How websites work

What happens when you open a website? Let's look behind the screen.

When you visit a website

You type a website's address, or tap a link. Your browser sends a request across the internet, asking for that page. A server, a computer that holds the website, sends back the files. And your browser reads those files and builds the page on your screen, all in a second or two.

The three languages of the web

H T M L describes the content and structure, the headings, paragraphs, pictures and links. C S S describes the style, the colours, fonts and layout. And JavaScript adds behaviour, like buttons that do something when you tap them. Think of a website like a house. H T M L is the walls and rooms. C S S is the paint and decoration. And JavaScript is the electricity that makes things work, like the lights and the switches.

HTML uses tags

H T M L uses tags inside angle brackets. H one means the biggest heading. Most tags come in pairs, an opening tag, and a closing tag with a slash. P means a paragraph. And A makes a link. The h ref part says where the link goes.

New word: Domain name

A domain name is a website's address, like Tokanny Faith Foundation dot org. People pay a small yearly fee for a domain name, then connect it to a server that holds their website.

Quick check

Quick check. Which language controls colours and fonts? C S S, the style language of the web. Options: CSS; HTML; JavaScript; English.

Recap

Your browser asks a server for the page, and the server sends the files. H T M L is the content. C S S is the style. And JavaScript is the behaviour.

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