One of the primary causes of confusion on the Internet is a lack of understanding of what the Internet is. As with anything, knowledge and information makes us more confident about what we are attempting to do. One of the first turning points for me was learning the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web. Many think they are interchangeable terms.

When I began to access the Internet and do search, I thought since my browser delivered me to a search engine that the Web and Internet were the same.

One day I read an article that defined the difference. Is it important to know? Well, it opened a new door for me to learn more about the technology that has encompassed the entire globe and learning basics is essential to confidence.

We get confused about anything we do not understand. Ignorance is not bliss on the Internet. I learned it is the container of the World Wide Web, and that the World Wide Web is the technical term that identifies and defines the entirety of what is available when you access the Internet from your computer or other access equipment. I immediately became more confident. Consequently, I wanted to know more.

That one article introduced words such as HTTP. I then wanted to know the difference between HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and WWW (World Wide Web)?

They seemed insignificant initially and perhaps, most of us use the Internet and pay little attention to these terms though they are basic indicators of the Internet access we use everyday. Learning the World Wide Web was what we originally defined as the Information Highway helped me to understand where I was and what I was doing after accessing the Internet.

Point is, the Internet does not come with Instructions at the point of access. But once we enter the Net and see the resources available on the World Wide Web to learn we should utilize them to grow in our understanding of the Internet if we are to become proficient.

Did you find college confusing the first week? How about Physics? How about learning to cook? Raising children? A new job? Car repair? How are you doing today in areas that you once knew little about? Most of us know there is really no shortcut to knowledge. But the advantages are overwhelmingly worth the sweat and labor.

Confusion is simply ignorance unchecked and we all begin there. Countering ignorance with basic steps toward attaining the information and knowledge we need to excel, will defuse confusion about the Internet. In time, opening up a world of knowledge and information making our use of the Internet an amazing experience for ourselves and others.

Learn more about this author, Vanessa D. Alexander.
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