Assignment 3
Today's Objectives:
1. Understand and identify the parts of a web address.
2. Know how to enter addresses into the address box.
Directions: Read through the following information and follow the hyperlinks to clarify any definitions.
Parts of a Web Address
The Internet uses a standard addressing scheme called the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to locate and cite information.
A URL contains all of the information a web browser needs to locate a file anywhere on the web and bring it back to your computer. Here are two examples of URLs: the first example is an Internet provider. The second example takes us to the same Internet provider and the web space that the St. Clair County Center for Council on Aging uses.
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Protocol
A URL starts by naming the protocol that is to be used. A Protocol is a method for transmitting data between computers.
On the web there are several such standard methods. The one you will encounter the most is http://-- (hypertext transfer protocol) the protocol that tells computers the procedure for transporting hypertext documents on the web.
URLs on the web don't have to use the http:// protocol. Some other URLs you might encounter could start with:
But most URLs that you will encounter will start with http://. It is not always necessary to type in the http:// part of the URL, since improvements are constantly being made to make Internet technology easier for us to use. For example, most internet sites begin with http://www, and end with .com. Microsoft is a common destination. To arrive at the Microsoft home page, all you need to is type in "microsoft" and press the Control Key and Enter Key at the same time. This is called a shortcut and is part of the Internet Explorer browser.
Host Name
The next thing the URL tells you is the name of the server that hosts the file you want. In this case the server is named www.firststep.net. The name of the server, usually the same as the organization's name, ends with the domain type, or the type of organization. Some domain types are:
.com is for commercial organizations for example, the web address for JC Penney is http://www.jcpenney.com. (About 77 % of all web sites are .com sites).
.net is used for businesses that exist only on the internet. There will be no commercial headquarters for .net businesses. (About 15% of all sites are .net sites).
.org is for any non-profit organizations. For example, the URL for the United Way of America is http://www.unitedway.org. (About 8% of all sites are .org sites).
.edu is for a four year college or university. For example, the University of Michigan's web address is http://www.umich.edu
.gov is for a U.S. government agency. For example, the White House URL is http://whitehouse.gov
A public school that has a website will end with .k12.
You can find out if a domain name is used, or still available at the website www.networksolutions.com.
Directory
The Host name ending is usually followed by a slash which then leads either directly to a file, or through one or more directories (folders on Macintosh computers) until you get to the file.
File Name
The file itself is named default.htm (each file name is named specifically by the creator of the specific site you are visiting. In my case, I try to do it logically. Look at the address line right now; it says int3.htm which stands for Internet Assignment 3)
(The default page is the first page your computer opens when it visits our web site. The computer has to know which page to open first and it looks for one called default or index. In our case, we called our first page default.)
Going to a particular web page
(This is just an example of an address line, use the one on your browser which is above this picture--remember this is an instructinal site.)
**You can go to a particular web site by typing its exact URL or web address in the Address Box. Let's try to type in a new address in our address box. You must first select all of the text in the address box by single clicking on the address line--this will turn the address line blue. You can immediately type the new address or you can delete the old address by using your backspace key. Then type in
(this is a place on the Internet where you are given a special message)
*You can use your back key on the toolbar to navigate back to this site after visiting the above site.
Another interesting site to visit to learn how to use the Internet is net.TUTOR Ohio State University. To get there, type in the following URL in the address box or just follow the link by clicking on it:
http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor
(you have to type it exactly as you see it if you don't follow the link.)
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