From db169b6e4ff37968b2d0ed6ecfd45b1c7a986c91 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Mills Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:51:53 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 1/3] Correct packet description --- .../web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md | 14 ++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md b/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md index ecdb7eb9614f9c1..bf0c3e73270276f 100644 --- a/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md +++ b/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md @@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ When you type a web address (which is technically part of a [URL](#components_of 1. The browser goes to the DNS server and finds the real address of the server that the website lives on (you look up the address of the shop). 2. The browser sends an HTTP request message to the server, asking it to send a copy of the website to the client (you go to the shop and order your goods). This message, and all other data sent between the client and the server, is sent across your internet connection using TCP/IP. -3. If the server approves the client's request, the server sends the client a "200 OK" message, which means "Of course you can look at that website! Here it is", and then starts sending the website's files to the browser as a series of small chunks called [data packets](#packets_explained) (the shop gives you your goods, and you bring them back to your house). +3. If the server approves the client's request, the server sends the client a "200 OK" message, which means "Of course you can look at that website! Here it is", and then starts sending the website's files to the browser as a series of small chunks called [packets](#packets_explained) (the shop gives you your goods, and you bring them back to your house). 4. The browser assembles the small chunks into a complete web page and displays it to you (you get the goods home — new shiny stuff, awesome!). ## DNS explained @@ -95,10 +95,16 @@ Let's look up the MDN IP address now, and prove that it points to the same place Earlier we used the term "packets" to describe the format in which the data is transferred between the client and server. What do we mean here? -Basically, when data is sent across the web, it is sent in thousands of small chunks. There are multiple reasons why data is sent in small packets, but most significantly: +Basically, when data is sent across the web, it is sent in several small chunks called packets. Each packet contains: -- They are sometimes dropped or corrupted and, when this happens, it's quicker and easier to replace small chunks than entire files. -- Additionally, the packets can be routed along different paths, making the exchange faster and allowing many different users to download the same website at the same time. If each website was sent as a single big chunk, only one user could download it at a time, which would make the web very inefficient and not much fun to use. +- The **header**, which includes details such as the server and client IP address, the packet number and total number of packets in the transmission, and details of the protocols used in the transmission. +- The **payload**, which contains the actual data sent in the packet. + +There are multiple reasons why data is sent in small packets, but most significantly: + +- They are sometimes dropped or corrupted and, when this happens, it's quicker and easier for the client to request the missing packets rather than an entire file. +- The packets can be routed along different paths, making the transmission as efficient as possible and reducing the possibility of slowing down the network, especially when many users are requesting the same resource simultaneously. The packets may arrive out of sequence, but the client can use the information in the packet headers to make sure they are assembled in the correct order. +- It is harder to steal user data when transmitted in packets, as each packet contains minimal data and is transmitted separately. ## HTTP basics From 13e48bd25871e77e4d492e1bf577b0cf484f8cc4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Mills Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:56:24 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 2/3] Small grammar updates --- .../web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md | 10 +++++----- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md b/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md index bf0c3e73270276f..0a4f1dec94f2ee8 100644 --- a/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md +++ b/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md @@ -93,16 +93,16 @@ Let's look up the MDN IP address now, and prove that it points to the same place ## Packets explained -Earlier we used the term "packets" to describe the format in which the data is transferred between the client and server. What do we mean here? +Earlier, we used the term "packets" to describe the format in which the data is transferred between the client and server. What do we mean here? -Basically, when data is sent across the web, it is sent in several small chunks called packets. Each packet contains: +When data is sent across the web, it is sent in several small chunks called packets. Each packet contains: -- The **header**, which includes details such as the server and client IP address, the packet number and total number of packets in the transmission, and details of the protocols used in the transmission. -- The **payload**, which contains the actual data sent in the packet. +- A **header**, which includes details such as the server and client IP address, the packet number, the total number of packets in the transmission, and details of the protocols used in the transmission. +- A **payload**, which contains the actual data sent in the packet. There are multiple reasons why data is sent in small packets, but most significantly: -- They are sometimes dropped or corrupted and, when this happens, it's quicker and easier for the client to request the missing packets rather than an entire file. +- They are sometimes dropped or corrupted, and when this happens, it's quicker and easier for the client to request the missing packets rather than an entire file. - The packets can be routed along different paths, making the transmission as efficient as possible and reducing the possibility of slowing down the network, especially when many users are requesting the same resource simultaneously. The packets may arrive out of sequence, but the client can use the information in the packet headers to make sure they are assembled in the correct order. - It is harder to steal user data when transmitted in packets, as each packet contains minimal data and is transmitted separately. From e367474181d9f53b1e03be260f2472adac6ede05 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Chris Mills Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:42:49 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 3/3] Fixes for hamish review comments --- .../web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md | 13 ++++++------- 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) diff --git a/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md b/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md index 0a4f1dec94f2ee8..f3a5db4a90d378a 100644 --- a/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md +++ b/files/en-us/learn_web_development/getting_started/web_standards/how_the_web_works/index.md @@ -72,10 +72,10 @@ In order for data to get back and forth, we need the following things: When you type a web address (which is technically part of a [URL](#components_of_a_url)) into your browser address bar, the following steps occur: -1. The browser goes to the DNS server and finds the real address of the server that the website lives on (you look up the address of the shop). -2. The browser sends an HTTP request message to the server, asking it to send a copy of the website to the client (you go to the shop and order your goods). This message, and all other data sent between the client and the server, is sent across your internet connection using TCP/IP. -3. If the server approves the client's request, the server sends the client a "200 OK" message, which means "Of course you can look at that website! Here it is", and then starts sending the website's files to the browser as a series of small chunks called [packets](#packets_explained) (the shop gives you your goods, and you bring them back to your house). -4. The browser assembles the small chunks into a complete web page and displays it to you (you get the goods home — new shiny stuff, awesome!). +1. The browser goes to the DNS server and finds the real address of the server that the website lives on. +2. The browser sends an HTTP request message to the server, asking it to send a copy of the website to the client. This message, and all other data sent between the client and the server, is sent across your internet connection using TCP/IP. +3. If the server approves the client's request, the server sends the client a "200 OK" message, which means "Of course you can look at that website! Here it is", and then starts sending the website's files to the browser as a series of small chunks called [packets](#packets_explained). +4. The browser assembles the small chunks into a complete web page and displays it to you. ## DNS explained @@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ Let's look up the MDN IP address now, and prove that it points to the same place Earlier, we used the term "packets" to describe the format in which the data is transferred between the client and server. What do we mean here? -When data is sent across the web, it is sent in several small chunks called packets. Each packet contains: +When data is sent across the web, it is sent in multiple small chunks called packets. Each packet contains: - A **header**, which includes details such as the server and client IP address, the packet number, the total number of packets in the transmission, and details of the protocols used in the transmission. - A **payload**, which contains the actual data sent in the packet. @@ -103,8 +103,7 @@ When data is sent across the web, it is sent in several small chunks called pack There are multiple reasons why data is sent in small packets, but most significantly: - They are sometimes dropped or corrupted, and when this happens, it's quicker and easier for the client to request the missing packets rather than an entire file. -- The packets can be routed along different paths, making the transmission as efficient as possible and reducing the possibility of slowing down the network, especially when many users are requesting the same resource simultaneously. The packets may arrive out of sequence, but the client can use the information in the packet headers to make sure they are assembled in the correct order. -- It is harder to steal user data when transmitted in packets, as each packet contains minimal data and is transmitted separately. +- The packets can be routed along different paths, making the transmission as efficient as possible and reducing the possibility of slowing down the network — especially when many users are requesting the same resource simultaneously. The packets may arrive out of sequence, but the client can use the information in the packet headers to make sure they are assembled in the correct order. ## HTTP basics