How to access a website

URLs

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address of a site e.g. www.wjec.co.uk/ the address for a web page on the world wide web / the recognised method for referring to resources on the internet / the unique address for a file that is accessible on the Internet.

You simply type it in the exact web address of the website into the address bar./ click on it to go directly to the website you want. (action and effect).

But obviously you must know the URL in question. Not good for a general search on a topic – takes the user to one site. If you do not know the address of the sites of interest, then you can buy books (called directories) (1) or buy one of the popular Internet magazines that contain them (1).

Search Engines

Use of a search engine an application accessed over the internet that maintains indexes of web pages. (1) and you have to type in logical operators/key words to find the information you require and select from given list. (1)

Boolean Searches

A Boolean search is a search using the operators AND, OR or NOT.

NOT YES or NO to give a more precise list. The search is refined, more accurate and produces a shorter list of possible sites.

Using AND narrows a search by combining terms; it will retrieve documents that use both the search terms you specify, (e.g. Portland AND Oregon) Using OR broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you type in, (e.g. liberal OR democrat)

Using NOT will narrow a search by excluding certain search terms, (e.g. France NOT Canada) It helps save time searching for information as it helps you narrow down a search.

Example for 2 marks

A Boolean search allows you to combine words and phrases using the words AND, OR, NOT and NEAR to limit, widen, or define your search.

Hyperlinks

A customer can also use hyperlinks - an area of a web page that contains a link to another location on the Web. (1) You can surf the Internet, which means that you are using hyperlinks to move from one area of interest to another. (1)