

•Caching at Browser, CDN, and Server Levels

•Horizontal and Vertical Scaling of Servers
•Load Balancing for High Traffic

9
 Conclusion

•Key Takeaways
•Web applications consist of client-side,
server-side, and database components.
•Web servers are responsible for handling
requests and serving responses.
•Scalability and caching are crucial for
performance in modern web applications.

10
 An Introduction to Server-
Side Scripting for Web
Development
•Overview
• What is Server-Side Scripting?
• Common Server-Side Languages
• PHP: Basics and Syntax
• Python with Flask or Django
• Node.js with Express
• Handling Forms and Databases

11
What is Server-Side Scripting?

•Understanding Server-Side Scripting

• Server-side scripts are executed on the server
before the response is sent to the client.
• It allows dynamic content, database interactions,
and backend processing.
• Client-side vs. Server-side roles in a web app.
• Common server-side tasks: Authentication, Data
Storage, Dynamic Content.

12
 Common Server-Side
Languages
•Popular Server-Side Languages
• PHP: Widely used for web applications, especially
with MySQL.
• Python: Popular frameworks include Django and
Flask.
• Node.js (JavaScript): Uses Express for creating
server-side applications.
• Ruby: Ruby on Rails framework.
• ASP.NET: C#-based server-side technology by
Microsoft

13
PHP: Basics and Syntax
• Introduction to PHP
• Embedded within HTML to handle server-side logic.
• Interacts well with MySQL for database management.
• Basic Syntax:
• php
• <?php
• echo "Hello, World!";
• ?>
• Benefits: Easy to learn, flexible, widely supported.

14
Python with Flask or Django

• Python for Server-Side Scripting

• Flask: Lightweight framework for small projects.
• Django: Full-stack framework with built-in admin
panel, ORM, and more.
• Python's simplicity and rich libraries make it
powerful for web applications.

15
 Node.js with Express
• JavaScript for Server-Side (Node.js)
• Uses JavaScript for both client-side and server-
side scripting.
• Express.js: A fast, unopinionated web framework
for Node.js.
• Benefits: Non-blocking, event-driven
architecture.

16
 Benefits of Server-Side
Scripting

•Why Use Server-Side Scripting?

•Dynamic and Interactive Websites
•Data Storage and Management
•Enhanced Security (handling sensitive data)
•Integration with APIs and Web Services

17
 Conclusion

•Key Takeaways
•Server-side scripting allows for dynamic
web applications.
•Common languages: PHP, Python, Node.js.
•Handling forms and databases are core
tasks in server-side scripts.

18
HTTP Protocols in Designing
Interactive Web Applications
•Overview
• Introduction to HTTP Protocol
• HTTP Request and Response Structure
• HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
• HTTP Status Codes
• Sessions, Cookies, and Authentication
• HTTPS and Secure Communication
• HTTP in Modern Web Applications

19
 Introduction to HTTP
•What is HTTP?
•Stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol
•A request-response protocol used for
communication between web clients
(browsers) and servers
•Stateless by design
•Foundation of data exchange on the World
Wide Web

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HTTP Request and Response
Structure
•HTTP Request and Response Flow
• Subheading 1: HTTP Request Structure
• Method (GET, POST, etc.)
• URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
• Headers (Metadata such as Content-Type, Authorization)
• Body (Data sent with POST, PUT)
• Subheading 2: HTTP Response Structure
• Status Line (e.g., HTTP/1.1 200 OK)
• Headers (Content-Type, Set-Cookie, etc.)
• Body (HTML, JSON, etc.)

21
 HTTP Methods
•HTTP Request Methods
•GET: Retrieve data from the server (e.g.,
accessing a webpage)
•POST: Send data to the server to create or
update a resource (e.g., form submission)
•PUT: Update a specific resource
•DELETE: Remove a specific resource
•Other Methods: PATCH, OPTIONS, HEAD

22
 HTTP Status Codes
•Understanding HTTP Status Codes
• 1xx: Informational (e.g., 100 Continue)
• 2xx: Success (e.g., 200 OK, 201 Created)
• 3xx: Redirection (e.g., 301 Moved Permanently,
302 Found)
• 4xx: Client Errors (e.g., 404 Not Found, 403
Forbidden).
• 5xx: Server Errors (e.g., 500 Internal Server Error,
503 Service Unavailable)

23
 Sessions, Cookies, and
Authentication
•Managing State in HTTP (Sessions and
Cookies)
• Cookies: Small pieces of data stored on the
client-side to maintain state
• Sessions: Server-side mechanism to track user
information
• Authentication: HTTP methods (e.g., Basic,
Bearer tokens) for identifying users
• Example: Session IDs, JWT tokens

24
 HTTPS and Secure
Communication
•Securing HTTP with HTTPS
•HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)
ensures encrypted communication
•Uses SSL/TLS to protect data in transit
•Benefits: Data integrity, Authentication,
Confidentiality
•SSL Certificates: Issued by trusted
Certificate Authorities (CAs)

25
 HTTP in Modern Web
Applications
•Role of HTTP in Interactive Web Applications
• AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML): Allows web
pages to send and receive data without refreshing
• RESTful APIs: Use HTTP methods for creating, reading,
updating, and deleting resources
• WebSockets: Real-time communication by maintaining an
open connection between the client and server
• API Authentication: OAuth, JWT in HTTP headers for
secure API access

26
 HTTP in Interactive Web
Design
• How HTTP Enhances Interactivity
• AJAX: Enabling real-time data updates without reloading
the page
• SPAs (Single Page Applications): Use HTTP to fetch data
dynamically using frameworks like React, Angular, Vue
• Web API Integration: Leveraging HTTP to fetch and send
data to remote services (e.g., weather apps, social media
feeds)
• HTTP/2 and HTTP/3: Faster and more efficient HTTP
versions for real-time interactivity

27
 Conclusion

•Key Takeaways
• HTTP is essential for communication in web
applications.
• HTTP methods and status codes are crucial for
managing requests and responses.
• Secure communication with HTTPS is
fundamental for protecting data.
• HTTP-based technologies like AJAX and Web
Sockets power interactive, real-time web apps

28
Web Security Basics and Best
Practices
•Overview
• Introduction to Web Security
• Common Web Security Threats
• Best Practices for Securing Web Applications
• Security in Development: Secure Coding
• User Authentication and Access Control
• Data Protection and Encryption
• Regular Monitoring and Patching

29
Introduction to Web Security

•Why Web Security Matters

•Web applications are constantly targeted
by attackers.
•Security vulnerabilities can lead to data
breaches, financial loss, and reputation
damage.
•Protecting sensitive data and ensuring user
privacy are paramount

30
 Common Web Security
Threats
•Key Web Application Security Threats
• 1: Injection Attacks
• SQL Injection: Attacker inserts malicious SQL statements into input
fields.
• Command Injection: Execution of arbitrary commands on the server.
• 2: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
• Malicious scripts are injected into web pages viewed by users.
• 3: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
• Unauthorized commands are sent from a user to a web application.
• 4: Session Hijacking
• Attacker steals or manipulates a session token to impersonate a user.

31
 Best Practices for Securing
Web Applications
• Core Web Security Best Practices
• Input Validation: Sanitize and validate all user inputs to
prevent injections.
• Authentication and Authorization: Implement strong
user authentication and fine-grained access control.
• HTTPS Everywhere: Ensure all communication is
encrypted using HTTPS.
• Error Handling: Avoid revealing sensitive information in
error messages.
• Security Headers: Use HTTP security headers (e.g.,
Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options).

32
 Security in Development:
Secure Coding
•Secure Coding Practices
• Principle of Least Privilege: Limit permissions for
users and services to only what is necessary.
• Code Reviews and Security Testing: Regularly
review and test code for vulnerabilities.
• Use Prepared Statements: Avoid dynamic SQL
queries; use parameterized queries.
• Input Sanitization: Ensure proper input filtering,
especially for file uploads and form submissions

33
 User Authentication and
Access Control
•Authentication and Authorization
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of
security beyond just passwords.
• Password Policies: Enforce strong passwords and periodic
changes.
• OAuth and OpenID Connect: Use modern authentication
frameworks for secure user identity management.
• Session Management: Secure session cookies, and ensure
session expiration and revocation mechanisms are in
place.

34
 Data Protection and
Encryption
• Data Protection Techniques

• Encryption in Transit: Use SSL/TLS to encrypt data sent

over the network.
• Encryption at Rest: Encrypt sensitive data stored on the
server (e.g., user passwords, payment information).
• Secure Hashing: Use strong cryptographic algorithms
(e.g., bcrypt, Argon2) for hashing passwords.
• Database Encryption: Implement encryption at the
database level to protect sensitive information

35
 Regular Monitoring and
Patching
• Continuous Monitoring and Patch Management
• Regular Security Audits: Conduct vulnerability
scans and penetration testing.
• Patch Management: Apply security updates and
patches promptly to close known vulnerabilities.
• Logging and Monitoring: Implement logging of
key events and real-time monitoring of suspicious
activities.
• Incident Response Plan: Have a plan in place for
dealing with security breaches and incidents

36
 Web Security Tools

• Security Tools to Strengthen Web Applications

• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Protect web
apps by filtering and monitoring HTTP requests.
• Security Scanners: Use tools like OWASP ZAP,
Nikto, or Burp Suite to identify vulnerabilities.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Detect and
respond to potential attacks on your network and
web servers.

37
 Conclusion

•Key Takeaways
• Web security is critical to protect sensitive data
and ensure privacy.
• Best practices include secure coding,
authentication, encryption, and regular
monitoring.
• Stay vigilant by keeping applications updated and
regularly auditing for vulnerabilities.

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 The end
Thank you

9/29/2024 39