A website works by following a series of steps that involve multiple components, including the user’s device, the internet, and the server hosting the website. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how a website functions:
- User Input: The process begins when a user enters a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into their web browser. The URL is the address of the website and specifies the location of the resource on the internet.
- Domain Name System (DNS) Lookup: The browser performs a DNS lookup to find the IP address of the server that hosts the website. The DNS acts like an address book for websites.
- Establishing Connection: Once the IP address is obtained, the browser establishes a connection with the server using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). TCP/IP is like the transport mechanisms that allow data to travel across the internet.
- HTTP Request: After the connection is established, the browser sends an HTTP request to the server asking for the website’s data. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the application protocol that defines how data should be exchanged between the client and the server.
- Server Response: The server processes the HTTP request and sends back an HTTP response. If the server approves the client’s request, it sends a “200 OK” message along with the website’s files. These files are sent as a series of small chunks called data packets.
- Rendering the Website: The browser receives the data packets and starts reassembling them into a complete web page. This process involves parsing the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that make up the website. The browser then renders the website according to the instructions in these files.
- Displaying the Website: Finally, the browser displays the completed web page to the user. The user can now interact with the website by entering input, clicking links, or performing other actions.
Remember, the complexity of the website doesn’t change these basic steps. Even complex, interactive websites follow the same fundamental process to display their content to users.