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Web Programming Primer

-Introduction-








Introduction

Before learning the languages of web programming, let's take a quick second to go over some definitions, so that you have a more solid foundation. This introduction should aid in you comprehension of everything to follow. Also, if you get stuck on a lesson, a concept, or a word, check out our glossary, it should help clear up your confusion, and if not, we encourage you to search for your answer online, there are endless amounts of resources that may help you to better understand what you are struggling with. Let the learning begin.


What is the web?

A collection of hypertext files, shared between computer systems.

What is hypertext?

Hypertext is concept of text that can be dynamic. This means rather than regular, linear text, there can be links and interaction.

What is a web browser?

It is an application that takes a user's request of a URL (or website name), sends out a request, receives the file if successful , and then interprets and displays the file. This is what happens every time a new page is loaded or refreshed.

When the web was established, people started sharing these hypertext files like crazy. It was soon realized that there needed to be standards, guidelines, and rules that everyone went by, so that there would be form and so that the web browsers would be able to understand, interpret, and display every file that was requested. So, the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) was formed and began to set standards. These included standards on the minimum requirements of a file and set in place HTML/XHTML. So, that is where all these things that we are going to learn came from, and that is what we are going to learn.


What is HTML/XHTML

HTML stands for "HyperText Markup Language." We already discussed what hypertext is, so this is a language/a system/a procedure used to markup or construct hypertext. It is the foundation/the building that we house the content of the page in.
Just work your way through the lessons, if this still doesn't make any sense to you, and it will eventually click. You don't necessarily have to totally understand it if you can operate it. Understanding will come.

Lesson: Intro 1 2 3 4 5
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This page was constructed by Isaac Duke, a student of Anderson University, for an independent study in web programming. This is not a fully comprehensive primer, so use in conjunction with other resources (resource page provided). The last time this site has been updated was on August 20, 2013. If any questions, email misaacduke@gmail.com