Anatomy of a Web Page

A web page is an electronic document written in a computer language called HTML, short for Hypertext Markup Language. Each web page has a unique address, called a URL or Uniform Resource Locator that identifies on which web server the document resides.

A website has one or more related web pages, depending on how it's designed. Web pages on a site are linked together through a system of hyperlinks, enabling you to jump between them by clicking on a link.

When you browse the World Wide Web you'll see the term home page often. Think of a home page as the starting point of a website. Like the table of contents of a book or magazine, the home page usually provides an overview of what you'll find at the website. A site can have one page, a few long ones or thousands or pages. If there isn't a lot of information, the home page may be the only page. But usually you will find at least a few other pages.

Web pages vary wildly in design and content, but many use a traditional magazine format. At the top of the page is a masthead or banner graphic, then a list of items, such as articles, often with a brief description. The items in the list usually link to other pages on the site, or to other sites. Sometimes these links are highlighted words in the body of the text, or are arranged in a list, like an index. They can also be a combination of both. A web page may also have "hot" images that link to other content.

How can you tell which text are links? Text links appear in a different color from the rest of the text--typically in blue and often underlined. When you move your cursor over a text link or over a graphic link, it changes from an arrow to a hand. The hypertext words often hint at what you will link to.

When you return to a page with a link you've already visited, the hypertext words will often be in a different color, which indicates that you've already been there. But you can certainly go there again by clicking the link. Don't be surprised though, if the next time you visit a page, the information has changed. This is especially true with news, sports and weather sites and blogs. The Web is a dynamic medium. To encourage visitors to return to a site, many web publishers update content frequently. That's what makes the Web so engaging.

Last update: Jan 8, 2010