DocumentA Document is a term that has both general and specific meanings applicable to computer users. In a general sense, a document is a file which contains information that we can access by either our visual or auditory senses. The more specific definition of document that applies to World Wide Web users is synonymous with a hypertext node.
A document is:
A document is any printed, handwritten, or electronic source of information. For example, a legal contract, a word processed recipe for chocolate cake, or a traffic citation can all be considered documents in the loosest sense of the word.
A document file differs from a program file in that it is a file created by a program for the purpose of communication or storage of communication. It may contain textual, visual, or auditory information. In contrast, a program file contains an application for the purpose of creating documents.
A hypertext document is one that contains links to other files via hypertext nodes (documents). Hypertext documents on the World Wide Web allow users to access hyperlinked documents by providing the linked document's URL in the HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file. The user is able to view World Wide Web documents through a WWW browser, such as Mosaic or Netscape. The URL provides information for the exact point at which the linked document can be found, including server and directory information.
Hypertext nodes allow users to move easily through a maze (or web, if you will) of interconnected documents. This ease of access to a myriad of files on related subjects promotes "real time" access to news and information.