Web Systems and

Services

CHAPTER ONE
Introduction to the Web

BITS College
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2025

Lecturer Name:

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 Outline
📖 In this chapter:
 Introduction to the Web
 Introduction to Web Technology
 Basics of Web services
 Web programming concepts
 Workflow Languages
 Components of Web
 Client web structure and communication
 HTTP protocol and Method

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 Introduction to Web Technology

What is Web?
• The web (World Wide Web) is a global network of interconnected computers that communicate
using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP). It's a vast collection of information, services, and
applications accessible through a web browser.
• The Web consists of information organized into Web pages containing text and graphic images
→ contains hypertext links, or highlighted keywords and images that lead to related
information.
What is Web Technology?
• Collection of tools, methods, and software that are used to create, develop, and maintain
websites and web applications
• About building and delivering content and services over the Internet
Components of Web Technology
Components of Web Technology
Components of Web Technology
Components of Web Technology
 Activity

Activity Questions ?
1.What is the World Wide Web, and how does it facilitate communication between computers?
2.List and explain the main components of web technology mentioned in the presentation. Why is
each component important for web development?
3.Explain the significance of web hosting services.
4.What is a DBMS,
5.what is the difference between web browser and web server ?
Client/ Server Structure of the web
Client/ Server Structure of the web
 Client/ Server Structure of the web

• Client: is a computer or device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, or desktop) that sends requests to a web
server to access web content.
➢ initiates contact with server
➢ typically requests service from server
➢ Web: client implemented in browser

▪ Server: is a computer that stores and delivers web pages and other content in response to requests
from clients.
➢ provides requested service to client
e.g., Web server sends requested Web page
 Client/ Server Structure of the web

• Web client: is a software application (usually a web browser) that runs on a client device and interacts
with web servers to retrieve and display web content.

• Web browser: is a software application that allows users to access and view web pages. Examples
include Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

• Web server: is a computer or software application that handles requests from web clients and delivers
web pages, images, and other content. Examples include
Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS, Node.js, etc
 Client/ Server Structure of the web

• Web Page: is a document or resource of information that is suitable for the World Wide Web
and can be accessed through a web browser.
• Website: A collection of pages on the WWW that is accessible from the same URL and
typically residing on the same server. It is a collection of linked Web pages that has a common
theme or focus.
• Home Page: is the main page that all of the pages on a particular Web site are organized around
and link back to.
• URL (Uniform Resource Locator): the unique address which identifies a resource on the
Internet for routing purposes. The elements in a URL: Protocol://server's address/filename
Example: https://www.bitscollege.edu.et/undergraduate-program/
 Client/ Server Structure of the web

• How is this website made available on the internet?

• These web pages are to be stored in webservers connected to the internet, to be made available
to others?
 Activity

Activity Questions
1. Define the roles of a client and a server in the web environment. How do they interact with each
other?
2. What is a web page? Describe its significance in the context of the web and how it differs from a
website
3. What is a URL, and what are its components
4. Describe a typical interaction between a web client and a web server when a user attempts to access a
web page
Client-Server Communication
Client-Server Communication
 Client-Server Communication

• Clients and servers exchange messages in a request response

messaging pattern.
• The client sends a request, and the server returns a response.
• To communicate, the computers must have a common language,
and they must follow rules so that both the client and the server
know what to expect.
 Client-Server Communication

• User enters the URL of the website or file. The Browser then
requests the DNS Server.
• DNS Server lookup for the address of the WEB Server.
• DNS Server responds with the IP address of the WEB Server.
• Browser sends over an HTTP/HTTPS request to WEB Server’s IP.
• Server sends over the necessary files of the website.
• Browser then renders the files and the website is displayed
 TCP/IP Mode
• The TCP/IP model is a fundamental framework for computer networking, standing for Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol, which are the core protocols of the Internet. It defines how data is transmitted
over networks, ensuring reliable communication between devices. The model consists of four layers:

• Each layer has specific functions that manage different aspects of network communication, making the
model essential for understanding modern networks.
 What Does TCP/IP Do?

• The main work of TCP/IP is to transfer the data of a computer from one device to another.
• The main condition of this process is to make data reliable and accurate so that the receiver will
receive the same information which is sent by the sender.
• To ensure that, each message reaches its final destination accurately, the TCP/IP model divides
its data into packets and combines them at the other end, which helps in maintaining the
accuracy of the data while transferring from one end to another end.
• The TCP/IP model is used in the context of the real-world internet, where a wide range of
physical media and network technologies are in use. Rather than specifying a particular Physical
Layer, the TCP/IP model allows for flexibility in adapting to different physical implementations
 HTTP Protocol

• HTTP is a fundamental protocol of the Internet, enabling

the transfer of data between a client and a server. It is the
foundation of data communication for the WWW.
• HTTP provides a standard between a web Browser and a
web server to establish communication. It is a set of rules for
transferring data from one computer to another.
• Data such as text, images, and other multimedia files are
shared on the WWW. Whenever a web user opens their web
browser, the user indirectly uses HTTP. It is an application
protocol that is used for distributed, collaborative,
hypermedia information systems.
 HTTP Request/Response Method

• HTTP is a request-response protocol where a client, typically a web browser, sends a request to a
server, which then responds accordingly. The cycle consists of the following steps:
• Client Sends Request: The client initiates the process by sending an HTTP request to the server,
which includes:
 Request method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.)
 Target URI (e.g., a URL)
 Headers
 Optional request body
• Server Processes Request: The server receives and processes the request based on the method
and resource, which may involve data retrieval or executing scripts.
 HTTP Methods

HTTP defines several methods for client-server communication, each serving a specific
purpose:
• GET: Retrieves data from a specified resource without causing side effects. Commonly used
for fetching web pages and images.
• POST: Submits data to a resource for processing, suitable for form submissions, file uploads,
and creating new resources.
• PUT: Updates or creates a resource on the server by replacing the entire resource with the
data provided in the request body.
• PATCH: Similar to PUT, but used for making partial modifications to a resource, updating
specific fields instead of replacing the whole resource.
• DELETE: Removes a specified resource from the server.
 Popular Server OS and Web Server

• OS server includes: Linux Distribution: Redhat, OpenSUSE, Debian, Ubuntu, etc) Microsoft
windows Server , FreeBSD, Oracle Solaris etc.
• Web serve Package includes: Apache, Nginx, IIS, Google web server (GWS)
• Other Software Package: FTP, e-mail, DNS, database
Hardware and Software Ports

Hardware Ports

• It is used to connect external device to

the computer.
• These devices communicate with the
computer using these ports
 Hardware and Software Ports

Software Ports

• It is used to connect a client computer to a server

to access its services like HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc
• To distinguish the ports, the software ports are
given unique numbers
• The purpose of software ports is to identify
different service like email, file transfer etc,
running on a single computer.
 Thank You !!!

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