A visual guide to web technology
The web, clearly
explained.
Understand hosting, domains, networks, and the technology behind every website.
A few ideas to start with.
Browse the library- concept
URL structure
Read a web address, one part at a time. Learn what reaches the server—and why the fragment is different.
Explore the idea - comparison
Latency vs bandwidth
Waiting is not the same as transferring. See how round-trip time, body size and goodput shape one simplified response.
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DNS TTL
A DNS answer can outlive a change at its source. Follow one resolver cache—not a global propagation clock.
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Web hosting
What you get when a provider hosts your site—and what remains yours to configure, protect and maintain.
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Domain name
A domain names a place in DNS. It is neither the complete URL nor the site files or hosting account.
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Domain vs hosting
A domain gives people a stable name; hosting serves the site. Compare their responsibilities before connecting them.
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Shared hosting vs VPS
Shared hosting simplifies administration; a VPS offers more system control. Neither guarantees speed or reliability.
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Managed vs unmanaged hosting
“Managed” describes which jobs a provider performs, not whether the machine is shared, virtual or dedicated.
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VPS vs dedicated server
A VPS has virtual machine boundaries; a dedicated server gives one customer a physical host. Control and cost differ.
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Static vs dynamic website
Static pages can still be interactive. The key distinction is when and where HTML is produced for a request.
Explore the idea - procedure
Choose hosting for a small website
A practical selection checklist for a small site: requirements, responsibility, verification and an exit plan.
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Connect a domain to a website
Connect web DNS safely without disrupting existing mail: check delegation, stage the site, change only needed records and verify.
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DNS resolution
Follow a DNS lookup from a device to a recursive resolver and authoritative answer, before any HTTP request begins.
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Authoritative nameserver
Learn how authoritative nameservers answer for DNS zones and why registrar delegation must point to the zone you edit.
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Recursive DNS resolver
Understand recursive DNS resolvers, cache hits and misses, negative caching, and why cached data is not a global clock.
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DNS A and AAAA records
Compare DNS A and AAAA records by address family, check both sets independently and avoid assuming IPv6 always works.
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CNAME record
See how a DNS CNAME aliases a hostname to another name and why ordinary records cannot share that alias owner.
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MX record
Understand MX targets and lower-number mail preference, independent of website A/AAAA records and mail authentication TXT.
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Change a DNS record safely
Make a DNS change with an exact record scope, saved rollback values, authoritative verification and realistic cache expectations.
Explore the idea - troubleshooting
A DNS change is not visible
Diagnose an invisible DNS change by separating wrong-zone edits, delegation, cached positive or negative answers, and record type.
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A website works for some visitors only
Isolate why a site works for some visitors but not others using DNS, IPv4/IPv6, TLS, caches and origin checks.
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HTTP request and response
Read the method, target, headers, optional body, status and returned content in a small HTTP exchange.
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HTTPS and TLS
Understand what HTTPS protects with TLS, how a browser authenticates a service, and which threats remain.
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Reverse proxy
See how a reverse proxy receives public requests and forwards them to one or more upstream applications.
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CDN
Understand how a CDN serves nearby edge responses, when it contacts origin, and why not all content is cached.
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Browser cache
Learn when a browser can reuse a response, revalidate it, or must fetch it again under HTTP caching rules.
Explore the idea - troubleshooting
HTTP 404 troubleshooting
Find why a URL returns HTTP 404 using safe request checks, route mapping, static export paths and proxy routing.
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HTTP 502 troubleshooting
Investigate a proxy 502 by separating upstream response failures from 404, 503 and 504 without risky restarts.
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Back up a small website
Plan a recoverable small-site backup that includes deployable source, configuration, changing data and a tested restore.
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SSH vs SFTP
Compare SSH remote command sessions with SFTP file transfers carried over SSH, including their security limits.
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Follow your curiosity.
A clear definition. A small example to explore. A closer look at why it works.