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Web Services Class 12 CS: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Hosting

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Computer ScienceCBSE Class 12 · Computer Networks

Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name, Browser, Server and Hosting (Class 12 Computer Science)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a collection of linked web pages stored on web servers and viewed with a web browser. A page is written in HTML (or data is described in XML) and found through its URL, which contains a domain name. Web hosting is the service of storing a website on a server that is always connected to the Internet.

Notice that a URL has three parts, and the domain name leads the browser to the web server that hosts the HTML page.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting

Evolution of networking. A network connects computers to share data. ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) was an early research network started by a US defence research agency; it used packet switching and linked a few computers of universities and research centres. NSFNET, a network of the US National Science Foundation, linked academic and research centres on a larger scale. Joining many such networks produced the Internet, the network of networks. Years are not needed for the board answers, so none are listed here.

WWW. The World Wide Web is a system of linked web pages stored on servers and accessed through the Internet by a browser. The Internet is the network; the web is a service running on it.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). The language used to create web pages. It uses predefined tags such as <h1> and <p> to say how text, images and links appear. The browser reads the tags and displays the page.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language). A markup language used to describe and carry data. The author defines the tags (for example <student>). XML is for storing and transporting data; HTML is for presenting it.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The address of a web resource, for example https://www.example.com/notes/class12.html. It has the protocol (https), the domain name (www.example.com) and the path to the file (/notes/class12.html).

Domain name. A readable name such as example.com that stands for the numeric IP address of a server. A DNS (Domain Name System) server converts the name to the IP address before the page is requested.

Website and web page. A web page is a single document; a website is a collection of related web pages under one domain name. The first page of a site is its home page.

Web browser. Software on your device that sends requests for web pages and displays them.

Web server. A computer (and its software) that stores websites and sends the requested pages to browsers.

Web hosting. A service, offered by a hosting provider, that gives space on a server so that a website stays available on the Internet all the time. Hosting can be shared or dedicated.

What happens when a URL is typed. The browser takes the domain name from the URL, finds its IP address through DNS, sends a request to that web server, and the server sends the page, which the browser displays.

Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting: key facts

Web terms
WWWlinked web pages on the Internet
Websitecollection of web pages under one domain
Web pageone document
Home pagefirst page of a site
The Internet is the network, the web is a service on it.
Languages
HTML: creates and displays web pages with predefined tags | XML: describes and carries data with user-defined tags
Presentation versus data.
URL parts
  • Protocol (http or https)
  • Domain name
  • Path of the page or file
Example: https://www.example.com/notes/class12.html
Browser server hosting
Web browserrequests and shows pages
Web serverstores and serves pages
Web hostingrenting server space so a site is always online
Domain namereadable name for an IP address
DNS converts domain name to IP address.

How to answer Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting questions

For a web services question, match the term to a one-line job, then add an example.

  1. 1Define the term in a line: what it is and what it does.
  2. 2For HTML versus XML, write at least three points: purpose, tags (predefined versus user-defined), and what each is used for.
  3. 3For URL, split the sample address into protocol, domain name and path and label each.
  4. 4For hosting, say it is a service providing server space so the website stays online at all times.
  5. 5For "sequence" questions, write the steps: type URL, DNS finds IP address, request to server, server responds, browser displays.

Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A school website

Suppose a school wants a site at www.myschool.example with notices and admission forms.

Which services must the school arrange so that parents can open the site at any time?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A domain name (the readable address).
  2. Web hosting: server space where the website files stay connected to the Internet all the time.

Answer: A domain name and web hosting.

Memory hook: Domain is the address on the door; hosting is the building behind it.

Data in your own tags

Suppose an app stores each student as <student><name>Asha</name><marks>88</marks></student> so that another system can read it.

Is this HTML or XML, and why?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The tags (student, name, marks) are chosen by the author to describe data, not to format a page.
  2. This is XML.

Answer: XML, because the tags describe data and are user-defined.

Memory hook: XML names the data; HTML dresses it.

Tricks to remember Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Internet = road, WWW = shops

    The Internet is the road network; the web pages are the shops along it.

    Use it when: Internet versus WWW.

  • H-T-M-L: How To Make Layouts

    HTML is for layout; XML is for data.

    Use it when: HTML versus XML.

  • Protocol, Domain, Path

    Cut every URL into these three parts.

    Use it when: URL questions.

  • Browser asks, server serves

    The browser requests; the server stores and responds.

    Use it when: Browser versus server.

Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Expand HTML · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

HTML stands for:
(a) Hyper Text Markup Language (b) High Text Machine Language (c) Hyper Transfer Markup Language (d) Home Tool Markup Language

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The first letters of the correct expansion give HTML.

Answer: (a) Hyper Text Markup Language

Example 2: Browser and server · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

How does a web browser differ from a web server in function?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. A web browser is software on the user's device that requests web pages and displays them. (1 mark)
  2. A web server is a computer with software that stores websites and sends the requested pages to the browser. (1 mark)

Answer: Browser requests and displays; server stores and delivers.

Example 3: Split the URL · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Identify the protocol, domain name and path in https://www.example.com/notes/class12.html.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Protocol: https. (1 mark)
  2. Domain name: www.example.com. (1 mark)
  3. Path to the resource: /notes/class12.html. (1 mark)

Answer: Protocol https; domain www.example.com; path /notes/class12.html

Example 4: HTML versus XML · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Distinguish between HTML and XML on three points.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Purpose: HTML creates and displays web pages; XML describes and carries data. (1 mark)
  2. Tags: HTML tags are predefined; XML tags are defined by the author. (1 mark)
  3. Use: HTML decides how content looks; XML says what the content is so that other programs can read it. (1 mark)

Answer: Display and predefined tags (HTML); data and user-defined tags (XML).

Example 5: Case: launching a website · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Suppose a coaching centre builds a website of 10 pages.
(i) Which language will it use to create the pages? (1 mark)
(ii) What is the first page of the site called? (1 mark)
(iii) Which service keeps the pages available on the Internet all day? (1 mark)
(iv) A visitor types the website name in a browser. Write the sequence of what happens next. (1 mark)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) HTML.
  2. (ii) The home page.
  3. (iii) Web hosting.
  4. (iv) The browser takes the domain name, a DNS server returns its IP address, the browser requests the page from the web server, and the server sends it for display.

Answer: (i) HTML (ii) Home page (iii) Web hosting (iv) DNS gives the IP address, the request goes to the web server, the page is returned and displayed

Where students lose marks in Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Treating the Internet and the WWW as the same

    The Internet is the network; the WWW is one service on it.

    Wrong working

    WWW is another name for the Internet.

    Right working

    The Internet is the network of networks; WWW is a collection of linked web pages that runs over it.

    Do this: Use the road and shops comparison.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Saying XML replaces HTML

    The two have different jobs.

    Wrong working

    XML is an upgraded HTML.

    Right working

    HTML presents pages; XML describes and transports data.

    Do this: State the purpose of each.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Writing the full URL as the domain name

    The domain name is only the name part.

    Wrong working

    Domain name: https://www.example.com/notes/class12.html

    Right working

    Domain name: www.example.com

    Do this: Split the URL into protocol, domain and path.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

Exam tips

  • Write the two languages as: HTML presents, XML describes data.
  • For URL questions, label every part and underline the domain name.
  • Define web hosting as a service, not as a place.
  • Mention DNS when a question links a domain name and an IP address.
  • Do not quote years for ARPANET or NSFNET unless the question gives them.

Practice questions on Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The software used to view web pages is called a:
    (a) web server (b) web browser (c) router (d) compiler

    Hint

    The viewer.

    Answer

    (b) web browser

  2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

    What is web hosting?

    Hint

    Think of renting space.

    Answer

    A service that provides space on a server so that a website remains available on the Internet at all times.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    What is the role of a domain name? How is it related to an IP address?

    Hint

    Readable versus numeric.

    Answer

    A domain name is a readable name for a website. It stands for the numeric IP address of the server; a DNS server converts the name into the IP address.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Write the difference between a website and a web page, and between the Internet and the WWW.

    Hint

    Collection versus single; network versus service.

    Answer

    A web page is one document; a website is a set of related web pages under one domain name. The Internet is the global network of networks; the WWW is a service on it that provides linked web pages.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    Suppose a hospital wants its patient records to be sent between two software systems in a common text format with its own tags such as <patient> and <age>. Name the language to be used and give two reasons.

    Hint

    The tags are the author's own.

    Answer

    XML. It lets the author define their own tags, and it describes the meaning of the data so that different programs can read it; it is meant for storing and transporting data.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.What does HTML stand for?Show answer

    Hypertext (Hyper Text) Markup Language.

  2. 2.What does URL stand for?Show answer

    Uniform Resource Locator.

  3. 3.Which language describes data with user-defined tags?Show answer

    XML.

  4. 4.What does a DNS server do?Show answer

    Converts a domain name to an IP address.

  5. 5.What is web hosting?Show answer

    A service providing server space so that a website stays online.

  6. 6.What is the Internet called?Show answer

    The network of networks.

Web Services: WWW, HTML, XML, URL, Domain Name and Hosting: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web?

The Internet is the worldwide network of connected networks. The World Wide Web is a service on the Internet made of linked web pages, viewed with a browser.

What is the difference between HTML and XML?

HTML has predefined tags and is used to create and display web pages. XML has tags defined by the author and is used to describe and carry data.

What are the parts of a URL?

A URL has the protocol (such as https), the domain name of the server and the path to the page or file.

What were ARPANET and NSFNET?

ARPANET was an early research network that used packet switching, and NSFNET was a network linking academic and research centres. Connecting many such networks led to the Internet.