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Glossary of Terms
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| Although we maintain the currency of our glossary, some of the terms and definitions presented below are subject to expiration or change due to the evolving nature of the industry. |
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Active server page (ASP)A specification for a Web page that adds interactivity to your Web site. An ASP is dynamically created by the Web server and contains both HTML and scripting code. With ASP, programs can be run on a Web server in a similar way to CGI scripts, only ASP uses the ActiveX scripting engine to support either VBScript or Jscript.
AddressCode used to locate any person, Web site and/or file on the Internet. The format for email addresses is username@hostname, where username is your username, login name, or account number, and hostname is the name of the computer or Internet provider you use (e.g. AOL). Web sites and files are also identified by a unique address, or URL (Uniform Resource Locator). America On Line's URL, for example, is www.aol.com.
Anonymous FTPA way to log on to another computer to copy files (via FTP) when you don't have an account on the other computer. When you log on, enter 'anonymous' as the username and your 'email address' as the password. This gives you access to publicly available files.
AppletsSmall, re-usable chunks of programming code in Java. They allows for quicker transfer over the Internet, meaning many new programs can now become directly interactive, incorporating animation, sound, and more. (See also Java, ShockWave, and VRML).
ApplicationA program that helps the user accomplish a specific task, for example, a word processing program, a spreadsheet program or an FTP client. Application programs are distinguished from system programs, which control the computer and run the application programs; and utilities, which are small helper programs.
Application service provider (ASP)A company that deploys, hosts, manages and rents software-based services and solutions.
ArchieA system that helps you find files anywhere on the Internet. After Archie locates the file, you can use FTP to access it. Archie is both a program and a system of server computers that contain indexes of files.
ASCIIAmerican Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is a method of representing text and other characters as numbers that makes it possible to transmit data from one computer to another over a network. ASCII files are also called plain text files.
Asynchronous CommunicationCommunication that occurs at different times, in contrast to Synchronous communication. Examples: email, some conferencing systems, bulletin boards.
ATMATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is a networking technology that provides a guaranteed quality of service. Standard Internet connections are based on Frame Relay technology. Frame Relay links can be drastically reduced under certain circumstances, just as a garden hose becomes less effective when stepped on or kinked. However, ATM links are like metal pipes-they always provide the same amount of throughput, regardless of the pressure exerted on them.
AU (.au)A common format for UNIX audio files.
AuthenticationVerifies the identity of a person or computer process over a secure link.
Auto-responderAuto-responders allow you to automatically return a pre-set message whenever a selected mailbox receives a message. It is often used to confirm receipt of orders when items are purchased over the Internet, or to alert a sender when the recipient of an email message is out of town. Auto-responder will also notify a selected mailbox of the receipt and response.
BackboneA high-speed line or series of connections that form a major pathway within a network. The term is relative, since the backbone in a small network will likely be much smaller than many non-backbone lines in a large network.
BackgroundsThese are images designed to sit in the background of a Web page so that all other information, (e.g. text, images) appears to sit on top.
BackupTo copy files to a second medium (disk or tape) as a precaution in case the first medium fails.
BandwidthAlso referred to as data transfer, bandwidth is a measurement of the amount of information that can be transmitted over a network at a given time. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second (bps).
BookmarkA way to mark a Web site and/or document so you can easily return to it. Customers might save your URL as a bookmark or 'favorite,' so that they won't need to type the URL each time they visit.
BrowserThe program that allows you to view Web pages. Examples of widely used browsers are Internet Explorer and Netscape.
Bulletin Board System (BBS)A computer system that provides you with files for downloading and areas for electronic discussions.
CachePronounced 'cash,' this is where your computers memory is stored.
Certificates: Secure or DigitalIssued by a Certificate Authority (such as Equifax, Thawte or VeriSign), a Secure Certificate (also known as a Digital Certificate) is proof that a Web site is linked to a legitimate business, with a physical address and phone number. It is the job of the Certificate Authority to verify the identity of merchants and issue each a digital or authentication certificate.
CGI scriptA CGI script allows a program to be run on your server to output dynamic information and add interactivity to your site. Some examples of CGI scripts are: hit counters, mail forms, search pages and guest books. Although Perl is the predominant language because of its worldwide acceptance, CGI can be written in any number of programming languages such as, Unix SH, KSH, CSH, and C.
CLECA Competitive Local Exchange Carrier. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 enabled CLECs (pronounced see-leks) to use the infrastructures of ILECs (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers-e.g. GTE, Verizon, Regional Bell, etc) for the purpose of resale and/or access to unbundled network elements (UNEs), such as switches. ISPs are examples of CLECs; to offer customers DSL service, they access copper loops from ILECs.
ClientA software program you use to contact and obtain data from a server software program on another computer, often across a great distance. Each client program is designed to work with one or more types of server programs.
ColdFusionA Web application server that integrates Web pages and databases. When you enter a request, such as a search for restaurants in your neighborhood, ColdFusion queries a database and returns the results in HTML form. HTML-like tags written in Cold Fusion Markup Language (CFML) prevent the use of more complicated language, and simplify database integration.
Com (.com)When these letters appear in lowercase type at the end of an address, they indicate that a company, rather than a university or government agency, runs the host computer. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.
CookieA file that is stored in your browser by a particular Web site and is pulled every time you revisit the site. Cookies are often used to glean information about visitors to a given site.
CPUCentral Processing Unit. The CPU is the brains of your computer, where most of the calculations occur to maintain computer operation and run special applications takes place.
Cross PlatformA Platform describes a standard upon which a computer system can be developed. Operating systems such as Windows and DOS are examples of platforms that power PCs. 'Cross platform,' then, refers to hardware and software that run on more than one platform (e.g. both Windows and Mac).
CyberspaceA metaphor used to describe the virtual universe of computers, programs, and data.
Catch-All Email AddressNormally, any emails addressed to your domain name to users who do not exist are bounced back to the sender as "message undeliverable." This may be how you want your account set up. However, with the catch-all email feature, any incoming emails addressed to a username does not exist can be forwarded to another email address that you specify. Therefore, if you set up the catch-all email feature, you will receive ALL incoming email, regardless of whom they were sent to.
DaemonA program that runs continuously in the background until it is activated by a particular event, or is called to perform specified operations at predefined times. This word is often used to refer to programs that handle email.
Data TransferData transfer (or, bandwidth) is the amount of information downloaded from a Web site. For example, let's assume all of the data (pictures, text, buttons) on your home page totals 25KB (the size of Yahoo's home page). If a thousand people viewed your home page you'd have 25MB total data transfer for that month (25KB multiplied by 1000).
Data transfer rateThe speed at which data is transferred ? measured in kilobytes per second for a CD-ROM drive, in bits per second for a modem, and in megabytes per second for a hard drive.
DedicatedBelonging to only one user. For example, a dedicated server is a computer in a network that is reserved to manage communications between all other computers in the network. A dedicated line is a phone line used only to connect to the Internet, rather than one shared by a modem and a phone.
Disk SpaceDisk space describes your Web site's storage capacity for HTML, graphics, pictures, etc. and is usually expressed in MB.
DNSDomain Name System. A database system that translates an IP address into a Domain Name. For example, a numeric address like 232.452.120.54 can become something like thinkbuilddeploy.com.
Domain Name RegistrationDomain Name Registration is the process of registering your Web site address (i.e. www.thinkbuilddeploy.com) with an official Internet registrar.
Domain RegistrarA company that is accredited by ICANN to license domain names.
Domain TransferWhen a domain name is moved from one Internet address to another, the new address must be recorded by the domain registrar to allow Internet Domain Name Servers to point to the new location.
DOS AttackDenial of Service Attack. A method of attacking a server by sending an abnormally high volume of requests over a network; this slows down the performance of a server, making it unavailable to any users.
DownloadTo copy a file from another machine, usually a host machine, to store on your machine.
DomainThe name of a company, organization or person's Internet connection, which then becomes part of their Web address. For instance, in johndoe@abc.com, "abc" is the domain name.
DS3Digital Signal 3 or Data Service Level 3 is a high-bandwidth "pipe" connection to the Internet operating at speeds 44.736 megabits per second. DS3 technology is used for T3 lines.
eCommerceElectronic commerce; the use of computers and electronic communications in business transactions.
Edu (.edu)When these letters appear at the end of an address (info@mit.edu), they indicate that an educational institution runs the host computer. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.
Email AliasSee Email Forwarding.
Email ForwardingForwards email sent to one email address to another specified email address. Also known as, 'Email Alias.'
FingerA program that displays information about people while they are on the net. On most UNIX systems, this command tells you who is logged on right now. On most Internet hosts, it tells you the name, possibly some other information based on the person's Internet address, as well as the last time they logged on.
FlashA bandwidth-friendly vector-graphic animation technology. For more information, go to: http://macromedia.com/software/flash.
FormsForms add extra interactivity to Web sites. Forms include questionnaires with text areas, check boxes and radio buttons that can be filled out, and then sent to a specified mailbox (usually the manager of the Web site).
FrontPageA WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) Web site creation and management tool from Microsoft. For more information: http://microsoft.com/frontpage.
FTPFTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and is a method to transfer files between two computers and a method to gain access to files stored in a remote computer. For Web hosting, you use FTP over the Internet to transfer files from your computer hard drive to a remote Web server or download Web site files from a remote Web server to your computer.
FirewallA filter for messages. A system that has a firewall lets only certain kinds of messages in and out of your network. If your organization wants to exchange mail with the Internet, but does not want other Internet members "Telnetting in" and reading those files, its connection to the Internet can be protected by using a firewall.
GatewayA computer that connects one network with another when the two networks use different protocols. The UUNET computer connects the UUCP network with the Internet, providing a way for mail messages to move between the two networks.
GBGigabyte = 1,024 megabytes = 1,073,741,824 (2 to the 30th power) bytes, or characters of information.
GIF (.gif)Graphics Interchange Format is a bit-mapped, compressed graphics file format that is a standard for displaying images on the Web. Image files are typically saved as imagename.gif.
HardwareThe physical matter (e.g. the keyboard, terminal, disk drives, printers, CDs, disks) that make up, and transfer data to and from, your computer; in contrast to software, which describes the intangible elements.
Helper ApplicationAn application that adds extra functionality to Web documents. For example, if you download a movie clip and your Web browser is unable to play the file, an audio/video helper application (e.g. 'Real Player') will ask if you want to download its application to view the clip.
HitsHits are a record of how many items are retrieved from a Web server. For example, a visit to a Web page with two graphics would record 3 hits-1 hit for the page, and 2 hits for the graphics. Hits are frequently mistaken for the number of visits to a given site, but as the example illustrates, one visit is likely to generate a number of hits. Page views are a more accurate measure of traffic.
Home pageThe introductory page to a Web site.
HTMLHyperText Markup Language. Coding used to format text for use on the World Wide Web.
HTTPHyperText Transport Protocol. The transmission standard used to send HTML documents across the Web.
HyperlinkA clickable element in a Web page that, when clicked, transports you to another Web site, another page within the same Web site, or allows you to download a file. Also known as a 'link.'
HypertextThe database system that links objects such as text to illustrations, photographs, and/or music. When you click on hypertext hyperlinks, you are instantly redirected to another document.
ICANNInternet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. A non-profit corporation that assumes responsibility for IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions. See http://www.icann.org.
Image MapAn image map is another way of creating links between Web pages. In image maps, different parts of the image activate different links. (An example: this is an external Web link).
InterNICInternet Network Information Center. A group of three organizations that together provide services for NSFNet. General Atomics handles information services, AT&T handles directory and database services, and Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) handles registration services. Network addresses and Domain Names for the Internet are assigned by InterNIC through NSI.
IPInternet Protocol. The transport layer protocol used as a basis of the Internet. IP enables information to be routed from one network to another in packets, which are then reassembled when they reach their destination.
IP AddressInternet Protocol addresses are numeric addresses, such as 123.323.23.1, that specify the location of a particular networked server.
IRCInternet Relay Chat. A system that enables Internet users to talk with each other in real time over the Internet rather than in person. AOL's Instant Messenger is an example of an IRC.
ISDNIntegrated Services Digital Network. A way to move more data over existing regular phone lines. ISDN is only slowly becoming available in the USA. ISDN can provide speeds of 64,000 bits per second over a regular phone line at almost the same cost as a normal phone call.
ISPInternet Service Provider. A company that provides access to the Internet, typically for a monthly fee. Examples include AOL and Earthlink.
JavaThis programming code works in conjunction with HTML to allow dynamic programs to run and interact with your computer, whereas straight HTML is primarily linear information downloaded to your computer for static display.
JavaScriptA scripting language developed by Netscape to allow designers to add interactivity to their Web sites. JavaScript can interact with HTML code to enable dynamic content. For more information, go to: http://javascript.com.
JPEG (.jpeg)Joint Photographic Experts Group. A lossy compression technique for color images which has become a standard for displaying images on the Web. JPEG files are typically saved as imagefile.jpg.
LANLocal Area Network. A group of connected computers usually located in close proximity (such as the same building or floor of the building) so that data can be passed among them.
LinkA pointer in an HTML document that leads to another Web site, or to another place within the same site; also called a hyperlink. A link is activated by clicking on it.
ListservA family of programs that manages mailing lists by distributing messages posted to the list, adding and deleting members automatically.
LoginUsed as both an adjective and a verb. Adjective: The account name used to gain access to a computer system. Unlike a password, the login name is not a secret. Verb: The act of entering into a computer system. Example: "Login to the WELL and then go to the GBN conference."
MBMegabyte = 1,048,576 bytes. A unit of computer memory, data storage capacity, or data.
MegabitsA unit of data equal to 1,048,576 bits.
MessageA piece of email or a posting to a newsgroup.
MicroprocessorA silicon chip that contains a CPU. The term 'microprocessor' is often used interchangeably with CPU.
MirrorAn FTP server that provides copies of the same files as another server. Some FTP servers are so popular that other servers have been set up to mirror them and spread the FTP load to more than one site.
Mirror SiteA duplicate of a busy archive site developed to reduce the load on the source site, and speed up access for users in physically remote locations. A heavily trafficked site developed in the US, for example, might set up a mirror site in Australia to ease the load in the US and provide quicker file retrieval for users in Australia.
ModemMOdulator, DEModulator. A device you connect to your computer and phone line that enables your computer to communicate with other computers through the phone system. Modems convert the computer's digital signals into analog waves that can be transmitted over standard voice telephone lines. Modem speeds are measured in bits per second (bps) or Kilobits (Kbps), or thousands of bits, per second.
MySQLMySQL is a relational database management system, which means it stores data in separate tables rather than putting all the data in one big storeroom. This adds speed and flexibility. The SQL part of MySQL stands for "Structured Query Language," which is the most common standardized language used to access databases.
Net (and .net)Net is an abbreviation for the term Internet, which stands for Interconnected networks. When these letters appear at the end of an address (info@domain.net), they may indicate that the host computer is run by a network but is more often used interchangeably with ?.com?. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.
NewsgroupA distributed bulletin board system about a particular topic. Usenet News (also know as Netnews) is a system that distributes thousands of newsgroups to all parts of the Internet.
NNTPNetwork News Transfer Protocol. A protocol defined for distribution, inquiry, retrieval, and posting of news articles.
NetworkAny time you connect two or more computers together so they can share resources, you have a computer network. Connect two or more networks together and you have an internet (small "i").
ODBC SupportObject Database Connectivity (ODBC) support allows ODBC compliant applications to connect to an ODBC database and extract data without requiring that the user have programming skills. For example, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and MySQL are ODBC compliant applications. Using ODBC and MySQL a user can import data directly into an Excel spreadsheet once MySQL ODBC drivers have been installed on the user's computer.
OC12An Optical Carrier 12 is a high-bandwidth "pipe" connection to the Internet operating at speeds 12 x 51.84 = 622.08 megabits per second. Equivalent to approximately 14 T3s.
PacketA chunk of information sent over a network. Each packet contains the destination address, the sender's address, error-control information, and data.
PageA document, or collection of information, available by way of the World Wide Web. To make information available over the WWW, you organize it into pages. A page may contain text, graphics, video, and/or sound files.
PCPersonal Computer. In recent years, the term 'PC' is used most often to describe personal computers based on an Intel or Intel-compatible microprocessor.
PERLPractical Extraction and Report Language. PERL is a programming language, with strong capability to process text. It has become one of the most popular programming languages for writing CGI scripts.
PGPPretty Good Privacy. An encryption program that allows users to exchange files and messages, with both privacy and authentication, over all types of networks. The messages are unreadable unless the receiver has an encryption key.
PHPA server-side, HTML-embedded, open source scripting language used to create dynamic Web pages. For more information: http://php.net.
PingA network management tool that checks to see whether you can communicate with another computer on the Internet. Ping sends a short message to which the other computer automatically responds. If the other computer does not respond to the ping, you usually cannot establish communications.
POPPoint of Presence. A physical site in a geographic area where a network access provider, such as UUNET, has equipment to which users connect. The local phone company's central office in a particular area is also sometimes referred to as their POP for that area. (As an example, AT&T's POP for the Seattle area is in downtown Seattle).
PortalA gateway to the Internet, which may also be a search engine or directory Web page. Examples of portals are Infoseek, Excite, Yahoo! and Lycos.
PPPPoint-to-Point Protocol. A scheme for connecting two computers over a phone line (or a network link that acts like a phone line). Similar to SLIP.
PropagationThe process of disseminating information throughout a system. Example (1) After you register a new Internet domain name, the information is propagated across the Internet when local DNS servers update their databases from a central file. Note: Not all local DNS databases are updated with the same frequency (hourly, daily, every other day, etc.). Example (2) Password changes often must be made on several different servers and will not complete propagation until all affected servers update their databases. Updating (rehashing) a given server's database is usually an automated process that is performed at specific intervals.
ProtocolA set of rules that regulate the way data is transmitted between computers over a network.
Real TimeOccurring immediately.
Remote AccessWhen you access a computer that you are unable to see. This is done via a modem or computer network.
Screen ResolutionThe number of dots per square inch (dpi) displayed on a screen. The higher the number of dots, the better the resolution.
Search EngineA software application found online that allows you to search for information by keywords.
ServerThe computer in a network that manages the network's resources. For example, a Web server is a computer that processes requests for HTML and other components of Web pages within a network.
Service ProviderA service provider is a company that supplies Internet access to personal users or businesses. See ISP.
ShockWaveA development tool created by the company Macromedia. Similar to Java, ShockWave brings enhanced multimedia to the Internet. For more information, go to: http://macromedia.com/shockwave.
Shopping cartSoftware that acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. Typically, it allows consumers to browse the Web site, select items for purchase as they browse, review items they have selected, make necessary modifications or additions, and purchase the merchandise.
SiteA site is the term given to a place where information can be found on the World Wide Web. (i.e. Web site).
SLIPSerial Line Interface Protocol. A software scheme for connecting a computer to the Internet.
SMTPSimple Mail Transfer Protocol. A protocol used to transfer email between computers.
SocketA conversation between your computer and a computer elsewhere on the net. You may have one socket for an FTP session, another socket for a Telnet session, and another socket taking care of retrieving email. A socket is a software object, and not a physical component.
SoftwarePrograms and data that you store, electronically, on your computer. Software is not something you can touch, but you need hardware (e.g. a PC, a keyboard, the disk used to transfer the software to your computer), in order to use it. Microsoft Excel is an example of software you can store on your computer.
SpamThe electronic equivalent of junk mail.
SQLStructured Query Language (pronounced SQL or Sequel). A language used to create, maintain and query databases. SQL uses common English words for many of its commands, which makes it easy to use. It is often embedded within other programming languages. See MySQL.
SSIServer Side Include is a type of HTML comment that directs the Web server to dynamically generate data for the Web page. SSIs can also be used to execute programs and insert the results into a Web page. Web pages that contain SSIs often end with the ?.shtml? extension.
SSLSecure Sockets Layer. A protocol from Netscape Communications Corp. designed to provide secure communications on the Internet.
Streaming MediaA technique for transferring data so that it can be downloaded and processed in a continuous stream rather than waiting until the entire file is downloaded. This technique is increasing in importance for audio and multimedia, as users are increasingly impatient to have to wait until a file is completely downloaded in order to view it.
Synchronous CommunicationCommunication that occurs at the same time, between two or more individuals, for e.g. telephone conversations, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), or face-to-face communication.
T1A telephone line connection for digital transmission that can handle 24 voice or data channels at 64 kilobits per second. T1 lines are used for heavy telephone traffic, or for computer networks linked directly to the Internet.
T3A connection made up of 28 T1 carriers, used to transmit digital signals on fiber-optic cable at 44.736 megabits per second. T3 can handle 672 voice conversations or one video channel. The T3 line has enough bandwidth to transmit full-motion real-time video, and very large databases over a busy network.
TCP/IPTransfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The system that networks use to communicate with each other on the Internet.
TelnetA terminal emulation program that allows users to remotely access a server on a network. Commands entered through Telnet are executed on the remote server as if you were entering the commands directly on the server console.
TerminalA device that allows you to send commands to a computer somewhere else. At a minimum, this usually means a keyboard and a display screen and some simple circuitry. Usually you will use terminal software in a personal computer ? the software pretends to be, or 'emulates,' a physical terminal and allows you to type commands to a computer somewhere else.
UploadThe act of transferring a data file from one computer to another computer over a network.
UPSUninterruptible Power Supply. A battery-powered power supply guaranteed to supply power to a computer in the event of interruptions in electrical power.
URLUniform Resource Locator. The standard way to give the address of any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW). A URL looks like this: http://www.thinkbuilddeploy.com. The most common way to use a URL is to enter it into a Web browser program, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
UNIXA computer operating system, UNIX is the basic software running underneath elements such as word processors and spreadsheets. UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time (it is "multi-user") and has TCP/IP built in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.
USENETAn informal group of systems that exchange "news." USENET predates the Internet, but today, the Internet is used to transfer much of USENET's traffic.
ViewerA program used by Gopher, WAIS, or WWW client programs to show files with contents other than text. You would use a viewer to display graphics or video files, or to play sound files.
Virtual hostingThe ability of a single machine to act like multiple systems hosting more than one domain.
VirusA program or piece of code that is maliciously designed to be loaded onto a computer without the user's knowledge. A virus often replicates and can attach itself to documents, email itself to a stored contact list, or transmit itself across networks and bypass security systems.
VisitorA person who views your Web site; also known as a user.
VRMLVirtual Reality Markup Language. A standard by which the Internet delivers 3-dimensional virtual reality.
W3CWorld Wide Web Consortium. An international consortium that develops open standards for Web. For more information, go to: http://www.w3.org.
WANWide Area Network. Any Internet or network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus. (See also: Internet, LAN, network).
WebAn abbreviated term for the World Wide Web.
Web DocumentIs a collection of information stored on the World Wide Web (WWW) that has the benefit of using hypertext links to link to other documents on the (WWW).
Web siteA collection of html files, graphic files and any other file types that is supported by the World Wide Web, and can be viewed by using a World Wide Web browser.
Windows Socket (WinSock)Windows Sockets (WinSock) is a standard way for Windows-based programs to work with TCP/IP. You can use WinSock if you use SLIP to connect to the Internet.
WormA type of virus that can replicate itself over a computer network, usually performing malicious actions, such as using up computer resources and possibly shutting the system down.
WYSIWYGWhat You See Is What You Get. A description of software that allows a programmer to visually view a file in the manner in which a user would see the file, instead of viewing a file in its raw code format.
XMLExtensible Markup Language. A standard proposed by the W3C, this language is designed to allow designers to create customized tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between different organizations. For more information on XML, go to: http://xml.com. Also, visit Microsoft Developers Network at http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml.
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