Understanding Web Terms Through Simple Analogies

In this blog we will try to understand heavy web jargons and terminologies. We will also see how we can relate and the web terms to real world examples.

TLS

TLS stands for “Transport Layer Security“. It provides security to requests and responses of browser and servers. It encrypts the request in the browser and decrypt it in server and same its does with responses also. It makes users data more secure and reliable.

Analogy

Lets assume the data travelling between browser and server as transformers (movie). So what TLS does is change the transformer in cars while travelling between browser and server so it becomes safe from the hacker.

User Agent

The system that sends requests to the server known as user agent. In this case it is browser.

Analogy

Lets assume you ask your father new BMW car. In this case you are sending a request to your father so you became the user agent.

TCP

TCP stands for “Transmission Control Protocol“. This protocol is set of some rules that should followed by data travelling between browser and server. TCP establishes reliable and ordered communication. HTTP is one of the example for TCP that is used for browser-server communication.

Analogy

Lets assume you ask your teacher to recheck your examination copy so there will be some set of rules that how you will communicate with them. Those rules in the internet world known as TCP.

FTP

FTP stand for “File Transfer Protocol“. It is a standard protocol used to transfer files between a client and a server over a network. Authentication, Directory Browsing etc. are some key features of FTP.

Analogy

In the modern world we can understand it as postman. When he delivers a letter to you then there is some rule followed by the postman. Authentication is one of them. If there is multiple letters then he checks all and we can say it as directory browsing.

IP Address

IP Address stands for “Internet Protocol“ Address. This is some numeric codes provided to all devices connected to a network that uses the internet protocol for communication.

Analogy

IP Address in real life is same as roll numbers provided by class teachers in your school.

URL

URL stands for “Uniform Resource Locator“. This is some alpha-numeric codes provided to all web pages. It is also known as link. URL works for maintaining consistency of web doc all over the internet.

Analogy

In the physical world we use barcodes that is unique in nature and provide all the information about the particular product. Its also maintain consistency means either you scan barcode in US or in India, the product information remains same.

DNS

DNS stands for “Domain Name System“. It is also known as phonebook of the internet. It translates human-readable domain names in IP Addresses that computer use to identify over a network.

Analogy

For analogy we can say that DNS is as similar as Contacts App in our phones. We also save contact numbers by some name. Same DNS does on internet.

Payload

A payload is an actual data or content being transferred in a browser-server communication. It contains some meaningful data excluding metadata like headers or routing data.

Analogy

Lets assume a transport company sending some goods from one place to other without the receipt or the description of the goods. The goods is known as payload in that case.

Cache

A cache is a temporary storage that is used to store frequently accessed data for faster retrieval in the future. It helps us in improving the performance and reducing the total time to complete the request.

Analogy

Whenever you visit to a factory you see tons of goods there. Lets assume you like one shirt in that is stacked on tenth rack. It will be tough to provide that shirt for the owner. So for solving those type of problems owner will open a little shop where he puts some pieces of all his collection. In this case the shop is cache.

Cookie

A cookie is a small piece of data stored by the web server on a user’s browser to remember information about the user or their activity. Cookies are commonly used to enhance user experience, track behavior, and manage sessions.

Analogy

Lets assume you meet a new person and you became his friend. Now what happens if he asks every time your name whenever you meet him. Its not so efficient. So if he will use a cookie he can remember your name in his temporary memory.

Session

Session is a way to store data of a user between requests. A unique identifier assigned to a user when they start interacting with the application. It’s usually stored as a cookie in the user’s browser.

Analogy

Session is type of a webcam in the store. When you enters in a store it started recording you and when you leave its then it can’t.

Header

Headers are key-value pair sent between the client and the server. They contains essential metadata about the request and response.

Analogy

When you order something from you amazon you get a receipt too. That receipt is metadata that provide essential information about buyer and seller.