Unit 2: Web Technologies & Databases

February 21, 2026

Semester 2
BP205T

Introduction to Web Technologies & Databases

Unit 2 introduces you to the technology powering the modern internet. You learn about web development basics (HTML, CSS, XML), how web servers work, and how data is organized in databases. The Pharmacy Drug Database is a critical application for pharmacists managing drug information.

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Syllabus & Topics

  • 1Web Technologies: Introduction and overview of the World Wide Web.
  • 2HTML (HyperText Markup Language): Structure, tags, and uses.
  • 3XML (eXtensible Markup Language): Structure, uses, and difference from HTML.
  • 4CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): Purpose and basic syntax.
  • 5Programming Languages: Overview (High-level and Low-level languages).
  • 6Introduction to Web Servers: HTTP, Apache, Internet Information Server (IIS).
  • 7Server Products: Overview of web hosting technologies.
  • 8Introduction to Databases: Concept, DBMS, RDBMS.
  • 9MySQL: Introduction, basic concepts (Tables, Queries, SQL commands).
  • 10MS ACCESS: Introduction and comparison with MySQL.
  • 11Pharmacy Drug Database: Concept, structure, and importance for drug information management.

Learning Objectives

HTML vs XML: Explain the difference between HTML (presentation) and XML (structured data).
Database Concepts: Define Database, Table, Record, Field, and Primary Key.
Drug Database: Explain how a Pharmacy Drug Database helps in avoiding Drug-Drug interactions.
Write SQL: Write a basic SELECT query to retrieve information from a database table.
Web Server Role: Explain how a Web Server handles an HTTP request from a browser.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the difference between HTML and XML?

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is used to display data on web pages and has predefined tags such as <h1> and <p>.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is used to store and transport structured data and allows users to create custom tags.

Q2. What is a Relational Database?

A Relational Database stores data in tables (rows and columns) with defined relationships between them. Examples of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) include MySQL and MS Access.

Q3. What is a Pharmacy Drug Database?

A Pharmacy Drug Database is an electronic system containing detailed drug information such as generic/brand names, indications, contraindications, drug interactions, dosages, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). It is used for prescription validation and patient counseling.

Q4. What does CSS stand for and what is its role?

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to control the visual presentation of HTML documents, including colors, fonts, spacing, and layout, thereby separating content from design.

Q5. What is the role of a Web Server?

A Web Server (such as Apache or Nginx) stores, processes, and delivers web pages to client browsers using the HTTP/HTTPS protocol.