Websites, Domains & Internet Infrastructure · WDH-006

What is a webpage?¶

A webpage is one particular page or resource presented through a browser. It is not necessarily the whole website, and the exact page address may be more important than the site’s home page.

A webpage may contain text, images, video, forms, account information, links or interactive content. A website is the wider collection of pages and services available through one or more domains.

Why the distinction matters¶

Evidence may relate to one specific page rather than the entire website.

Examples include:

• a fraudulent product listing on a legitimate marketplace;
• a malicious file published through one user account;
• a compromised page inside a genuine organisation’s site; or
• a particular account, payment or login page.

Recording only example.com loses the distinction between, for example:

• example.com/store/item-482; and
• example.com/account/login.

Those pages may relate to different content, users, systems and provider records.

Preserve the observation properly¶

Webpages can change, disappear or display different content depending on account, location, device or sign-in state.

Record:

• the complete URL as text;
• the date, time and time zone;
• how the page was reached;
• whether an account was signed in;
• the visible content; and
• any interaction that changed what appeared.

A screenshot is useful but may not capture the complete address or route taken.

Do not assume every element came from the same source. Advertisements, payment forms, embedded media and chat tools may be provided by third parties.