When you visit a website, a complex but well-orchestrated process takes place, involving several core technologies and systems working together. Imagine you are sitting at your computer and type a URL like https://www.example.com into your browser's address bar. As soon as you press Enter, your browser begins a series of actions that connect you to the right server, request the content, and display the page securely and interactively.

The journey starts with your browser checking if it already knows the IP address for www.example.com. If not, it asks the Domain Name System (DNS) to translate the human-readable domain name into a numerical IP address that computers use to locate each other on the internet. Once the IP address is found, your browser knows where to send its request.

Next, your browser prepares an HTTP or HTTPS request, depending on whether the site is secure. It sends this request over the internet to the server at the IP address provided. The server receives your request, processes it—often involving server-side scripts or databases—and then sends back an HTTP response, usually containing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.

If the website uses HTTPS, the browser and server perform a handshake to establish a secure, encrypted connection. This involves exchanging SSL/TLS certificates, verifying authenticity, and setting up encryption keys. This step ensures that any information sent or received remains private and protected from eavesdroppers.

Once the browser receives the server's response, it begins rendering the page. The browser parses the HTML, applies CSS for styling, and runs any JavaScript to enable interactivity. Images and other resources are fetched as needed, and the final result is the complete web page you see and interact with. Throughout this process, cookies may be set or read to remember your preferences or log you in, and the stateless nature of HTTP is managed by sending necessary data with each request.

All the key pieces you have learned—DNS, HTTP, IP addresses, hosting, and HTTPS—work together to deliver a modern website. DNS translates a friendly domain name into a precise IP address, allowing your browser to find the right server. HTTP is the protocol that structures how requests and responses are exchanged, while hosting ensures that the server is always available to deliver content. HTTPS adds a crucial layer of security, encrypting data so that your information stays private. This combination of technologies enables you to visit websites that are fast, secure, and interactive, every time you enter a URL.