Introduction to Web Programming
Introduction to Web Programming
Web Programming
Overview of Web Programming
Concepts and Principles
● HTML: Used for structuring web content with elements like headings,
paragraphs, and links.
● CSS: Styles web content with properties like color, font size, and layout.
● JavaScript: Adds interactivity and dynamic behavior to web pages.
● Frontend Frameworks: Such as React, Angular, and Vue.js for building
interactive and responsive web applications.
● ServerSide Languages: PHP, Python, Ruby, Node.js, and others for
serverside processing.
● Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and more for data storage.
● Web Servers: Apache, Nginx, and others for serving web content.
Understanding ClientSide vs. ServerSide
Programming
ClientSide Programming:
Clientside programming involves scripting and code execution on the user's
web browser. JavaScript is the primary clientside programming language.
Responsibilities include enhancing user interface interactivity, form validation, and
clientside data processing. Clientside code is visible to users and can be modified or
exploited, so security considerations are crucial.
ServerSide Programming:
Serverside programming involves scripting and code execution on the web server.
Serverside languages like PHP, Python, and Java are used. Responsibilities include
processing form submissions, interacting with databases, and generating dynamic
content. Serverside code is not visible to users, enhancing security.
ClientServer Interaction:
● In web programming, clientside and serverside code often work together to
deliver a seamless user experience.
● Clientside code requests resources and interacts with the user.
● Serverside code processes requests, retrieves data, and generates
responses.
Example: Consider a login form on a website. Clientside JavaScript can perform
initial form validation (e.g., checking if required fields are filled). Upon submission,
the form data is sent to the server for authentication and authorization.
Understanding the basics of web programming concepts, tools, and the distinction
between clientside and serverside programming is fundamental for any web
developer. As you progress in this course, you'll delve deeper into these topics and
gain handson experience in web development.
Internet and its Services
The Internet:
● The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers and devices.
● It enables the exchange of data, communication, and access to resources
across the world.
● The Internet has transformed the way we live, work, and interact.
5. POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access
Protocol):
POP3 and IMAP are email retrieval protocols. They enable email clients to fetch
messages from email servers.
Understanding Web Hosting and
Domain Names
Web Hosting:
● Web hosting is the service of providing storage space and resources for
websites and web applications on a web server.
● Web hosting companies offer various hosting plans, including shared hosting,
dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting.
● Factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider include server
reliability, security, and scalability.
Domain Names:
A domain name is a userfriendly address that maps to the IP address of a web
server. It's used to identify websites on the Internet. Domain names consist of two
parts: the domain (e.g., google.com) and the toplevel domain (e.g., .com, .org, .net).
Domain registration is the process of acquiring and owning a domain name through
a domain registrar.
DNS (Domain Name System)
DNS is a distributed system that translates human readable domain names into IP
addresses. It plays a critical role in enabling users to access websites using domain
names. DNS records include A records (maps domain to IPv4 address) and AAAA
records (maps domain to IPv6 address).
Understanding the Internet and its services, web protocols, web hosting, and domain
names is fundamental for web developers and anyone involved in web development
projects. These concepts form the basis for creating, hosting, and accessing
websites and web applications on the World Wide Web.
Lecture Title: Operation of the Web
ClientServer Model:
● The World Wide Web operates on a clientserver architecture.
● In this model, there are two key roles: the client and the server.
● Client: The client is typically a web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox) or a
mobile app that requests and displays web content.
● Server: The server hosts web content, processes requests, and sends
responses back to the client.
Communication Flow:
● Clients initiate communication by sending requests to servers.
● Servers process the requests and send back responses containing the
requested data.
● This requestresponse cycle forms the basis of web communication.
HTTP Request and Response Cycle
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): HTTP is a protocol used for exchanging data
between a client and a server. It is the foundation of web communication.
HTTP Request:
● When you enter a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in a web browser's
address bar and press Enter, the browser sends an HTTP request to the
server specified in the URL.
● The request typically contains information such as the requested resource
(e.g., a web page), headers, and any additional data (e.g., form submissions).
● Common HTTP request methods include GET (retrieve data), POST (submit
data), and more.
o
HTTP Response:
● Upon receiving an HTTP request, the server processes the request and sends
back an HTTP response.
● The response includes the requested data, response status (e.g., success or
error), and headers.
● The server's response may contain HTML content, images, CSS, JavaScript,
or other resources required to render a web page.
Status Codes:
HTTP responses include status codes that indicate the outcome of the request.
Common status codes include 200 (OK, request successful), 404 (Not Found,
resource not available), and 500 (Internal Server Error, serverside issue).
Web Servers:
● A web server is software or hardware that stores and serves web content.
● It listens for incoming HTTP requests, processes them, and sends back HTTP
responses.
● Common web server software includes Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS, and
others.
● Web servers are responsible for hosting websites and web applications.
Web Browsers:
● A web browser is a client application used to access and display web content.
● Popular web browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft
Edge, and Safari.
● Browsers interpret HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to render web pages.
● They also manage user interactions such as clicking links, submitting forms,
and handling cookies.
What is a URL?
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a string of characters used to identify and
access resources on the World Wide Web. It serves as the web address for locating
web documents, files, and resources. URLs provide a standardized way to specify
the location of a resource on the Internet.
Components of a URL:
A URL consists of several components, including:
1. Scheme (Protocol): Specifies how the resource should be accessed (e.g.,
http:// or https:// for web pages).
2. Domain (or Host): Identifies the web server where the resource is hosted
(e.g., www.example.com).
3. Port (optional): Specifies the port number for communication (e.g., :80 for
HTTP).
4. Path: Specifies the file or directory path to the resource on the server (e.g.,
/folder/file.html).
5. Query (optional): Provides additional parameters for the resource (e.g.,
?id=123).
6. Fragment (optional): Points to a specific section within a resource (e.g.,
#section).
Examples of URLs:
http://www.example.com/index.html
https://www.example.com:443/blog/article.html
ftp://ftp.example.com/files/document.pdf
Relative and Absolute Addressing of Web
Documents
Relative Addressing:
Relative addressing refers to specifying the path to a resource relative to the current
location (directory) of the referring document. It is commonly used when linking to
resources within the same website or directory. Relative URLs do not include the full
domain or scheme.
Example: If you are on the page http://www.example.com/blog/index.html and
you want to link to a page in the same directory, you can use a relative URL
like "page.html."
Absolute Addressing:
Absolute addressing specifies the complete URL, including the scheme, domain, and
path to the resource. It is used when linking to resources outside of the current
website or when specifying an exact location.
Path Navigation:
● When specifying paths in URLs or referencing resources within web pages,
understanding the directory structure is essential.
● Use ".." to navigate up one level in the directory hierarchy and "/" to separate
directories and files.
Example: If you want to link to a stylesheet in the parent directory, you can use the
path "../styles/style.css."
Best Practices:
● Keep directory and file names lowercase and use hyphens or underscores to
separate words (e.g., "mypage.html" or "images/myimage.jpg").
● Avoid using spaces or special characters in file and directory names, as they
can lead to issues with URLs.
Understanding URLs, relative and absolute addressing, and working with directory
structures is crucial for web developers. These concepts help in creating links,
accessing resources, and organizing files within web projects, leading to effective
web document management.
Lecture Title: HTML (Hypertext Markup
Language)
HTML Overview:
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the standard markup language used to
create web pages and structure their content. It consists of a set of tags and
elements that define the structure and presentation of web documents.
HTML Tags:
● HTML uses tags to enclose and define elements within a web page.
● Tags are enclosed in angle brackets (e.g., `<tag>`).
● HTML tags are typically paired, consisting of an opening tag (`<tag>`) and a
closing tag (`</tag>`).
HTML Elements:
● HTML elements are made up of HTML tags and the content they enclose.
● Elements define the structure and semantics of the web page.
● Example: `<p>This is a paragraph.</p>`
Body Section: Contains the visible content of the web page, including text, images,
links, and other elements.
Headings (\<h1> to \<h6>): Headings are used to define the structure and hierarchy
of content. `<h1>` is the highestlevel heading, while `<h6>` is the lowest.
Example:
```html
<h1>Main Heading</h1>
<h2>Subheading</h2>
```
Lists (Ordered \<ol> and Unordered \<ul>): Lists are used to group and display
items in a structured manner.
Ordered lists (`<ol>`) use numbers, while unordered lists (`<ul>`) use bullets.
List items are defined with `<li>` elements.
Example:
```html
<ul>
<li>Item 1</li>
<li>Item 2</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>First</li>
<li>Second</li>
</ol>
```
Images (\<img>): The `<img>` element is used to display images on a web page. It
requires the `src` attribute to specify the image file's source. Other attributes like `alt`
provide alternative text for accessibility.
Example:
```html
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of the image">
```
These are the fundamental concepts of HTML, including tags, elements, and
structuring web page content. As you continue to learn web development, you'll
explore more HTML elements and their attributes to create rich and interactive web
pages.
Lecture Title: CSS (Cascading Style
Sheets)
What is CSS?
● CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used for describing
the presentation and styling of web documents written in HTML.
● It allows you to control the layout, colors, fonts, and other visual aspects of
web content.
● CSS separates content (HTML) from presentation, enhancing the flexibility
and maintainability of web pages.
CSS Syntax:
CSS rules are typically written inside a `<style>` block in the HTML `<head
style=”color:red;”>` section or in an external CSS file (linked to the HTML document).
A CSS rule consists of a selector, followed by a set of properties enclosed in curly
braces:
```css
selector {
property1: value1;
property2: value2;
/ More properties... /
}
```
Selector Types:
● Element Selector: Selects all instances of a specific HTML element.
● Class Selector: Selects elements with a specific class attribute value (e.g.,
`.my-class`).
● ID Selector: Selects a single element with a specific ID attribute value (e.g.,
`#my-id`).
● Descendant Selector: Selects elements that are descendants of another
element (e.g., `parent-element child-element`).
Example:
```css
/ Element Selector /
p{
color: blue;
}
/ Class Selector /
.highlight {
background-color: yellow;
}
/ ID Selector /
#header {
font-size: 24px;
}
/ Descendant Selector /
.menu li {
font-weight: bold;
}
```
Color Properties:
● `color`: Sets the text color.
● `background-color`: Sets the background color.
Font Properties:
● `font-family`: Specifies the font family.
● `font-size`: Sets the font size px or rem.
● `font-weight`: Controls the font weight (e.g., bold or normal).
Background Properties:
● `background-image`: Sets a background image.
● `background-color`: Sets the background color.
● `background-repeat`, `background-position`, and `background-size`:
Control image positioning and sizing.
Border Properties:
`border`: Sets all border properties in one declaration.
`border-width`, `border-style`, `border-color`: Control border width, style, and color
separately.
Example:
```css
/ Color Properties /
h1 {
color: red;
}
/ Font Properties /
p{
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
}
/ Background Properties /
.banner {
background-image: url('banner.jpg');
background-color: #f0f0f0;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: center top;
background-size: cover;
}
/ Border Properties /
.box {
border: 2px solid #333;
}
```
CSS is a powerful tool for styling web pages. It allows you to control the visual
presentation of HTML elements, creating attractive and user-friendly web designs.
As you continue your web development journey, you'll explore more CSS features
and techniques to enhance your styling skills.
Lecture Title: JavaScript
What is JavaScript?
● JavaScript is a high-level, versatile programming language primarily used for
adding interactivity and functionality to web pages.
● It allows web developers to create dynamic, client-side features that en hance
user experience without requiring a page reload.
Variables:
● Variables are used to store and manage data in JavaScript.
● They are declared using the `var`, `let`, or `const` keyword.
● Variables can store various data types, including numbers, strings, booleans,
objects, and more.
Data Types:
JavaScript has dynamic typing, which means variables can change data types during
runtime. Common data types include:
Var x=2 or let x=2
● Number: Represents numeric values.
● String: Represents text and characters.
● Boolean: Represents true or false values.
● Object: Represents complex data structures.
● Array: Represents ordered collections of values.
Operators:
● JavaScript supports various operators for performing operations on variables
and values.
● Arithmetic operators (`+`, `-`, `*`, `/`) perform mathematical calculations.
● Comparison operators (`==`, `!=`, `>`, `<`) compare values.
● Logical operators (`&&`, `||`, `!`) perform logical operations.
Implementing Functions and Control Structures
Functions:
● Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
● They are defined using the `function` keyword and can accept parameters
(inputs) and return values (outputs).
● Functions are essential for structuring code and promoting code reusability.
```javascript
// Function declaration
function greet(name) {
return "Hello, " + name + "!";
}
// Function call
var greeting = greet("Alice");
```
Control Structures:
Control structures, such as `if` statements, loops, and switch statements, are used to
control the flow of a program.
● `if` statements allow conditional execution of code based on a specified
condition.
● Loops (`for`, `while`, `do...while`) enable repetitive execution of code.
● `switch` statements provide multiple conditional branches.
```javascript
// If statement
if (condition) {
// Code to execute if the condition is true
}
// For loop
for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
// Code to execute in each iteration
}
// Switch statement
switch (value) {
case 1:
// Code for case 1
break;
case 2:
// Code for case 2
break;
default:
// Code for other cases
}
```
JavaScript is a powerful language for creating dynamic and interactive web pages.
By understanding variables, data types, operators, functions, and control structures,
you'll have the foundation needed to build engaging web applications.
Key Characteristics:
● Platform-agnostic: Web services are designed to work on any platform or
technology stack.
● Language-agnostic: They can be implemented using various programming
languages.
● Standardized Protocols: Web services often use standardized protocols like
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and REST (Representational State
Transfer) for communication.
What is an API?
● An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and protocols
that allows one software application to interact with another.
● APIs define the methods and data formats that applications can use to
request and exchange information.
Types of APIs:
● Web APIs: These are APIs that are accessible over the internet, typically
using HTTP, and are commonly used for web services.
● Library or Framework APIs: These APIs are provided by software libraries or
frameworks to enable developers to use their functionality.
API Usage:
APIs are used for a variety of purposes, including fetching data from a remote server,
sending data to a server, accessing external services (e.g., weather data, payment
gateways), and automating tasks.
Example:
A weather application may consume a weather web service to fetch real-time
weather data for a given location and display it to the user.
Understanding web services and APIs is crucial for modern web development. They
enable developers to access a wide range of functionalities and data sources,
making it possible to create feature-rich and interconnected web applications.
Forms in HTML:
● HTML `<form>` elements are used to collect and submit user data.
● Common form elements include text input fields, radio buttons, checkboxes,
dropdown lists, and submit buttons.
● Form data is sent to a server for processing, often used for user registration,
login, and data submission.
```html
<form action="submit.php" method="post">
<label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username" required>
<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password" required>
Tables in HTML:
HTML tables (`<table>`, `<tr>`, `<td>`) are used to organize data into rows and
columns. Tables are commonly used for displaying tabular data or creating grid
layouts.
```html
<table>
<tr>
<th>Header 1</th>
<th>Header 2</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Data 1</td>
<td>Data 2</td>
</tr>
</table>
```
```css
.container {
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
}
```
CSS Grid Layout:
● Grid layout is a two-dimensional layout system that simplifies the creation of
grid-based designs.
● It is particularly useful for creating grid-like structures and responsive layouts.
```css
.grid-container {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;
}
```
```css
@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
/* Styles for small screens/
}
```
```html
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
```
Advanced HTML and CSS techniques are essential for creating sophisticated and
responsive web applications. By mastering forms, tables, multimedia elements, and
advanced layout techniques, you can build web experiences that meet the diverse
needs of users across different devices and screen sizes.
Manipulating Content:
JavaScript can change the content of HTML elements, such as text, attributes, and
styles. Methods like `textContent`, `innerHTML`, and `setAttribute()` are commonly
used for manipulation.
```javascript
// Change text content
document.getElementById('my-element').textContent = 'New Text';
Event Handling:
JavaScript can respond to various events, such as clicks, mouse movements,
keypresses, and form submissions. Event listeners are used to attach JavaScript
functions to HTML elements to execute when specific events occur.
```javascript
// Add a click event listener
document.getElementById('my-button').addEventListener('click', function() {
// Code to execute on button click
});
```
User Interaction:
JavaScript allows you to create interactive features, like form validation and
interactive forms. You can access user input, validate data, and provide feedback to
users.
jQuery:
jQuery is a popular JavaScript library that simplifies DOM manipulation, event
handling, animations, and AJAX interactions. It provides a concise and
cross-browser-compatible syntax for many common tasks.
```javascript
// jQuery example: hide element on button click
$('#my-button').click(function() {
$('#my-element').hide();
});
```
HTML Structure:
● HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is used to structure the content of a web
page.
● A basic HTML document consists of an opening `<html>` tag, a `<head>`
section for metadata, and a `<body>` section for the visible content.
```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Page Title</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-Content goes here -->
</body>
</html>
```
HTML Elements:
HTML elements define the structure and semantics of a web page.
Common elements include headings `<h1>`, paragraphs `<p>`, lists (`<ul>`, `<ol>`,
`<li>`), and div containers `<div>` for layout.
Incorporating Images, Videos, and
Other Media Elements
Images:
Use the `<img>` element to embed images in a web page.
The `src` attribute specifies the image file's source, and the `alt` attribute provides
alternative text for accessibility.
```html
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of the image">
```
Videos:
HTML5 introduced the `<video>` element for embedding videos.
You can specify video sources using multiple `<source>` elements for different
formats and browsers.
```html
<video controls>
<source src="video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
<source src="video.webm" type="video/webm">
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>
```
```html
<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example.com</a>
```
Navigation Menus:
Navigation menus are typically created using lists and CSS styles.
Use `<ul>` for an unordered list and `<li>` for list items.
```html
<ul>
<li><a href="page1.html">Page 1</a></li>
<li><a href="page2.html">Page 2</a></li>
<li><a href="page3.html">Page 3</a></li>
</ul>
```
Internal Links:
To link to sections within the same page, use anchor tags with the `id` attribute.
```html
<a href="#section2">Jump to Section 2</a>
<!--... -->
<h2 id="section2">Section 2</h2>
```
Project Description:
In this final project, students will create a restaurant website from scratch,
incorporating the concepts and skills they've learned throughout the course. The goal
is to build a fully functional and visually appealing web page for a fictional restaurant.
This project will demonstrate their proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Project Requirements:
6. Navigation (JavaScript):
● Implement smooth scrolling to navigate between sections when clicking on
menu links.
● Enhance the navigation menu by highlighting the current section as the user
scrolls through the page.
1. Functionality: Does the website function as intended? Are navigation links
working correctly, and does the reservation form validate user input?
2. Visual Appeal: Is the website visually appealing? Does it have an attractive
design, layout, and use of images?
3. Responsiveness: Is the website responsive and mobile-friendly? Does it
adapt to different screen sizes?
4. Code Quality: Is the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code well-structured,
organized, and properly commented?
5. Creativity: Are there creative elements in the design and layout of the
website, such as unique styling or animations?
6. Completion: Is the project complete, including all required pages (Home,
Menu, About Us, Contact) with content and styling?
This project will allow students to apply their knowledge and skills in web
programming to create a real-world web page, which can serve as a valuable
addition to their portfolios. It encourages creativity and problem-solving while
reinforcing the core concepts covered in the course.