Which statement is not true about the web? The web is based on the WWW protocol. The web is a subset of the Internet. Special links are used to navigate from page to page on the web. The web was based on a protocol developed by Tim Berners-Lee.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: The web is based on the WWW protocol.
Explanation (300+ words):
The statement “The web is based on the WWW protocol” is not true because there is no such thing as a “WWW protocol.” This is a common misconception due to the frequent use of “www” (World Wide Web) in web addresses. However, the web operates primarily on the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and more recently HTTPS (secure version of HTTP), not a “WWW protocol.”
Let’s explore the other statements to clarify why they are true:
- “The web is a subset of the Internet” – True:
The Internet is a vast global network of computers and servers connected through protocols like TCP/IP. The World Wide Web (WWW) is one service or application that runs on the Internet, alongside others such as email, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Therefore, the web is indeed a subset of the Internet. - “Special links are used to navigate from page to page on the web” – True:
The web is built around hyperlinks—clickable links embedded in text or images that allow users to move between web pages. This linking capability is made possible by HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), which is the standard language used to create and format web pages. - “The web was based on a protocol developed by Tim Berners-Lee” – True:
Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, is credited with inventing the World Wide Web in 1989. He developed key technologies that made the web possible, including:- HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
- HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
He implemented the first successful communication between a client and a server using the HTTP protocol in 1990.
Conclusion:
While “WWW” is part of many web addresses, it is not a protocol. The correct statement is that the web is based on HTTP/HTTPS, not a fictional “WWW protocol.” Thus, the statement claiming the web is based on the WWW protocol is not true.