1. Naming and Addressing
A universal system for Naming and Addressing documents is the bedrock of the web. Without a common scheme, links cannot cross system boundaries.
Designing or selecting a hypermedia information system requires a balance between functionality, scalability, and ease of use. This document outlines the core criteria and features considered during the development of the WorldWideWeb.
Criteria for Hypermedia Systems
The following features determine the power and flexibility of a web of information:
- Navigation & Discovery: Techniques including browsing, keyword indexing, and graphical maps.
- Web Topology: The structural arrangement of nodes and the nature of their links.
- Multiuser Access: Considerations for protection, collaborative editing, locking, and annotation.
- Versioning: Mechanisms for tracking previous versions of nodes and the evolution of their relationships.
- Link Semantics: The ability for links to express specific types of relationships between documents.
The Three Pillars of Interoperability
For different systems to work together within a unified multiverse, agreement is required on three critical issues:
2. Protocols
The rules of communication. Standard Protocols allow browsers to talk to servers across disparate networks.
3. Document Formats
The Data Formats (such as HTML) in which content is stored and transferred. This includes the ability for smart browsers to negotiate format conversion or utilize gateways for legacy data.
Implementation and Optimization
Beyond the core pillars, efficient implementation requires advanced techniques such as caching, intelligent knowbots for resource discovery, and the use of gateways to bring existing databases into the web multiverse.