What initiates a request in the website lifecycle?

A request in the website lifecycle is initiated when a user enters an address into the URL text box and hits enter. This action triggers the browser to communicate with the web server that hosts the desired website. The browser translates the entered URL into a specific request, using the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to retrieve the webpage associated with that address.

When a user clicks a link or a website is loaded into the browser, it also results in requests, but they are not the initial actions that specifically target the URL input directly. The function of entering a URL is distinctly about directly asking for a specific resource, while clicking a link is simply navigating based on existing connections or directives. Similarly, the action of a web server sending data comes into play after the request has been made; it does not initiate the process.