The notation is really really simple.
    -Always turn the face clockwise (unless indicated) -U- (U)pper face
    -F- (F)ront face
    -B- (B)ack face
    -R- (R)ight face
    -L- (L)eft face
    -M- (M)iddle slice(refer to animation)
    > -E- (E)quator slice(refer to animation) -S- (S)ide slice(refer to animation)
    -2- Turn face 180 degrees. i.e "R2 U F..."
    -'- Turn face counter clockwise i.e "R2 U F B'.."
    -w- Turn double-layers. i.e "R U R' U' >Rw..."
    - Double layer - Hold the outer layer and inner slice. i.e: Rw; Hold R face along with M slice.


S slice. Side slice
M slice. Middle slice
E slice. Equator slice

That's it. Notation really is that simple! :) But this website, and many others use other means of expression for patterns. Pictures and applets are the most common. Below is how to read these pictures and use the applets so they're not rendered pointless.
Images:
This should be enough of an explanation. ;) Only the OLL and PLL images use symbol, the other images picture the exact case. But always remember that the colors can be substituted. So if it's "blue, red and white" cubie, with blue as the bottom, red as front and white as left, then the colors can be substituted with the
appropriate colors that you're using.

So you thought images are effective eh? Well when you're looking at an image, and doing an algorithm, you're staring a the algorithm rather than whats going on with the cube. Then when you have to memorize the algorithm, you can't find any "checkpoints" right away... So we use applets! These animations follow the algorithm, and are set so after the algorithm is executed, they solve themselves. But that's not going to be the case with your cube most of the time. So you have to remember that.