Before you learn how to create a web page, you should be clear on what the Internet is all about. This is my personal analogy:

The Internet is a network of computers - think of it as every library in the world all connected by redundant underground (unseen) tunnels. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you access to the tunnels. You usually pay them monthly for this service.

Your ISP not only allows you freedom to roam around in these tunnels, but also enables you to send messages, known as Email, to others who also have similar access (and you don't need stamps, at least not yet).

Depending on what type of access you are willing to pay for, you may travel first class with an ISP offering a high speed plan (cable, DSL, broadband, etc.), or if that isn't available or you want to save money, you can travel coach (dial-up) - but expect slower service and layovers.

The World Wide Web, or simply - the Web, is the collection of all the books in these libraries.

A Web Site is one of the books. A Web Page is a specific page, written in various computer languages (namely HTML), in a specific book.

To go to these libraries you travel with a Web Browser. The Web Browser is software which opens a book and displays the pages on your computer monitor.

With so many books in so many libraries, how do you find the ones you want? You use your Web Browser to take you to a Librarian, known as a Search Engine who maintains a list of billions of Web Pages which you can sort through using Keywords. Once you find the book or page you want, the librarian directs you there.

The best part of all this... You can travel to all the libraries without ever leaving your home or office. No jet lag, although you may encounter security checks. Sometimes you may even need a passport (password) to enter a particular library, or even to open a book or to see a certain page. Some are so specialized (or privatized) you may have to pay a service fee to enter them.

Some of these libraries not only offer pages to read but also movies and music. You can shop and make purchases in some, as well as sit and chat with others who happen to be there at the same time as you are.

You can even form your own news groups, clubs, forums, cyber communities, etc. if you want to share common interests with other people, some of whom you may never have met without access to the Internet... some you may never actually meet in person at all.

It is called The Web because of the many
redundant paths between computers. Shown in red
is a path from your computer to this tutorial web page.

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If you create your own web pages, and you want them to be in your own special book, you buy a Domain Name (www.yourname.com) - the unique title of your book.

If you do not own your own book title (domain name), your collection of pages can usually be a chapter in a book shared by others, if your ISP offers this service, in a specific book or library owned by them. Many ISP's offer a set amount of chapter space (web space) free for each customer, whether you use it or not (www.yourISPname/youraccountname.com).

If you do own your own book title (domain name), you need a place to put it so others can have access to it, that place is called a Host. Your ISP may also be able to act as your Host when you own your own book, usually for an additional fee, or you can find a Host who specializes in hosting, and usually offers more features than an ISP who primarily specializes in Internet access.

A Host stores your book on one of their book shelves called a Server (a special computer) which you can think of as a section in a library. If you have a huge book or own many of them, you may even want to own or lease your own dedicated Server.

Well, there you have it. That's my story and I am sticking to it.