We can use the office metaphor to better understand the world wide web. Think of a web site as a collection of paper files organized into folder which are themselves sorted into various cabinets. A web server could be thought of as the cabinet. This cabinet is accessed by web surfer using a web browser program, which displays the content of those files onto the user's computer screen. The cabinet, or web server, has an address called the URL which directs the web browser to the desired destination.

As with any other document meant to be seen by a large number of people, a web site must be carefully designed. The content of the site must be thought out and then assembled or produced, after which it must be laid out in a way that people can read. Before publication, the web site has to be tested to ensure that it can be reliably accessed. This entire process is usually referred to by the name website design.

Website design and publication requires minimum financial investment and specialized skills in comparison to print publication. The software tools available for website design today allow virtually anyone with computer access and an internet connection the ability to design and launch a personal web site.

A simple web site design for non-commercial purposes can be very quick and inexpensive to produce. Such personal web sites typically contain basic media like text, images and video. Complicated web sites, often commercial in nature, can be very expensive and time consuming to produce. Such web sites typically contain additional interactive features and links to databases for applications like virtual shopping carts.

If you're new to website design, and desire to get started creating your own website, the first step is to consider what type of content you're interested in sharing. The next step is to think about your target audience. It could be the whole world, or just several close friends. The target audience could even be only yourself - particularly if you want to keep a journal, personal photographs or writings on the internet that can be accessed anytime, and from nearly anywhere.

Finally, you will need to find web design software to help you to put it all together. Depending on your needs, the best web design software is often the free software tools that your internet service provider probably provides. You can learn more by searching for a phrase such as 'web site design software', or by visiting the main page of your internet service provider.

If you're considering creating a web site for any number of reasons, it's never been a better time to get started. From personal sites to commercial applications, each is explained in detail. Here, you'll learn the fundamentals of good website design and get suggestions on how to acquire the proper tools to create your best web design. You'll discover that there are many free services to help you start as well as more advanced web design software to consider as your requirements grow. If you're ready to publish your material to world, this is an excellent primer.