With so many digital technologies, resources, and strategies at hand in the digital world, there are all kinds of terminologies to keep up with, many of which get mixed up and misunderstood. “The internet” and “the web” are perfect examples. Here’s how to get them straight.
The Network of Networks
Before we had the World Wide Web, we had the internet. It developed out of a need for computer networks at various institutions and establishments to share information with one another across long distances. While several computers linked to one another locally would comprise a single network, the term “internet” refers to a massive super-network of interconnected networks. Information is exchanged in various ways, and this is made possible through protocols. These are standard methods by which data is transmitted between systems. Without them, data couldn’t get anywhere and we wouldn’t have the internet!
Surfing the Web
If we were to think of the internet as the entire system of data exchanged between computers and computer networks around the world, we would think of the World Wide Web as one means of accessing certain pieces of that data. The Web uses a protocol for accessing and transmitting data called HTTP. This data is displayed in the form of web sites as viewed through web browsers, all connected to one another via hyperlinks. It’s basically the information within the internet that we access, view, and share every day. Meanwhile, things like email data or banking data are transferred over the internet in a way that isn’t directly and openly visible via the World Wide Web.
Knowing Your Stuff
While it may seem like an overly technical distinction, the truth is that it’s important to understand today’s digital marketing concepts clearly in order to stay sharp and savvy when it comes to your marketing plan. “The internet” and “the web” are often mistakenly interchanged with one another as terms, and accurate usage of these and other forms of vocabulary is a big part of modernizing and optimizing your business. When you know your stuff, you can make truly intelligent use of technology to grow and reach more people!
Keeping your business modernized isn’t quite possible without a truly modern marketing plan. The CAYK team is always at the cutting edge of today’s marketing technologies, so give us a call at (403) 456-0072 to find out how we can keep you there too!
