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Explore the basics of web design and development, including the history of the internet, anatomy of a web page, and web-related languages. Learn about careers in web development and where to get started.
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Learning Web Design: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Getting Started
Lesson Overview • What is the Internet? • History of the Internet • Anatomy of a Web Page • What is the Web Made Of? • Careers in Web Development • Web-Related Languages • Where Do I Start?
The Internet • Internet = A network of networks • No company or government owns the Internet • Many ways to share information between computers • The World Wide Web is a subset of the Internet
WorldWideWeb • The communication protocol of the WWW is HTTP = Hypertext Transfer Protocol • The web is a visual medium that combines text and graphics • Information is presented to the user via a web page • Does not mean: “Whistle while you wait”
A Brief History of the Internet • 1969 The Internet began as ARPANET • US Department of Defense funded the project • They wanted a way to insure the transfer of information between servers if there were a nuclear attack • 1972 First electronic mail sent • 1989 brought the advent of the WWW • Tim Berners-Lee proposed hypertext to link related documents - The Invention of WWW (Youtube) • First web pages were text only • 1993 First graphical Web Browser- Mosiac • 1997 The term “weblog” is coined, later shortened to “blog.” • 2012 – Over 7 billion Internet users and over 367 billion web sites (www.internetworldstats.com)
Who Controls the Web? • No single entity controls the Web • Two organizations have an influence over the direction of the Web • The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) based at MIT • They help set up the standards and enforce rules for the Web, www.w3.org • Browser developers like Microsoft and Mozilla • Constantly add new features to their browsers, often in conflict with each other and the work of the W3C
The Web Attracts Business • The early Internet was a community of research institutions and government agencies • E-Commerce technologies have allowed businesses to conduct transactions in a somewhat secure manner on the Web • Many companies still keep their most private information on intranets where they can make use of Web technologies
The Web is Graphical • Browsers allow the presentation of both text and graphics in color on the same page • The Web is really a hypermedia system • Images • Sound • Video • Animation • Text and Hypertext Source: http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/14wbpganat.htm
Anatomy of a Web Page • A web page is an electronic document written in a computer language called HTML(Hypertext Markup Language) • When you surf the WWW, web pages are displayed in a web browser • Web pages on a site are linked together through a system of hyperlinks, enabling you to jump between them by clicking on a link
Viewing Source Code index.html <html> <body> <h1>This is my Main Page</h1> <p>This is some text.</p> <p><a href="page1.htm"> This is a link to Page 1 </a></p> <p><a href="page2.htm"> This is a link to Page 2 </a></p> </body> </html> Source: http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/14wbpganat.htm
Viewing Source Code (continued) • HTML pages contain: HTML tags and plain text • The code of the web page is stored as an ASCII text file with either the .htmor .html file extension • You can view the source code by: • opening the file in a text editor • from the browser: View->Source
URL- Uniform Resource Locator • Resources are found on the Web through an address or location known as a URL • The URL is made up of three parts: • The protocol: http, ftp, news etc. • The site name • The absolute path http://daytona.raceway.com/home/race.html protocol site name absolute path
Default Files • When the server receives a request for a web page with just the directory name, it looks for a default document • Default filenames are usually • index.htm • index.html • The “i” must be lowercase to act as default file • For security reasons, every directory should have a default file – prevents snooping
What is the Web Made Of? • Your personal computer • Web browser software • A connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) • Servers that host the data • Routers and switches to control the flow of the data Source: http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/www.html
Web Servers • To publish pages on the Web you need a Web Server • This is a program that responds to requests for files from a browser • The server accepts the connection, sends contents of the file, and then closes the connection
What the Browser Does • A user working on a computer (client) machine sends a request across the Internet to a Web Server • The Web Server finds the requested page and sends the information back to the Client • The Client uses an application called a Browser to display the page
Chrome • free, open-source web browser developed by Google • released in 2008 • grown to be one of the most popular browsers today (52,7% of browser market as of April 2013 (w3schools.com/browsers)
Mozilla Firefox • In 1998, Netscape freed up the source code for their web browser • The Mozilla foundation is the independent, non-profit organization that support modifications to Firefox • Firefox is second to Chrome as a dominant web browser; 27.9% of browser market as of April 2013 (w3schools.com/browsers)
Microsoft Internet Explorer • Most popular browser, newest version IE8 • This browser is built into all the current versions of Microsoft Windows • Also runs on Macintosh and UNIX platforms • As of April 2013, 12.7% market share • Free download available from Microsoft’s Web site
Safari • This browser was created by Apple Inc. and first released in January 2003 • Version of Safari for Windows was released in 2007 • As of July 2009, had 4% browser market • Key features: tabbed browsing, support CSS3, spell-checking • Can be downloaded for free from http://www.apple.com/safari/download/
What do I need to learn? • Web design is a catch-all term for the process that encapsulates a number of disciplines: • Graphic design • User Interface design • Information design • HTML production • Programming • Multimedia
Careers in Web Development • People of all backgrounds are becoming interested in learning about Web design: • Print designers evolving their expertise to Web design • Secretaries and office staff given Web development responsibilities • Programmers moving into Web programming • Graphic designers lending their talents to Web development teams • Information engineers designing information presentation and data gathering via the Web
Graphic Designers • Make decisions about everything that is seen on the Web page • Color • Typography – Font sizes, styles and colors • Graphics • Page Layout • Might require some formal training if you want to design commercial sites
Interface Designers • Focus on how the Web page works • Usability is a key issue • Create methods for how things are done: buttons, menus, navigation links etc. • Often have background in software design • Requires a combination of personal research, experience, and common sense
Information Designers • Focus on the organization of content and how you get to it: • Also called information architects • Use flowcharts and diagrams • Might have a background in database design and data modeling • Some have background in library science
HTML Producers • A majority of the Web design process involves the creation of HTML pages • HTML programmers often need to have other scripting or programming skills • Debugging errors is an important task • Usually part of a development team • Often use powerful tools to shorten development time
Programmers • Enhance web pages with advanced functionality • Write scripts • Programs • Applications • Database interactivity • Server • Some have background in Computer Science • Some are self-taught
Multimedia Developer • A web site can come to life with the addition of multimedia • Graphics • Sound • Video • Animation • Interactivity • A background in video or sound mastering is preferred • Knowledge of development tools a must
Web-Related Languages • HTML • Style Sheets (CSS) • JavaScript,VBScript • DHTML • CGI Scripting
HTML • Hypertext Markup Language • The language used to write web pages • Evolving to XHTML • Enhanced Hypertext Markup Language • Everyone working with web development needs a background in HTML • Once you learn the basics, using development tools will be easier
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) • Allow you greater control over text and page formatting • Styles can be reused to define a “look and feel” standard for a site • Won’t work consistently on all browsers • Will gain in popularity
JavaScript • A scripting language • Not Java • These program instructions can be inserted into a web page to add functionality • Mouse-Overs • Form Validation • Pop-up windows or menus • Changing behaviors • Many professional web authoring tools generate JavaScript for you • It is helpful to have a programming background
DHTML • Dynamic HTML • Refers to a combination of HTML, JavaScript, CSS, in such a way that makes web page elements move or change (dynamic) • Requires advanced web-programming skill • Many web tools provide ways for novice developers a way to add basic DHTML elements to your pages
CGI Programming • Sometimes information is sent to or from a user of a web page • This information is sent or streamed using a Common Gateway Interface syntax • For example: • Scripts can be written that translate information gathered from a form into a stream of information that is sent to another location on the web • CGI Usually requires advanced programming skills
Where do I start? • Understand how the Web works • Take a class on Web design • Learn the fundamentals of (X)HTML • Understand the role of the server • Learn a Web design tool • Build some test Web sites • Keep adding to your “bag of tricks”
IS&T Web Development Focus • Information Systems and Information Technology degrees focus on Web Application development • INFO 2450 - Web Application Design • X(HTML), CSS, Templates, Intro to Web Graphics • INFO 3420 - Internet Application I • ASP.NET, SQL Server, C++ - Security, Web Admin, E-Commerce • INFO 4420 - Internet Application II • XML, Web Services • INFO (???? ) - Elective CourseOpen Source Application Development (new Spring 2010)
What is Needed for this Class? • Hardware • Computer • Scanner/Cell Phone/ Digital Camera • Consistent Internet connection • Software • HTML Editor – Notepad++, EditPad • Web Graphics Application-GIMP open source graphics application • Authoring Environment –Microsoft Expression Web • Internet Web Browser – at least two
Summary • Web design is a very broad field of study • This class covers just the tip of the iceberg: • HTML5 • CSS • Web Graphics • Templates • Website Management • Afterward… Find your own niche