newbie webmaster

This book begins with three chapters that outline how networks and network programs work. Chapter 1, is a gentle introduction to network programming in Java and the applications that it makes possible. All readers should find something of interest in this chapter. It explores some of the unique programs that become feasible when networking is combined with Java. Chapter 2, and Chapter 3, explain in detail what a programmer needs to know about how the Internet and the Web work. Chapter 2 describes the protocols that underlie the Internet, such as TCP/IP and UDP/IP. Chapter 3 describes the standards that underlie the Web such, as HTTP, HTML, and CGI. If you've done a lot of network programming in other languages on other platforms, you may be able to skip these two chapters.

The next two chapters throw some light on two parts of Java that are critical to almost all network programs but are often misunderstood and misused: I/O and threading. Chapter 4 explores Java's unique way of handling input and output. Understanding how Java handles I/O in the general case is a prerequisite for understanding the special case of how Java handles network I/O. Chapter 5 explores multithreading and synchronization, with a special emphasis on how they can be used for asynchronous I/O and network servers. Experienced Java programmers may be able to skim or skip these two chapters. However, Chapter 6, is essential reading for everyone. It shows how Java programs interact with the Domain Name System through the InetAddress class, the one class that's needed by essentially all network programs. Once you've finished this chapter, it's possible to jump around in the book as your interests and needs dictate. There are, however, some interdependencies between specific chapters.