Learn You the Web
A friendly guide to how the web actually works. For Real This Time.
Once upon a time, the web was just a polite question and an honest answer. A browser asked for a page, a server replied, and that was the whole miracle. The web you use today is still built on that same exchange—it just wears a lot more armor. This book explains how that armor came to be, what purpose it serves, and how you can use it wisely, so hosting and protecting your own corner of the web becomes something you understand, not something you avoid.
- Introduction
- Asking for a Page
The web begins when one computer politely asks another for something.
- Getting an Answer
The server's reply is always structured: a status that tells you how it went, and content to back it up.
- The Place That Answers
A server is just a computer that waits patiently to answer your requests.
- Speaking Clearly
HTTP is the shared language that makes web conversations possible.
- Standing at the Door
A reverse proxy receives requests on behalf of your server, deciding what gets through.
- Locks, Keys, and Quiet Conversations
HTTPS and TLS keep web conversations private, like a sealed envelope only the recipient can open.
- When Things Get Busy
How the web handles crowds: more servers, smart routing, and caching.
- Running Your Own Corner
The web is still open. You can run your own piece of it.
- Print Version
Complete single-page version of Learn You the Web for printing or offline reading.