A tutorial has many different definitions and with the introduction of the internet in the modern age it is often associated with online advice sites giving tutorials on anything from using word processors to complex web coding.

Originally, and in British academia, a tutorial is a class of just one (or just a few) students with one tutor handing over to them advice and knowledge. This is the fundamental teaching method used at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. It is used at other institutions but is rare due to the numbers of staff this would require. One on one supervision is usually offered to students working on a dissertation or thesis as most students will differ on their chosen subject.

Because of the internet, tutorials have new connotations. They can now take the forms of video files, written documents (to be read on a site or downloaded) or an audio file. Via these methods, step by step instructions are given to an audience. Usually, tutorials have certain characteristics, they contain a presentation of the content with examples to demonstrate their points, they have a method of review that builds on tests and reinforces them and they also have transitions that lead to additional modules or sections. As a result, tutorials can either be branching or linear.

Newer tutorials used by computers (computer based education) can show people how to use certain software like word processors, games or editing software. These can give onscreen instructions that include movies and still images and can also be interactive for the user. These user based tutorials can either be included in the software or available on the web, or both. Various websites even email out tutorials as part of their service, as long as a user has signed up accordingly on their website.

There are some websites online that specialise in tutorials, acting as a database for various other websites that offer technical support to various products. Adobe Photoshop is a typical example of a product that has various outlets for those seeking help. Searching tutorials on google, for example, brings up tutorials on photoshop as its first hit. There are also various tutorials on anything from driving a car to even navigating the tutorial site to begin with. As a result, the internet offers a whole range of opportunities for people to learn new skills.