History of web site

he first online website appeared in 1991.^{[citation needed]} On 30 April 1993, CERN announced that the World Wide Web would be free to anyone.^[1]

Before the introduction of HTML and HTTP other protocols such as file transfer protocol and the gopher protocol were used to retrieve individual files from a server. These protocols offer a simple directory structure which the user navigates and choses files to download. Documents were most often presented as plain text files without formatting or encoded in word processor formats.

Web site history includes four main stages depending on the complexity of design and the level of development of Information Technologies.

The first stage is associated with the invention of the first web browser, Mosaic (1991). Website design at that time was determined by technical restrictions including inability to transfer the data quickly, monochrome monitors and slow modem connection. The design of the sites was plain and simple with headline banners and a full-page text.

With time HTML was improved, so the web sites of the second stage were more professional and oversaturated with colored graphics, numerous icons and bullets. Although designers began to pay attention to the load time, web design was still limited with the necessity to adapt site to the certain screen resolution and to 8bit or 24bit monitors.

Introduction of Flash technology marked the beginning of the third stage of web design history with its main purpose to deliver media content to the Internet users and attract more customers. The site structure and its navigation system came into the picture in order to allow users to find what they need quickly.

In practice, the fourth stage repeats the main principles of the third stage with some improvements and distinguishing characteristic such as abundance of multi-media content and unique web–driven selling propositions which can only be delivered on the World Wide Web.