A 'web site' can be thought of as groups of files, much like paper files in folders, that are placed into different cabinets. The 'web server' can be thought of as a cabinet full of such files and folders, that when accessed by the user through a web browser, presents the contents of those files to the web browser, and thus to the person viewing the web site. The web address, referred to as the URL, is a pointer to a particular web server like an office listing might direct an employee to a particular cabinet for particular documents.

The term 'website design' refers to the process of producing web sites for publication on the world wide web. Web site design follows the same guidelines as any other published document. The content of the web site is selected, altered, or produced as an original work. The page layout must be organized, logical, and easily navigated. The site itself must be thoroughly tested before final publication.

The design and publication of web sites does not require the investment of time, training, money and resources that producing professional publications on other media does. Using the free website design tools available today, almost anyone with a computer and internet access can engage in website design and publication.

It may take a few minutes and almost no money to design a website that is utilized to present basic media such as such as text, images and video. Whereas a very complex website that is having various interactive features ,or connections to a large database may require a substantial budget and professional help.

If you are new to the world of website design, and would like to get started producing your very own web site, the first thing to do is to think about the nature of the content that you are interested in sharing. Next, consider your intended audience. Your target audience could be the entire world, or just a few close friends. Your intended audience could even be just yourself - especially if you would like to keep a journal, personal photos or writings on the internet where you can access them any time, and from almost anywhere.

The last thing you will need to help you put your site together is web design software. If your web site is non-commercial, the free tools your internet service provider probably offers are often the best tools. Visit your ISP's web site, or search for a term like 'affordable web site design software' to find out more.

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.