Tim Berners-Lee Biography: The Genius Behind the World Wide Web

Last update: July 25, 2025
  • Tim Berners-Lee was born on June 8, 1955 and is the inventor of the World Wide Web.
  • His work at CERN led to the creation of HTML, URIs, and HTTP.
  • He chose to make the Web free and open source for everyone.
  • He founded the W3C in 1994 to develop web standards and promote the evolution of the Web.
Biography of Tim Berners-Lee

Biography of Tim Berners-Lee

Computer History
Related article:
History of the Computer: How it was born and transformed the modern world

The Birth of the World Wide Web

  1. HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The markup language for creating web pages.
  2. URI (Uniform Resource Identifier): A unique “name” or “address” for each resource on the Web.
  3. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): Allows the retrieval of linked resources on the Web.
What is the www?
Related article:
Everything you need to know about the WWW and its impact

Impact and Legacy

Recognitions and Honors

  • Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2004
  • Order of Merit of the United Kingdom in 2007
  • ACM Turing Award 2016
  • Queen Elizabeth Engineering Prize 2013

Vision for the Future of the Web

The Philosophy of Tim Berners-Lee

«The Web is more a social creation than a technical one. I designed it to have a social effect – to help people work together – and not as a technical toy.»

history of e-commerce
Related article:
From clicks to empires: The fascinating history of e-commerce

Lessons from Tim Berners-Lee's Biography

  1. The power of an idea: A single idea, well executed, can change the world.
  2. The importance of sharingBy making the Web free and open, Berners-Lee enabled its rapid adoption and evolution.
  3. The responsibility that comes with innovationBerners-Lee didn't stop after inventing the Web, but continues to work to improve and protect it.
  4. InterdisciplinarityBerners-Lee's background in physics gave him a unique perspective that allowed him to innovate in the field of computer science.
  5. The long term vision:From the beginning, Berners-Lee saw the potential of the Web to connect people and share knowledge on a global scale.
  Complete guide to Gmail smart features and settings

Tim Berners-Lee FAQ

1. When and where was Tim Berners-Lee born?

2. What is Tim Berners-Lee's most famous invention?

3. Why didn't Tim Berners-Lee get rich from the invention of the Web?

4. What is Tim Berners-Lee doing now?

5. Has Tim Berners-Lee received any major awards for his work?

Conclusion of Tim Berners-Lee's biography