The Internet has been around since the 1950s. Originally, the Internet
was used to transfer messages and files from one user to another around
the world. The World Wide Web is one part of the Internet, though
it is the only part many ever see. The Web has also been around for
a long time (in computer terms- the early '90s) and is based on this transfer
of text and files. Behind every Web page is a set of words, files,
and directions on how to show the user these words and files.
With the advent of faster computers and networks, it became possible to transfer these files and have the result appear so that the "end user" could see the words and pictures on a page, rather than looking at words and then opening the picture files that were referred to in the text The user could use a mouse to point and click on links to other pages. However, keep in mind that when you see a Web page, you are still just looking at a "presentation" of these files and words. Your browser puts the text on a page, does minimal formatting, and inserts pictures where directed.
As you develop web pages, you wil find that you must work within these historical limitations. You will find you really have little choice of font, font size, spacing, and page layout. There are ways around these limitations that we will discuss as we proceed.