Exploring World Wide Web Browser Details

Module W11d

* About this document... * Audience and Objectives *

Overview

In this assignment, you will be exploring the activities of Web browsers in greater detail, to improve your understanding - and that of others. Choose one of these options to work on:

The "Stack": On your computer (Windows, Macintosh...) what software does the browser use to access the Web with?
Getting Files: What is the process a browser goes through to get an HTML file to view?
Processing Files: Once an HTML file has been obtained, what does a browser do with it?

If you are using a browser, you can click on this separator wherever you see it to return to the Contents

Option A: The "Stack:

Getting information from the Internet to a computer user and back is accomplished by a "team effort." On your computer, (Windows, Macintosh...) what software does the browser use to access the Web with? If you choose this option, draw a diagram indicating what software or hardware is used to get your browser requests to the Internet, and in turn get your Web pages back to you. Use the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) 7-layer model as the basis for your diagram.

Resources

OSI Model: http://whatis.com/osifig.htm
Kim Andi's Unit 10 Core Components of the Internet, http://courses.wccnet.org/%7Ekandi/course/12306INP160/Unit10.htm
Your browser: In browser Help, look for setup instructions
Your operating system:

Windows: From the Start menu, choose Settings...Control Panel...Network. In the selection window are listed three kinds of support:
Layers 1 and 2
Layers 2 and 3
Layers 3 and 4
Macintosh: From the Apple menu, choose Control Panels and look for Appletalk, TCPIP or other network protocols. Their Properties list the linkages to physical layers.

Any books or other Web sites you can find covering this topic

Option B: Getting Files

Clicking a link is a simple operation for the user. For the browser, it's much more complicated! If you choose this option, create a diagram illustrating step-by-step the process by which a browser finds, requests, and receives an HTML file.

Resources:

Module W11c, "How Browsers Work..." steps 1, 2, 3, and 6
Any books or other Web sites you can find covering this topic

Option C: Processing Files

Getting from an HTML text file to a nicely-displayed screen involves many steps for the Web browser. If you choose this option, create a diagram illustrating step-by-step the process by which a browser interprets an HTML file, requests additional files from the server, and requests additional software support (plugins or independent).

Resources:

Module W11c, "How Browsers Work..." steps 4 and 5
Any books or other Web sites you can find covering this topic

Audience: This is for people who are familiar with the use of Web browsers and want to dig deeper into how they operate.
Objectives: When you successfully complete this lesson, you will be able to...

Illustrate the "stack" concept, or...
Illustrate steps a browser takes to obtain an HTML file, or...
Illustrate how a browser processes an HTML file.

About this document...
Module : This document is part of a modular instruction series in Computer Information Systems. For more information, see the overview or the list of modules in this series, W: World Wide Web. This document has been used in the following classes:

Author: Laurence J. Krieg
Institution: Department of Computer Information Systems, Washtenaw Community College
History: 11 April 2000; This revision posted Tuesday, 17-Feb-2004 12:39:26 EST
Copyright © 2000, Laurence J. Krieg.

Instructors: You may point to this file in your Web-based materials.
Students: you may make a copy for your personal use.
All other uses: contact the author, Laurence J. Krieg for permission.