Internet and Its Uses · 4 question types
Past paper frequency (2018 to 2024)
This topic accounts for approximately 3% of your exam marks.
The difference between the internet and the WWW, and cookie/browser functions, are typical questions.
A web browser is application software used to request, receive and display web pages from web servers.
Common browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave. The exam never rewards brand names, only generic features.
When the user types a URL or clicks a link:
Every modern browser includes a similar set of user-facing features.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Address bar | Where the user types a URL (or pastes one). Usually also doubles as a search bar |
| Back / forward buttons | Navigate through previously visited pages in the current tab |
| Refresh button | Reload the current page (in case it has changed, or got stuck) |
| Home button | Jump back to a default home page set by the user |
| Tabbed browsing | Keep several pages open at once and switch between them within one window |
| Bookmarks / favourites | Save links to frequently visited pages so they can be reached with a single click |
| History | A record of previously visited pages, searchable by URL and title |
| Cookie storage and management | Holds cookies set by websites; lets the user view, allow or block them (see section 5) |
| Private / incognito browsing | A mode that does not save history or cookies for that session |
| Search bar | Direct search through a default search engine without typing the engine's URL |
| Extensions / add-ons | Optional third-party features that add functionality (ad blockers, password managers, dark mode, etc.) |
| Download manager | Tracks files the user has saved from web pages |
| Pop-up blocker | Stops unwanted pop-up windows from being opened by websites |
A common confusion in exam answers: a browser is not a search engine.
You can use Chrome to visit Bing, or use Edge to visit Google. The browser and the search engine are independent.