It has become common to use the terms web and internet interchangeably. “I found this article on the internet” is just as acceptable as “I found this article on the web.” But the truth is, the web and the internet are two different things. This quick breakdown will help you identify the differences and use the terms more accurately.

What is the Internet?

The word internet comes from the longer phrase, Interconnected Computer Network. It is comprised of a massive global hardware system of servers, routers, computers and other devices that contain data, along with all the cables, wireless signals and software that allow them to communicate. This is sort of the bigger picture. It is the equivalent of every cargo train, truck, plane and boat and the entire network of railways, roadways, etc. that contain and deliver goods to users.

What is the Web?

The word web is short for the longer phrase, World Wide Web. It is comprised of a collection of pages, each with a unique URL. These pages contain links that connect them to other pages, forming a searchable network of pages from around the world. All of this exists within the internet. The web is like a box on the delivery truck, the contents of which are made visible with the assistance of a web browser. The web is not the only box on the truck; it shares the space with email, video chat and other forms of data.