Glossary of Internet Terms
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to
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starts with a digit or symbol, choose the '#' link.
- A -
- Tag name for hyperlinks on web pages.
- The structure of hardware and software that defines a computer system.
- Advanced Research Projects Agency
- American Standard Code for Information Interchange
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- B -
- A single piece of computer data - a one or zero. See byte.
- Also called favorites; used in web browsers, a way of collecting and organizing links to web pages on the World Wide Web.
- See web browser.
bulletin board/newsgroup
- Places to leave an electronic message or share news that anyone can read and respond to.
- A group of eight bits (see bit) that are used to encode data in a computer.
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- C -
- Common Gateway Interface - standard for communicating between web servers and server-based applications.
chat room also chatting
- A place for people to converse online by typing messages to each other. Groups of people may also participate in group sessions.
- A computer connected to a server.
- See also: program. The program or instructions used to operate a computer. This includes the programs (on-disk) for the operating system and application software such as a word processor.
- A piece of information stored on your local computer by a web page. The cookie usually contains user specific preference information that can be used by the web site the next time that you visit.
CPU (central processing unit) - also processor
- The heart of the computer. A computer chip capable of processing instructions and data. The power of a CPU is often measured by how many bits it can process at a time (8, 16, 32, 64, etc.) and speed (measured in megahertz - cycles per second). For example, a Pentium 266 processor can process 32 bits of data at 266,000,000 cycles per second.
- Another word for the Internet.
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- D -
Digital Signature
-
Electronic signature based on encryption and the use of sender's private key.
Disk Operating System (DOS)
- A location for storing files on a computer disk. Directories are often organized hierarchically.
- A unique address (in English) on the Internet.
- The characters used to identify the type of domain:
- com - commercial
edu - educational (universities)
gov - government
mil - military
net - Internet Service Provider
org - non-profit organization
us, uk, de, etc. - International country codes
- com - commercial
- The process of transferring files to your computer from the Internet.
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- E -
EDI- Electronic Data Interchange: exchange of documents (e.g., orders, quotes, bills of lading, etc.), typically between companies.
- Electronic Funds Transfer: transfer of electronic payments (e.g. direct deposit of pay) across secure networks.
e-mail (electronic mail)
- Messages sent between two or more individuals on the Internet. The message typically includes a To (destination), From (source), Subject (brief title), and Body (content of the message). Copies may also be sent as well as blind carbon copies (the To will not know others who received the message). E-mail messages are managed (sent, forwarded, received) by Internet mail servers.
Encryption
- Process of encoding information.
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- F -
- Units of information in a computer. Files may contain text, graphics, and other computer data. They are stored in directories. Files have names typically consisting of a filename and extension (e.g. mydata.txt); the extension often indicates the kind of file - .txt for text, .htm for a web file).
- A program that limits the kinds of information that your web browser will access.
- A server-based software program that restricts access from the Internet into a server and its network or Intranet.
- File Transfer Protocol) - file exchange between computers.
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- G -
- Graphics Interchange Format - compressed image file format for web pages.
gigabytes (GB)
- 1,048,576 bytes. A standard of measurement on a computer disk, typically hard disks.
- An older Internet service that provided organized access to databases on remote servers.
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- H -
hard disk - also hard drive
- Device for storing files and programs on your computer. The size or volume of a disk is often measured in megabytes or MB.
home or home page
- The initial page that is displayed whenever you start your web browser. Also refers to the main page of a web site.
- HyperText Markup Language - formatting instructions for web pages.
- HyperText Transfer Protocol - the World Wide Web
- A reference in a WWW document (usually by highlighting, color change, or cursor change) to a remote document. Selecting a hyperlink will transfer you to the new document or information.
- A hyperlink presented a text.
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- I -
- Refers to the Internet and the idea that there are many connections and places to go to find information and resources.
- A device that brings data into the computer. For example: keyboard, mouse, network, and modem.
- A network of networks connecting computers around the world via fault-tolerant nodes. The Internet is used primarily for e-mail, the World Wide Web, and file transfer.
- Internet Network Information Center
- A local network that uses Internet e-mail and web browser applications to support a company or school. Access to information and resources is limited to those within the organization and to no one else.
- Internet Protocol Address - A series of four, up-to 3 digit numbers (e.g., 128.221.34.12) that uniquely identifes a computer on the Internet.
- Integrated Services Digital Network a digital connection using standard phone lines.
- Internet Service Provider
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- J -
- Joint Photographic Experts Group - usually refers to a high color, compressed image format used extensively in web pages.
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- K -
- (empty)
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- L -
- see Hyperlink
- An online mailing list that allows individuals or organizations to send e"mail to groups of people at one time.
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- M -
megabytes (MB)
- 1024 bytes. A standard of measurement on a computer disk.
- A means to store data for short- or long-term use. For example: long-term - hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM; short-term— random access memory (RAM).
MIME
- Multimedia Internet Mail Extensions - file extensions that are identified for web server and browser support (e.g. can execute, present, play).
- A device for connecting a computer to a telephone line to establish communication between computers.
- A computer device for presenting video information.
- The use of text, pictures, audio, and or video to communicate information.
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- N -
- A device to connect a computer to other computers in a network for high speed communication.
- Network News Transfer Protocol - shared messaging called news groups.
- National Science Foundation
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- O -
operating system (OS) also Disk Operating System (DOS)
- A set of programs on your computer that enable you to access your hard drive, monitor, mouse, and keyboard. The disk operating system enables your computer to organize and manage files on your disk media (floppy disk, hard drive, and CD-ROM).
- A device that presents data and or information to the end user. For example: monitor, printer, network, or modem.
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- P -
- A secret code that, when combined with the correct userid, allows access to a computer or network.
POP also POP3
- Post Office Protocol, used by mail servers to manage e-mail clients.
Private Key
-
Used to encrypt a message but kept private to the originator.
- A set of computer instructions that perform a task or group of tasks. Examples of programs include word processors, web browsers, and databases.
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- Q -
- (empty)
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- R -
- (empty)
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- S -
- A web site that has collected keywords and web sites that you can query and sift through to locate information. Examples include Yahoo and Lycos.
- The hub of a computer network. Typically a more powerful computer that is used for centralized processing of information, databases, and shared utilities such as printers.
- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol - e-mail
- Junk e-mail that is unsolicited.
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- SSL
- Server Side Includes - separate files that can be included in web pages.
-
- syntax
- Structured language that is used for commands in
programming, scripting, and formatting environments.
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- T -
- An Internet service that allows remote users to access a server from a remote computer as if they were directly on the server.
- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol - the method in which data is transmitted between computers on the Internet.
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- U -
- Uniform Resource Locator - an Internet address
- Short for user identification; identifies a specific person with access to a computer or network.
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- V -
VAN (Value Added Network)
-
Privately maintained networks dedicated to EDI between business partners.
VGA (video graphics array (also adapter))
- A standard for defining computer monitors based on pixel width and height ration (4X3) and color capability (2 to 16 million colors).
- An intentionally bad program that interferes with the operation of a computer. These programs are typically designed to disrupt and or disable your computer.
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- W -
- An application that can access WWW documents from remote computers (web servers).
- A collection of web pages at a particular web address usually with a common theme or idea.
- World Wide Web
- What You See Is What You Get - refers to modern word processors and other computer programs in which content is displayed on the screen in the same format that it finally appears when printed.
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- X -
- (empty)
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- Y -
- (empty)
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- Z -
- (empty)
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- # -
- (empty)
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