Here are explanations of some of the common terms used on the internet
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ACCOUNT
In order to access the Internet you need to have an account with an Internet
Service Provider. This may include a range of other benefits, such as
your very own web page and e-mail address, but will
primarily filter information off the Internet directly onto your computer.
ACTIVEX Microsoft's programming language
that downloads ands runs programs on your computers own hard drive. ActiveX
technology is used with Microsoft Internet Explorer to make interactive
web pages that look and behave like computer programs, rather than static
pages. With Active X, users can ask or answer questions, use push buttons,
and interact in many ways with the web page.
AGPAccelerated
Graphics Port - An accelerated graphics port is a bus specification that
enables the quick display of 3D graphics on an ordinary personal computer.
The interface uses your computer's RAM for refreshing the monitor image.
APPLET A small Java program that can be
embedded in an HTML page.
ASP, or Active Server Pages, is a language
created by Microsoft in order to make webpages more interactive.
ATTACHMENT A file which is included along
with an e-mail message.
BANDWIDTH
This refers to the amount of data that can be sent through a given communications
circuit in a given amount of time. In general, greater bandwidth means
a faster transfer of data from one point to another on the Internet.
BBS This stands for Bulletin Board System,
which is a computerised meeting and announcement system. It allows people
to carry on discussions, upload and download files and make announcements
without the people being connected to the computer at the same time.
BOOKMARKS The name given to Web sites
which are 'marked' for future reference in Netscape Navigator. Also
known as 'favourites' in Internet Explorer.
BPS Bps, or Bits per second, is the speed by which modems are rated, and indicate the amount of data a modem can send and receive each second.
BROWSE To browse is to view a series of webpages over the World Wide Web. Practically everyone who uses the Internet browses on a regular basis, using Hypertext Links in order to find their way around. BROWSER A browser is a program allowing you to see and interact with webpages on the World Wide Web. There are many different types of browsers available, offering a wide variety of different accessories and functions, including Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
BTW Shorthand for "By The Way", often used when chatting with people on IRC or via a chat room. Such abbreviations are a common form of netiquette.
BUG A bug is a mistake in a piece of software causing it to act in an undesirable manner. Debugging software is an important part of software development, but the general consensus is that no piece of software is ever bug-free.
BYTE A byte is (usually) made up of 8 bits, and is the unit for measuring computer data. CD-ROM Compact Disc used for storing data.
CHANNELS Channels refer to websites or other technologies that facilitate the transfer of information. In IRC, for example, channels are virtual rooms or chambers where people communicate with each other.
COOKIE Data that a web server gives to a browser the first time the user visits the site. This is then updated with each return visit. The server saves the information the cookie contains about the user. The user's browser does the same-as a text file stored in the Netscape or Explorer system folder. Cookies store information such as username and password and what parts of the site were visited. This information can be updated with each visit.
DHTML Dynamic HTML is a new way of creating webpages allowing a host of other facilities and techniques to be used when developing such sites. This standard is currently being developed.
DIAL-UP This word can be used to imply the act of temporarily connecting to another computer using a modem and an ordinary telephone line, or it can describe a type of account on a UNIX host allowing limited access to its services.
DNS Domain Name Server or Domain Name System. This convert an address such as http://www.yourname.co.uk into IP ( Internet Protocol) number, such as 194.72.242.3.
DOMAIN NAME The domain name is the official Internet name for a computer connected to the Internet. Your e-mail address usually comprises of your user id and the domain name of your ISP's computer, separated by the @ symbol
DOWNLOAD To download is the act of copying files from one computer or "remote host" to your own computer, usually through FTP.
DYNAMIC HTMLDynamic HTML is a collective term for a combination of new Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) tags and options, style sheets, and programming that will let you create web pages that are more animated and responsive to user interaction than previous versions of HTML. Much of dynamic HTML is specified in HTML 4.0 Dynamic HTML can allow web documents to look and act like desktop applications or multimedia productions E-MAIL Electronic Mail or e-mail involves sending electronic correspondence from one computer to another over a network or the Internet.
E-MAIL ADDRESS Your e-mail address is needed in order to direct any messages to the right place (pretty much the same as normal mail). Your user id and the domain name of your ISP's computer, separated by the @ symbol usually makes up this address. FLAMEAbusive messages which, are sent by e-mail or posted to a newsgroup in response to daft comments or elementary questions.
FORMAT Files on a computer can be formatting in a range of different ways. Common formatting techniques are used all over the world for a variety of reasons. Some formats compress the file to the smallest size possible, whilst others concentrate on quality
FREEWARE Freeware refers to software offered completely free of charge. Reasons for offering free software vary but caution is recommended when downloading such resources, as viruses and bugs can cause major problems.
FTP File Transfer Protocol. The method which, is usually used for transferring files across the Internet. There are separate FTP programs available, although much of it is now done over the web.
GIF Graphics Interchange Format. A format for saving images so they can be seen by a web browser. GIF was developed in 1987 giant us service provider CompuServe.
GIGABYTE A unit for measuring computer data, comprising 1024 megabytes
HARDWARE Hardware is the physical technology associated with the Internet and computers in general. This can refer to a floppy disc, your monitor, your keyboard, your mouse, and everything inside your computer. It does not refer to the information on your computer which makes it run.
HIT Hits are the amount of requests that are made to your server for information. This is often used as a very general indication of how busy the server has been("Our server has been getting 300,000 hits per month"). Since a hit can include anything from the request for a tiny text document through to a huge audio file this way of measuring the load can easily be inaccurate.
HOMEPAGE The original meaning of homepage refers to the webpage your browser opens when it starts up, or when you hit the "home" button most browsers have in their control panel, Nowadays the term commonly refers to the main webpage for a business, organisation person or simply the main webpage in a collection of webpages.
HOST A host is a computer on the Net which allows other computers to connect with it. This could be for a number of different reasons including downloading, playing games or chatting.
HTML Hypertext Markup Language. The universal language of the web in which all pages are written. Official versions of HTML are defined by the W3 consortium, which is at http://www.w3.org. HTTP Hypertext Markup Transfer protocol. This is the protocol that is used to carry traffic between a web browser's computer and the web site. INTERNET The word Internet (with a capital I) refers to the vast collection of networks all interconnected using the TCP/IP protocol. Should not be confused with an Intranet which is two or more networks connected together.
INTRANET A (usually) private network, which is only accessible by authorised users. For example, a company could connect its Bristol, London and Birmingham offices with its own intranet. IRC Internet Relay Chat. A multi-user chat system. This is a feature of the Net, which allows you to hold 'live' text conversations with other people on the same channel.
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network. This is a digital alternative to current analogue phone lines. ISDN modems are already available, enabling its users to achieve much faster connection speeds.
ISP Internet Service Provider. A company which sells connections to the Net. Compare with online service providers (OSP's) which provide an Internet connection in addition to their own exclusive members-only services such as chat forums, news services, and other assorted information. JAVA A Programming language developed by Sun Microsystems that enable a programmer to include multimedia effects and increased interactivity within web pages.
JAVASCRIPT JavaScript should not be confused with Java. Though this programming language is similar in some ways to Java the difference is that JavaScript is actually incorporated into the webpage itself, enabling a wide range of different effects to take place. JavaScript is becoming very popular throughout the World Wide Web.
JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG is another file format that can be viewed on the web. The image is compressed, thus reducing the file size, for faster loading.
KBPS Kilobits per second. This represents your modem speed-high is better.
LEASED LINE A permanent phone line between two points on the Internet.
LINKS A link, or hyperlink, acts as a bridge between separate web pages. By clicking on a link you are taken to another Web page.
MODEM Modulator/demodulator. A piece of equipment that connects computers to each other for sending communications via telephone lines. The modem converts the digital data of computers into analogue signals to send over the telephone lines, then changes it back into digital signals to be read by the computer on the other end. Modems are used for sending and receiving electronic mail, and also for surfing the net.
MP3 A file format for digital music, usually distributed over the internet.
NEWSGROUPS Discussion groups which are held over the Net. Also known as Usenet. Newsreader The software that enables you to read messages (or 'postings') that people have sent to newsgroup. Built into the popular Web browsers.
PACKET A Packet refers to the unit of data between an origin and a destination on the Internet. When any file ( e-mail message, HTML file, GIF file, URL request, and so forth) is sent from one place to another on the Internet, the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) layer of TCP/IP divides the file into sections that are an efficient size for routing. Each of these packets include the Internet address of the destination. The individual packets for a given file may travel different routes through the Internet; when they have all arrived, they are reassembled into the original file (by the TCP layer at the receiving end).
PING Ping is an Internet program that lets you verify that a particular Internet address exists and can except requests.
PLUG-AND-PLAY Plug-and-play refers to when you can plug a device into a computer and have the computer recognise that it is there.
PLUG-INS In the context of the Web, these are 'extensions' to your browser which enhance its functionality. Plug-ins enable you to play sound files or animation's, for example. POPs Points of Presence. Refers to the modems which you dial into to connect to the Internet.
POP3 Post Office Protocol 3. The most recent version of a standard protocol for receiving e-mail. POP3 is a client-server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server. Periodically, you check you mailbox on the server and download any new mail.
ROUTER A special-purpose computer (or software package) that handles the connection between two or more networks. Routers spend all their time looking at the destination addresses of the packets passing through them and deciding which route to send them on.
SEARCH ENGINE Web sites which certain powerful search facilities which let users find other pages on a specific subject.
SHAREWARE Shareware refers to software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that the user will probably pay for it later. Some software developers offer a shareware version of their program with a built-in expiration date (after 30 days, the user can no longer get access to the program). Other shareware (sometimes called liteware) is offered with certain capabilities disabled.
SMS Short message service. Standard for sending text messages from mobile phones.
SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. A common protocol for sending e-mail across the Internet.
STREAMING MEDIA Streaming Media is streaming video with sound. The best thing about streaming media is that a web user does not have to wait to download a large file before seeing the video or hearing the sound. Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream and is played as it arrives. The user needs a player, which is a special program that uncompresses and sends video data to the display auto data to speakers. One of the most popular is RealNetworks' Realplayer
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The common language that all computers connected to the Internet use in order to communicate with each other. No TCP/IP, no Internet!
URL
This stands for Uniform Resource Locator. This refers to a sequence
of characters that specify the address of a resource on the web, e.g a
Web page (in the form of http://) or an FTP site (in the form of ftp://)
USB Universal Serial Bus.A plug-and-play interface between a computer and add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, telephones, scanners and printers). With USB, a new device can be added to your computer without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn the computer off.( thats if you feel lucky !! )
UNIX An operating system for large mainframe computers, combining flexibility and adaptability to become very popular around the globe. Designed in the late 60's as an operating system for a very basic computer game Unix has since grown to dominate the world of Operating Systems. VIRUS A virus is a piece of software that duplicates itself onto other systems through the transfer of data or files. The effects viruses have vary from disastrous through to hilarious, and as a result there are many anti-virus programs available
VIRTUAL HOSTING On the Internet, virtual hosting is the provision of web server and other services so that a company or individual don't have to buy and maintain their own web server host with a line to the Internet. A virtual hosting provider is sometimes also called a web or Internet space provider.
WEB BROWSER A Program installed in your computer's memory that reads, or 'browses' Web pages. A full Internet connection is needed for them to browse the web. Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are the most popular Web browsers, now available in 'suites' along with many other essential Internet programs.
WEB RING A Web ring is a way of interlinking related Web sites so that you can visit each site one after the other, eventually (if you keep going) returning to the first web site.
WEB SPACE Web space is the amount of space available for the construction of a web page. Pictures, text and everything else all take up a certain amount of room, so the more space you can get the better. Web space is measured in the form of Megabytes.
WORLD WIDE WEB ( WWW ) The World Wide Web is a collection of interconnecting webpages forming a global source of information for anyone who can get access to the Internet. There are billions of webpages available on every topic under the sun. A new, economical telephone line that gives you a 'permanent' link to the internet.
USB Universal Serial Bus.A plug-and-play interface between a computer and add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, telephones, scanners and printers). With USB, a new device can be added to your computer without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn the computer off.( thats if you feel lucky !! )
UNIX An operating system for large mainframe computers, combining flexibility and adaptability to become very popular around the globe. Designed in the late 60's as an operating system for a very basic computer game Unix has since grown to dominate the world of Operating Systems. VIRUS A virus is a piece of software that duplicates itself onto other systems through the transfer of data or files. The effects viruses have vary from disastrous through to hilarious, and as a result there are many anti-virus programs available
VIRTUAL HOSTING On the Internet, virtual hosting is the provision of web server and other services so that a company or individual don't have to buy and maintain their own web server host with a line to the Internet. A virtual hosting provider is sometimes also called a web or Internet space provider.
WEB BROWSER A Program installed in your computer's memory that reads, or 'browses' Web pages. A full Internet connection is needed for them to browse the web. Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are the most popular Web browsers, now available in 'suites' along with many other essential Internet programs.
WEB RING A Web ring is a way of interlinking related Web sites so that you can visit each site one after the other, eventually (if you keep going) returning to the first web site.
WEB SPACE Web space is the amount of space available for the construction of a web page. Pictures, text and everything else all take up a certain amount of room, so the more space you can get the better. Web space is measured in the form of Megabytes.
WORLD WIDE WEB ( WWW ) The World Wide Web is a collection of interconnecting webpages forming a global source of information for anyone who can get access to the Internet. There are billions of webpages available on every topic under the sun. A new, economical telephone line that gives you a 'permanent' link to the internet.