Glossary
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ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line: Technology that allows data to be sent over existing copper phone lines. An ADSL connection is much faster than a standard phone modem connection.
Aggregate information Information that may be collected by a web site but is not personally identifiable to you. Includes demographic data, domain names, Internet provider addresses and web site traffic.
Anonymous FTP Using FTP without establishing a user ID and password.
Anti-Virus Software Software written specifically to combat harmful viruses. Anti-Virus software seeks and removes viruses from your computer. Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan are two popular Anti-Virus programs.
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange: The global standard for code numbers used by computers to represent all upper and lower-case Latin letters, numbers, and punctuation.
Autoresponder A feature that sends an automated reply to incoming email.
Backbone A high-speed line (or a series of connections) that forms a major pathway within a network.
Bandwidth The amount of data you can send through a connection, usually measured in bits per second. A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can send about 15,000 bits in one second.
Banner Paid advertisements in the form of graphics displayed on a Web page. When viewers click on a banner, they are taken to the advertiser's Web site.
Baud A unit of measurement for modem speed, synonymous with bits per second (bps). A 56K modem has a speed of 56,000 baud or 56,000 BPS.
BBS Bulletin Board System: A computerized meeting system. BBS users can have discussions, make announcements, and upload or download files.
Bit This is the smallest measure of computerized data, either 1 or 0. Eight bits equal one byte, or one character.
Blue Screen A Windows 95/98 or Windows NT error that turns your computer screen blue while displaying an error message. It's sometimes called "blue screen of death" because it can cause an operating system to "freeze" or "lock up," requiring a reboot (restart) and deleting all unsaved data.
Bookmark The feature of a Web Browser that lets you save the address (URL) of a web page so you can go back to the page easily at a later time.
BPS Bits per second: A measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 28.8K modem can move 28,800 bits per second, or about 3600 characters per second.
Bot Short for "robot," also known as a shopping agent, shopping bot, shopbot, etc. A program or Web site that searched several sites for information for the user, such as finding the lowest price on something you want to buy.
Browser A client program used to view various kinds of Internet resources. You use a browser (e.g., Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer)to view Web pages from your computer.
Byte A byte is a set of 8 bits that represent a single character.
Certificate Authority An issuer of Security Certificates used in SSL connections.
CGI Common Gateway Interface: A protocol that allows a Web page to run a program on a Web server. Forms, counters, and guestbooks are common examples of CGI programs.
Client A program (or software) used to interact with a Server. A Web browser is a specific kind of client.
Compress Store data in such a way that the file size is reduced.
Content The graphics, video, sound and text that makes up a web page is usually referred to as the content.
Control Panel A Web-based Control Panel that allows you to set mail forwarding options, enable/disable anonymous FTP access, view statistics, change passwords and more. Users may also update account contact information at anytime without having to contact customer support.
Cookie A cookie is a piece of information sent to a browser by a Web Server. The browser then returns that information to the Web server. This is how some Web pages "remember" your previous visits; for example, an E-Commerce site might use a cookie to remember which items you've placed in your online shopping cart. Cookies can also store user preference information, log-in data, etc.
CyberCash The name of the company that developed a Web-based payment system. CyberCash software enables online payment services for credit cards and Internet check transactions.
Data alteration The content of a transaction can be intercepted and altered en route, either maliciously or accidentally. User names, credit card numbers, and dollar amounts sent "in the clear" are all vulnerable to such alteration. See also: email) is considered to be data transfer. Each time a Web page, image, MIDI file, etc. is loaded, data transfer is generated.
Database This is any collection of data: part numbers, product codes, customer information, etc. It usually refers to data stored on a computer.
Decompress The restoration of a group of compressed files to their original size.
Digital cash Money that is "stored" on your computer as bits of data. You purchase digital cash using your computer and credit card or bank account. When you buy something from a Web site that accepts digital cash, the amount is automatically subtracted from your computer.
DNS Domain Name System: A system of servers located throughout the Internet that handles Internet connections and the routing of email.
Domain Name A unique name that identifies a Web site. A domain name acts as a permanent Web address and provides a professional, prestigious Web presence. Compare these two URLs:
- http://www.anywebhost.com/members/yourwebpage
- http://www.yourname.com
In the first URL, the domain name "anywebhost.com" is owned by someone else. If you moved your business Web site to another Web host, you'd need a new URL--and you'd have to notify your customers of your new address. The second URL contains an example of a custom domain name that you own: "yourname.com." If you ever move your site, your address will stay the same. See Also: InterNIC
Download Transferring a file from a computer on the Internet to your own computer. Things you might download include software, images, email, MIDI files, etc.
Email Electronic Mail: Messages sent from one person to another via computer. Email can also be sent automatically to a large number of addresses via a mailing list.
Email Client The software, such as Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger, or Eudora used to send and receive email messages on your computer.
Email Server A computer used to direct messages to the appropriate place. When you send an email using your client software, it is sent to the server which then processes it and sends it to the appropriate party.
Encryption This is a method of encoding a file for security reasons. Encryption is often used to protect credit card numbers from third parties during online purchases.
Extranet An extranet is a private network, built for specific users (e.g., business clients) who don't have access to an intranet.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions: A compilation of answers to the most common questions on a particular subject.
Firewall A combination of hardware and software, used to protect a network from unwelcome traffic. A firewall can be used to separate a LAN into two or more parts, or to control network traffic.
FrontPage FrontPage is a WYSIWYG Web page editor by Microsoft. In order to use FrontPage to create and maintain your Web site, your hosting service must install "extensions" (CGI programs that provide the server side implementation of FrontPage) for your account.
FTP File Transfer Protocol: A common method of sending and receiving files on the Internet. You might use FTP to upload HTML files to your Web host from your own computer. A user ID and password are needed to use FTP, unless Anonymous FTP is allowed.
GIF Graphic Interchange Format: A type of image file. GIF files are graphics or pictures, often used on Web pages. Because GIF files contain a maximum of 256 colors, this file format is ideal for simple graphics with minimal shading or color variation. Other types of graphics are better suited for the JPEG file format.
Gigabyte (GB) 1,073,741,824 bytes.
Graphic Any picture or image file within a Web page. Graphics are usually in GIF or JPEG format.
Hit A single request from a Web browser for a single item from a Web server. When a browser displays a Web page that contains 2 graphics, 3 hits occur at the server: 1 hit for the HTML page itself, plus a hit for each of the two graphics. See Also: Impressions
Homepage The first page of a Web site. Some people choose to have only a homepage, with no supporting pages.
Host
- A computer system accessed by a user from a remote location. In the case of two computer systems connected via modem, the "host" is the system containing the data and the "remote" is the computer at which the user is working.
- A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network, including the Internet. Each host has a unique IP address.
- As a verb, "host" means providing the infrastructure for a computer service. A company that hosts a Web server may provide the hardware and software needed to run that server, but does not supply all the content on that server.
HTML HyperText Markup Language: The coding language used to create Web pages.
HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol: The protocol for moving hypertext files across the World Wide Web. When you enter a URL in your browser to visit a Web page, an HTTP command is sent to the Web server. This command tells the server to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.
Hypertext Any text within a document that is linked to another location. The other location could be within the same document, or a different document. Clicking hypertext with your mouse will activate the link. This glossary is made up of hypertext, containing many links.
Image Map A graphic used for navigation on a Web page. Image maps contain HTML code that turns specific areas of graphics into links.
Impressions The actual number of people who've seen a specific Web page. Impressions are much more accurate than hits when discerning how much traffic your Web page actually receives. Impressions are sometimes called "page views."
Internet The vast collection of interconnected networks that use TCP/IP protocols.
InterNIC An organization operated by Network Solutions that controls the registration of new domain names. When you purchase a domain name, the InterNIC will bill you $70 for the first two years of ownership and $35 per year thereafter.
Intranet A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but only for internal use.
IP Number (IP Address) The unique 4-part number assigned to each and every computer linked to the Internet (e.g., 206.141.202.111). When you connect to the Internet, your ISP assigns you an IP number for the duration of your connection. DNS converts domain names into IP addresses.
IRC Internet Relay Chat: A method of real time communication, powered by a network of servers.
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network: Technology that allows data to be moved over phone lines at speeds of up to 64,000 BPS per channel.
ISP Internet Service Provider: A company that provides access to the Internet.
Java Java is a programming language invented by Sun Microsystems. Java programs (or "applets") can be downloaded from the Internet to your computer. They can also be used to enhance Web pages. Common Java applets used on Web pages include animation, calculators, and counters.
JavaScript A scripting language developed by Netscape that interacts with HTML source code, allowing for interactive Web sites. JavaScript is used for things such as "rollover buttons" (graphics that change color when you run your mouse over them), rotating banners, MIDI jukeboxes, pop-up windows, etc.
JPEG (or JPG) Joint Photographic Experts Group: a type of image file, similar to GIF. Whereas the GIF file format is limited to 256 colors or less, JPEG files use millions of colors and can often be compressed to a smaller kilobyte size, making Web pages load faster.
LAN Local Area Network: A computer network limited to the immediate area, usually the same building or floor of a building.
Log File A file that contains a list of actions that have occurred on your web server. The statistics of your site are created by referencing the activity log file.
Mail Forwarding Forwards email from one email account (for example webmaster@yourname.com) to the email account provided by your ISP.
Mailing List A group discussion conducted through email messages, specific to a topic or common interest. When a message is sent to a mailing list, each list subscriber receives a copy.
Megabyte (MB) 1,048,576 bytes.
Message Board A type of bulletin board where users read and respond to other people's posts.
META tag Hidden HTML code that contains information about a Web page, such as who created the page, what the page is about, and which keywords best describe the page's content. Some search engines use this information to list Web pages.
MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface: A computerized music file, often used on Web pages.
MIME Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions: The standard for attaching non-text files (such as graphics, spreadsheets, word processor documents, sound files, etc.) to email messages.
Modem A device that connects your computer to a phone line. It transforms digital computer data into analog data; the analog data is then sent through a telephone line to a second computer. A modem on the receiving end transforms the analog data back into the digital format, so that the receiving computer can read it.
mSQL Mini SQL: A lightweight database engine designed to provide fast access to stored data. See Also: SQL
Netiquette The informal rules of Internet etiquette.
Netizen Derived from the term citizen, referring to a citizen of the Internet. The term implies civic responsibility and participation.
Network Any time you connect 2 or more computers together for the purpose of sharing resources, you have a computer network.
Newbie Someone who is new to the Internet.
Newsgroups An Internet message board system, where people meet to discuss a variety of topics.
Operating System (OS) The software that manages a computer system. Windows 95 is an OS.
Opt-in policy A site will not gather or track information about the user unless they knowingly provide the information and consent to the site.
Opt-out policy Blocking personally identifiable information from being used by a particular web site or shared with third parties.
Page Views See impressions.
Password A series of characters that enables someone to access a file, computer or program. It prevents unauthorized users from changing your information. The password should be a combination of characters that would be difficult to guess.
Perl Practical Extraction and Report Language. This programming language was designed mainly for processing text. It is one of the most popular languages used for writing CGI Scripts.
Personally identifiable information Information that can be traced to an individual user, such as your name, postal address or e-mail address. Personal user preferences tracked by cookies are also personally identifiable when linked to other personally identifiable information provided by the user online.
Pixel A unit of measurement for graphics or monitor resolution. A pixel is one dot on a computer screen. Most computer monitors are set to a resolution of 800 x 600, meaning 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.
Plug-ins Software programs that enhance other programs or applications on your computer. There are plug-ins for Internet browsers, graphics programs, and other applications.
POP Post Office Protocol - or - Point Of Presence:
- Post Office Protocol is a method of retrieving email from a server.
- Point Of Presence is a telephone number that provides dial-up Internet access. ISPs usually provide several POPs so users can gain Internet access with local phone calls.
Post Message To send a message to a newsgroup or other type of message board.
PPP Point to Point Protocol: The protocol that allows a computer to use a telephone line and a modem to make TCP/IP connections, connecting users to the Internet.
Privacy statement A page or pages on a web site that outlines a site's privacy policy, such as what personal information is collected, how it will be used, whom it will be shared with and whether you have the option to control how it will be used.
Protocol A standard for the exchange of information. There are several different types of protocols (e.g., FTP, TCP/IP) used by various computers and software.
RAM Random Access Memory: This is reusable computer memory, available to all programs on a computer. A computer with 32M of RAM has about 32 million bytes of memory that programs can use. RAM is read/write memory, as opposed to ROM which is read-only memory.
RealPlayer A streaming media delivery system for the Internet. Providers of news, entertainment, sports, and business content can create audio and video multimedia content, and deliver it online to audiences worldwide. To create your own RealPlayer files and offer them on your Web site, your hosting service must install special "extensions" for your account.
Resolution (Screen or Monitor) The way things appear on your computer monitor. Resolution is measured in pixels. The lower the resolution, the larger things appear on your screen. Most computer monitors are set at 800 x 600 resolution, meaning 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high. Some people's monitors are set at 1024 x 768 or higher. Others are set at 640 x 480. When designing a Web site, keep in mind that your Web pages will look different to viewers depending on their monitor resolutions. You can change your own monitor resolution through your computer's Control Panel (for Mac, Windows 95 and Windows 98).
ROM Read-Only Memory: This is a computer's unchangeable memory. It's used to store programs that start the computer and run diagnostic functions.
Script A list of commands that can run without user interaction.
Search Engine A directory of Internet content. If you're looking for specific information on the WWW, a search engine can list Web sites at which you'll likely find that information. Popular search engines include Excite, Snap, Yahoo, and Infoseek.
Secure site (or server) Uses encryption technology or standards such as SSL to protect confidential information, such as credit card numbers.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) An industry-standard security protocol that transmits confidential information securely and privately over the internet. SSL provides data privacy, data authentication and message privacy. By convention, Web addresses of pages that require an SSL connection start with "https:" instead of "http:".
Security Certificate Information used to establish a secure connection by SSL protocol. In order for an SSL connection to be created, both sides must have a valid Security Certificate, issued by the Certificate Authority.
Server A computer or device that manages network resources. The term can refer to a piece of software, or to the machine on which the software is running. A single server machine could be running several different server software packages, thus providing many different services to users on the network.
Shopping cart A service for online shoppers that allows you to keep a list of things you are thinking about buying, including a running tally of the total. When you're ready to buy (or "check out") you can discard some things, pay for them or hold items for a later visit.
SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol: A protocol used to transfer email between servers.
Snailmail The term used to define the method of a letter being physically delivered to a person using the Post Office or some other letter carrier.
Spam (or Spamming) Junk email or junk newsgroup posts. Spam is usually some sort of advertising, inappropriately sent to a mailing list or newsgroup. Spam not only wastes the recipient's time, but also misuses network bandwidth.
Spider An Internet robot (used by a search engine) that explores the Web at large. Spiders collect Web page addresses based on content found at those pages.
Spoofing Illegitimate sites that appear to be published by established organizations. Con artists have illegally obtained credit card numbers by setting up professional-looking storefronts that mimic legitimate businesses.
SQL Structured Query Language: A specialized programming language for sending queries to databases. Many database applications can be addressed using SQL. Each specific application will have its own version of SQL implementing features unique to that application, but all SQL-capable databases support a common subset of SQL.
T-1 A connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000 bits per second. T-1 is most commonly used to connect networks to the Internet.
T-3 A connection capable of carrying data at 44,736,000 bits per second. Equivalent to 29 T-1 connections.
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol: This is the suite of protocols that defines the Internet. Originally designed for the UNIX operating system, TCP/IP software is now available for every major computer operating system. Your computer must have TCP/IP software to be connected to the Internet.
TrueSpeech Software that compresses speech to as little as 1/40th its original size. Regular speech files are normally large, causing Web pages to load slowly; TrueSpeech compression allows faster, easier transfer.
Truste An independent, nonprofit privacy organization that sets voluntary guidelines for web sites' privacy policy. Sites that adhere to established privacy principles and agree to comply with Truste's oversight and consumer resolution process are allowed to display the group's online seal, the "trustmark."
Unauthorized disclosure When transaction information is transmitted "in the clear," hackers can intercept the transmissions to obtain your customers' sensitive information.
Unauthorized action A competitor or disgruntled customer can alter your Web site so that it refuses service to potential clients or malfunctions.
UNIX A computer operating system. UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time and has TCP/IP built-in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.
Upload Sending a file from your system to a server or to someone else's computer.
URL Uniform Resource Locator: The standard way to display an address on the World Wide Web (WWW). A URL is accessed through a Web browser and looks like this: http://www.gray-cells.com
User ID This is the account reference name sent to you in the Account Activation Letter. When you need to log on to your site, you will use this item.
UUENCODE UNIX to UNIX Encoding: A method for converting files from Binary to ASCII so that they can be sent across the Internet via email. See Also: MIME
Virus A virus is a malicious program whose sole intent is to cause problems on a computer. There are Anti-Virus programs, such as McAfee and Norton Utilities, created to combat viruses.
Virus Hoax Occasionally, rumors are started about viruses that do not exist. These are merely hoaxes.
Volano Chat A real-time, live chat interface you can add--quickly and easily--to your Web site. Written in Java, it is compatible with the vast majority of Web browsers and requires no plug-ins.
Web or WWW World Wide Web: This commonly refers to the massive, global collection of hypertext (HTTP) servers that allow concurrent viewing of Internet data.
Webmaster The person who creates and maintains a web site.
Wizard A utility in a program that outlines a series of sequential tasks to set up a portion of the program. For example, an email program may use a wizard to gather the necessary information to set up an email account.
WYSIWYG What You See Is What You Get (pronounced "wizzy-wig"): A program that displays a document on your screen exactly as it would appear when printed or published online. The term usually applies to HTML editors, such as Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. These WYSIWYG editors can show you how your Web page will appear online, as you're editing the document.
Zip Zone Information Protocol: This is a method of compressing computer data or files into a small size, so they can be transferred quickly over the Internet. There are programs built specifically to zip files, such as WinZip.
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