The technology essential for the functioning of the World Wide Web includes HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). HTTP is the protocol used for transferring data across the web, while HTML provides the structure for web pages and content layout. Together, they enable the interactive and dynamic nature of the internet we experience today. Other complementary technologies, such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for styling and JavaScript for interactivity, further enhance web functionalities and user engagement.