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Glossary of Internet Terms |
Anchor
Synonymous with hyperlinks, anchor refers to non-linear links among documents. Or more simply put, it's the word or phrase that can be selected to connect to another page or resource.
Bandwidth
The range of transmission frequencies a network can use. The greater the bandwidth the more information that can be transferred over that network at one time. The term bandwidth also broadly includes throughput, meaning the amount of data sent.
Bit
A contraction of binary digit, a bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer can hold. Eight bits is equivalent to a byte. The speed at which bits are transmitted or bit rate is usually expressed as bits per second or bps.
Blog
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.
Broadband
A general term for different types of high-speed, high-bandwidth connections to the Internet, including DSL and cable.
Browser
A type of software that allows you to navigate information databases; examples are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Byte
The number of bits used to represent a character.
Client
A computer that has access to services over a computer network. The computer providing the services is a server. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
Configuration
This is a general-purpose computer term that can refer to the way you have your computer set up. It is also used to describe the total combination of hardware components that make up a computer system and the software settings that allow various hardware components of a computer system to communicate with one another.
Configure
The act of changing software or hardware actions by changing the settings.
Content Management System
Using a secure account to control the content each of webpage in your website including text, images and other materials.
CyberMall
A term commonly used to describe an electronic site shared by a number of commercial interests.
Cyberspace
A term coined by William Gibson in his novel "Neuromancer" to refer to a near-future computer network where users mentally travel through matrices of data. The term is now used to describe the Internet and the other computer networks.
DNS
An acronym for Domain Name Server, DNS refers to a database of Internet names and addresses which translates the names to the official Internet Protocol numbers and vice versa.
Document
When used in reference to the World Wide Web, a document is any file containing text, media or hyperlinks that can be transferred from an HTTP server to a client program.
Document Window
This is the Web browser's scrollable window in which HTML documents can be viewed.
Download
To transfer to your computer a copy of a file that resides on another computer.
DSU
The abbreviation for Digital Services Unit, DSU replaces the modem in synchronous connections to the Internet.
Dynamic IP
In which the IP address may change (typically via DHCP) each time you log on to the Internet. See Static IP.
EDI
The abbreviation for Electronic Data Interchange, EDI system allows linked computers to conduct business transactions such as ordering and invoicing over telecommunications networks.
External Viewer
A program used for presenting graphics, audio and video files. Programs that allow the viewing of GIF and JPEG files and the hearing of AU files fall into this category.
FAQ
This is the acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. A common feature on the Internet, FAQs are files of answers to commonly asked questions. Read FAQs before wasting electrons asking obvious questions. Saves you from receiving flames.
Firewall
This term refers to security measures designed to protect a networked system from unauthorized or unwelcome access.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol is a protocol that allows the transfer of files from one computer to another. FTP is also the verb used to describe the act of transferring files from one computer to another.
Home Page
The document displayed when you first open your Web browser. Home Page can also refer to the first document you come to at a Web site.
Hotlists
Lists of frequently used Web locations and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators).
Host
A computer acting as an information or communications server.
HTML
An acronym for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is the language used to tag various parts of a Web document so browsing software will know how to display that document's links, text, graphics and attached media.
HTML Document
A document written in HyperText Markup Language.
HTTP
The abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP is used to link and transfer hypertext documents.
Hypermedia
The hypertext concept extended to include linked multiple media.
Hypertext
This term describes the system that allows documents to be cross- linked in such a way that the reader can explore related documents by clicking on a highlighted word or symbol.
Inline Images
These are the graphics contained within a Web document.
IP
The abbreviation for Internet Protocol, IP refers to the set of communication standards that control communications activity on the Internet. An IP address is the number assigned to any Internet-connected computer.
JPEG
The acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEG is an image compression format used to transfer color photographs and images over computer networks. Along with GIF, it's one of the most common ways photos are moved over the Web.
Links
These are the hypertext connections between Web pages. This is a synonym for hotlinks or hyperlinks.
Live
When used in reference to a World Wide Web file, this term designates an object linked to another layer of information.
Metaverse
From the novel "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, this term describes a virtual online representation of reality.
MPEG
The acronym for Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG is an international standard for video compression and desktop movie presentation. A special viewing application is needed to run MPEG files on your computer.
POP
An acronym for Point of Presence, POP is a service provider's location for connecting to users. Generally, POPs refer to the location where people can dial into the provider's host computer. Most providers have several POPs to allow low-cost access via telephone lines.
QuickTime
This is a digital video standard developed for Apple Macintosh computers. Special viewing applications are needed to run QuickTime movies.
Router
A communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient route possible.
Search Engine
This term refers to a program that helps users find information in text-oriented databases.
Search Engine Optimisation
The art of exposing the content of a website to the Internet Search Engines e.g. Google, MSN, and in doing so attracting your target users.
Server
A computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
Tags
These are formatting codes used in HTML documents. Tags indicate how parts of a document will appear when displayed by browsing software.
TIFF
This is the acronym for Tagged Image File Format, a graphic file format developed by Aldus and Microsoft. Mosaic supports the viewing of TIFF images.
URL
This is the abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the addressing system used in the World Wide Web and other Internet resources. The URL contains information about the method of access, the server to be accessed and the path of any file to be accessed.
Veronica
This is a search utility that helps find information on gopher servers. Veronica allows users to enter keywords to locate the gopher site holding the desired information. The name is an acronym for "very easy rodent oriented net-wide index of computerized archives." Honest!
Web Browser
This is the software that allows a user to access and view HTML documents. Examples of Web browsers include Netscape, Mosaic, Cello and Lynx.
Web Document
An HTML document that is browsable on the Web.
Web Log
See blog
Webmaster
This term refers to the person in charge of administrating a World Wide Web site.
Web Node
This term is synonymous with Web site or Web server.
Web Page
An HTML document that is accessible on the Web.
Webspace
This term refers to the space created by the World Wide Web.
World Wide Web
Also known as WWW or W3, the World Wide Web is a hypertext-based Internet service used for browsing Internet resources.
XML
eXtensible Mark-up Language, a specification developed by the W3C. XML is a pared-down version of Standard Generalised Mark-Up Language, designed especially for Web documents. It allows designers to create their own customised tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between organizations. |
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