How the web actually gets to you
Typing an address starts a short conversation between machines. Knowing the steps makes debugging anything online much less mysterious.
Part of your national curriculum
- Computer systems and networks: Understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
- Computer systems and networks: Understand how computer networks, including the internet, can provide multiple services such as the World Wide Web
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Describe how web pages are requested and delivered
Key learning points
- • Request and response
- • Client and server
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 13 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 13
Visual introductionPicture this
How the web actually gets to you
Typing an address starts a short conversation between machines. Knowing the steps makes debugging anything online much less mysterious.
In a nutshell
Describe how web pages are requested and delivered
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 13
Learn
Request and response
The browser looks up the domain through DNS, opens a connection to the server, sends an HTTP request, and receives HTML, CSS, images and scripts back.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 13
Learn
Client and server
The server decides what to send; the browser decides how to display it. HTTPS encrypts the exchange so others on the network cannot read it.
Reset break
Part 4 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 13
Quick check
Part 6 of 13
Quick check
Part 7 of 13
Reset break
Part 8 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 13
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 13
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
The browser looks up the domain through DNS, opens a connection to the server, sends an HTTP ____, and receives HTML, CSS, images and scripts back.
Challenge round
Part 11 of 13
Game · Recall cards
DNS turns a domain name into…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 12 of 13
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: How the web actually gets to you
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. DNS turns a domain name into…
2. Data crosses the internet in…
3. The browser's job is to…
4. HTTPS mainly provides…
Lesson round-up
Part 13 of 13
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 13 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
- Not looked at yet
Understand how computer networks, including the internet, can provide multiple services such as the World Wide Web