For Week 4, the topics will be divided into two main sections: Functions in Programming and the Structure of the Web and Network Communication.

This week’s reading material delves into the technical aspects of functions - you’ll gain a solid understanding of how to write and use functions in your code. The segment on functions is the main basis for the practical parts of this week - the examination assignments.

The section about the structure of the web and network communication is more theoretical, and will not include a great deal of practical work. However, having a solid understanding of these concepts will ease some of the confusion when you begin diving into web development, whether on the client side or server side. Courses covering both aspects will start during the fall semester. The week’s reading aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how web development and network communication work. When you know how data flows between clients and servers, you’ll gain valuable context on how information is transmitted and managed online. This understanding will help you write more efficient and effective code, connect front-end and back-end components seamlessly, and troubleshoot issues when data doesn’t reach its destination. With this knowledge, you'll be better equipped to debug problems and create a more cohesive and functional web application.

• Functions in Programming - This section will dive into one of the most essential concepts in coding—functions. You'll get an overview of what functions are, what they do, and how they work. From start to finish, we’ll go through the purpose, structure, and syntax of a function, so you can start practicing writing your own functions. We'll cover how to declare and call functions, the importance of parameters and return values, and how to use these concepts to build more maintainable code.

• Introduction to Web Development - This section introduces the foundational concepts of web development. We’ll dive into the foundational concepts of web development, exploring both front-end and back-end development, and learn to distinguish between the two. You'll gain insight into how websites function through the interaction between the browser (front end) and the server (back end). We’ll also explore the client-server model, which organizes data and services over a network, and learn about the roles of clients and servers in facilitating network communication.

• The Structure of the Web and Network Communication - In this section, we'll explore the architecture of the web and how data flows across networks. You'll gain an understanding of the various components that make up the web, including servers, clients, and the protocols used to facilitate communication between them. We'll also discuss how data is transmitted over the internet, the role of IP addresses, DNS, and how routers manage data traffic to ensure it reaches its destination efficiently.

📚 MATERIALS