UPSC Prelims 2007 Q2: Science & Technology – Computer & Information Technology
Who among the following is considered as the inventor of the World Wide Web (WWW)?
- (a) Edward Kasner
- (b) Bill Gates
- (c) Tim Berners - Lee
- (d) Vinod Bham
Answer: (c) Tim Berners - Lee
Explanation
Inventor of the World Wide Web
| Candidate | Actual contribution |
|---|---|
| Edward Kasner | Mathematician, coined the term "googol" |
| Bill Gates | Co-founder of Microsoft, software/OS pioneer |
| Tim Berners-Lee | Invented the World Wide Web at CERN (1989-91) |
| Vinod Bham | Not associated with any major computing invention |
Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist at CERN, invented the World Wide Web — the system of linked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. This is distinct from the Internet itself (network infrastructure pioneered by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn).
Answer: (c) Tim Berners-Lee.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Edward Kasner coined "googol"; unrelated to the Web.
- (b) Incorrect. Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft but did not invent the WWW.
- (c) CORRECT. Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web at CERN.
- (d) Incorrect. Vinod Bham is not associated with inventing the WWW.
Key point
Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web (hypertext system), distinct from the Internet itself.
Remember
Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the World Wide Web (Berners-Lee) with the Internet (Cerf/Kahn).
- Mixing up Tim Berners-Lee with Bill Gates, who built software for the web era but didn't invent it.
- Not recognising CERN as the invention's origin, a common distractor clue.
Exam tip
Web = Berners-Lee; Internet = Cerf/Kahn. Keep these two inventions separate.
Sources
- CERN — A short history of the Web
- Tim Berners-Lee — Weaving the Web (HarperSanFrancisco, 1999)