webpage "file index"

The name of the first page on any site must be named index.html or index.htm. This is because the web server will alway 'look for' the file named 'index.html' first, before retreiving other pages. Therefore, when one types the address www.my_website.com into the browser, the server will by default display the index page, the actual URL is www.my_website.com/index.html, but you do not see the file name in the browser address bar. Also, many web sited do not 'activate' until a page named 'index.html' is uploaded to the site.