Happy Birthday, Internet! The First Website Went Online 25 Years Ago Today

  • comments
  • print
  • email
Dec 22, 2015 05:30 AM EST

British scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, and the first website called Tim Berners-Lee's World Wide Web went online at CERN 25 years ago on Dec. 20, 1990.

According to 
Engadget, it wasn't until several months later, on Aug. 6, 1991, that it became public. The outlet adds that the first website launching paved the way and the shaping of the internet which benefits us to this day with instant information on our fingertips and convenient online services to name a few.

There is an old version of the World Wide Web that is still online. According to CERN, the 1992 version explains "basic features of the web; how to access other people's documents and how to set up your own server," the Huffington Post reports.

For those who think the World Wide Web is the internet, BBC explains that the two are closely linked but not the same.

"The internet is a huge network of computers all connected together. The world wide web ('www' or 'web' for short) is a collection of webpages found on this network of computers," it said. "Your web browser uses the internet to access the web."

The web began because Berners-Lee thought of using the internet to connect documents together through three main technologies that bind computers together. He used Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), all of which are still in use today.

The functioning W3 page still contains an assortment of links to Cornell University's law department page and the SunSite information archive, according to Computing. Interestingly, a project named Jugtail which was originally named Jughead from the Archie series is an open-source search project that has stood the test of time. There were Archie and Veronic projects as well, but they have been discontinued.

According to Engadget's report, Berners-Lee is still involved in the development of the web by directing the World Wide Web Consortium that he had a hand in creating. Additionally, he is also pushing for free web for all by supporting causes to "protect the open web against government censorship" and favoring net neutrality. It also contains web etiquette tips by Berners-Lee, with some suggesting to put information whether complete or incomplete as readers can find it useful just as long as it is flagged correctly.

With 25 years down the line, how do you suppose the sharing of information will evolve in another 25 years? Share with us your thoughts down below.

Join the Conversation
Real Time Analytics