The Internet, the Web, and How They Work
1.3 How a Website Reaches Your Browser
When you type www.jumia.com.ng and press Enter, here is what happens in less than one second:
1. Your browser asks a DNS server: 'What is the IP address of jumia.com.ng?'
2. DNS responds: 'The IP address is 52.28.X.X.'
3. Your browser sends an HTTP GET request to that IP address.
4. Jumia's web server receives the request and finds the requested page.
5. The server sends back an HTTP response containing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
6. Your browser reads the files and renders the page you see on screen.
|
Term |
Definition |
Nigerian Analogy |
|
URL |
Uniform Resource Locator — the address of a web page |
Like a plot number in Minna — e.g., No. 15 Paiko Road |
|
HTTP |
HyperText Transfer Protocol — language browsers and servers use to communicate |
Like Hausa — both sides must know the same language |
|
HTTPS |
HTTP Secure — HTTP with encryption (TLS) |
Like sending a message in a sealed, tamper-proof envelope |
|
DNS |
Domain Name System — translates domain names to IP addresses |
Like contacts in your phone — name maps to a number |
|
IP Address |
Unique numerical address of every device on the internet |
Like a phone number — unique identifier for each device |
|
Web Server |
A computer that stores and delivers website files |
Like a bookshop — you request a book (page); they send it |
|
Web Browser |
Software that reads HTML/CSS/JS and displays it visually |
Like your eyes and brain — interprets the 'language' of pages |