What is a Website?

A website is a collection of web pages (documents that are accessed through the Internet), such as the one you're looking at now. A web page is what you see on the screen when you type in a web address, click on a link, or put a query in a search engine. A web page can contain any type of information, and can include text, color, graphics, animation and sound.

When someone gives you their web address, it generally takes you to their website's home page, which should introduce you to what that site offers in terms of information or other services. From the home page, you can click on links to reach other sections of the site. A website can consist of one page, or of tens of thousands of pages, depending on what the site owner is trying to accomplish.

Why Do People Visit Websites?

Generally, people look at websites for two primary reasons:

1. To find information they need. This could be anything from a student looking for pictures of frogs for a school project, to finding the latest stock quotes, to getting the address of the nearest Thai restaurant.

2. To complete a task. Visitors may want to buy the latest best-seller, download a software program, or participate in an online discussion about a favorite hobby.

The main thing to remember in creating a website is that you're not creating the website for you; you already know about the information or service you have to offer. You're creating the site for your visitors, so it should contain the content they want, and be organized in a way that makes sense, even to an outsider.

We'll tell you how to create and improve your website in further articles, but the main thing to remember is this: A website is a means of communication, and it is only successful when its message is received by the intended user.