Markup languages such as HTML and XHTML serve another important purpose when it comes to sharing information over long distances: Information comes to you faster because your computer (using a Web browser) does the work of interpreting the format of the information after you receive the page. Sound confusing? Well, let's look at it another way. Your computer has a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, installed on it. When you are looking for information on the Web, your browser has to find the computer that is storing that information. It does this using the HTTP. The storage computer, or server, then sends the new Web page (as a plain text file) back to your computer using the same HTTP. Your browser sees the new Web page and interprets the text and HTML tags to show you the formatting, graphics, and text that appear on the page. Tip
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