The Internet is a worldwide connection of computer networks. When you connect to the Internet, you are able to access vast amounts of information and take part in virtually unrestricted communication.
The World Wide Web is one part of the Internet. It consists of millions (some have estimated billions!) of sites through which one navigates by the use of hypertext links—cross references that take you directly to another related document or to another location. Web documents may feature not just text but also graphics, audio, and video. The Web can be a plentiful source of information and opinion about nearly anything--hobbies, news, organizations, companies, people, and much more.
But beware…!
Because almost anyone with a computer can put information on the Internet--free from the watchful eye of an editor or fact-checker--you can't expect everything you find to be accurate or free from bias. Also, because the Internet is so vast, it is often difficult to sort through and find the information you need.
Fortunately, there are many online tools available to help make finding and sorting through Web sites easier. The following lessons will help you make the most of your use of the Web to find quality information.
Using search engines and online directories