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We can use the office metaphor to better understand the world wide web. Think of a web site as a collection of paper files organized into folder which are themselves sorted into various cabinets. A web server could be thought of as the cabinet. This cabinet is accessed by web surfer using a web browser program, which displays the content of those files onto the user's computer screen. The cabinet, or web server, has an address called the URL which directs the web browser to the desired destination.

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.

Website design and publication requires minimum financial investment and specialized skills in comparison to print publication. The software tools available for website design today allow virtually anyone with computer access and an internet connection the ability to design and launch a personal web site.

A simple web site design for non-commercial purposes can be very quick and inexpensive to produce. Such personal web sites typically contain basic media like text, images and video. Complicated web sites, often commercial in nature, can be very expensive and time consuming to produce. Such web sites typically contain additional interactive features and links to databases for applications like virtual shopping carts.

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.