Web/web

[Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM]

      World Wide Web is a name of a specific thing, and the Web is an
      abbreviated form of that name.  As such, both should be capitalized.

You know, I *really* don't understand what all the hoopla is about.

Proper nouns are capitalized; common ones are not. Is this *really* open to
discussion?

So, you look at the usage. When you write "the Internet" you are referring
to the specific collection of machines which grew out of the old DARPA net.
When you write "internet" or even "the internet" you are referring to any
collection of two or more networks which have been connected together. "The
Internet" is a subset of "internet;" a specific instance, a proper noun.

Likewise, when you write "the Web" you are referring specifically to files
on the aggregate collection of machines supporting HTTP, each visible to
all the machines connected to the Internet (defined above). When you write
"the web" you are referring to files on any collection of machines which
can communicate with each other via HTTP, regardless of whether they are
connected to the Internet. "The Web" is a subset of "web;" a specific
instance, a proper noun.

If you insist on an example unrelated to computing, look at "catholic."
There exist both "the Catholic Church" and "the catholic church." One
refers to a specific denomination, one to the universal collection of
Christian churches. The one is a subset of the other (at least in *some*
minds ;{>} ).


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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