Web facts for kids

The word Web can mean a few different things. It often refers to something made of many connected parts, like threads or lines. You might hear it used for a spider's home, the internet, or even the skin between a duck's toes!

What is a Web?

A web is generally a network or a structure made of many connected strands or parts. This idea of connection is key to understanding its different meanings.

Spider Webs

A Spider web is a special kind of trap built by a spider. Spiders use silk threads to weave these amazing structures. The main purpose of a spider web is to catch insects and other small creatures for the spider to eat.

Spiders are very clever builders. They make different types of webs, like sticky orb webs that look like wheels, or messy tangle webs. Each type is designed to catch specific prey. The silk they use is incredibly strong and stretchy, even stronger than steel of the same thickness!

The World Wide Web

When most people say "the web," they are talking about the World Wide Web. This is a huge system of connected computer documents and other information that you can access over the Internet. Think of it as a giant library where all the books and information are linked together.

How the Web Works

The World Wide Web uses something called hypertext. This means that text on one page can have links to other pages. When you click on a link, it takes you to a new page. This is how you jump from one website to another.

Web pages are stored on special computers called web servers. When you type a website address into your browser, your computer asks the server for that page. The server then sends the page back to your computer, and your browser shows it to you.

What You Can Do on the Web

The World Wide Web lets you do many things. You can find information for school projects, watch videos, play games, talk to friends, and shop online. It has changed how people learn, communicate, and entertain themselves around the world.

Webbed Feet and Other Webs

The word "web" can also describe the skin found between the fingers or toes of some animals. For example, ducks and other waterfowl have webbed feet. This skin helps them swim much better by giving them more surface area to push against the water.

Beyond animals, "web" can also describe materials that look or act like a woven net. For instance, the part of a baseball glove between the thumb and first finger is called the web. It's designed to help catch and hold the baseball.