Define Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms

Address - Unique identifier to the location of a stored file, data source, or device as part of a computer system or network.

Applet - Programs downloaded over a network and launched on the user’s computer.

Application - A program that performs a specific function for a user.

Audio/Video Interleaved (AVI) - Common format for video files.

Bandwidth - How much data you can send through a connection, measured in bits per second.

Bitmap - A common image format based on a rectangular pattern of pixels.

Bookmark - A browser tool that acts as a pointer to a defined web site.

Bounce - Failed delivery of an email and its subsequent return to sender as undeliverable.

BPS – (Bits per second) The measure of data speed through a network, modem or Internet connection.

Broadband - High capacity communication paths capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies and multiple signals over independent channels usually with a speed greater than 1.544 Mbps.

Browser - Graphically interactive software used to find, view and mange information over a network.

Bulletin Board System (BBS) - A computer system which provides information and messaging services for dial up users.

Capacity - The highest transmission speed that can be reliably carried through a circuit.

Compressed Files - Data files that have been compacted to save space and reduce transfer times.

Cookies - Files which contain information about a user’s browsing habits which are stored on a system by Web browsers.

Crackers - Users with malicious intentions who gain unauthorized access to computer.

Dedicated Line - A private leased line from a telecommunications provider.

Dialup - A commonly used method of establishing temporary access to the Internet using standard phone lines and a modem.

Domain - Subsets or logical regions of the internet which include the .com, .org, .net, .edu domains.

Download - The act of transferring data from a remote computer to a local computer.

E-mail - A method for the exchange of messages with other computer servers over a network.

E-mail address - The domain-based address used to direct email to a specific destination.

Electronic Commerce - Commonly used term to describe emerging technologies used to conduct business over networks rather than through more traditional communication paths.

Encryption - Network security based on the encoding of network data packets to prevent anyone but the intended recipient from accessing the data.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - A standardized system for transferring files across the Internet. Most commonly used for downloading software.

Firewall - A method of protecting one network from another network.

Frame - A named, scrollable region in which pages can be displayed.

Front End - In the client/server model, the front end refers to the client side or user.

Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) - A standard and popular format for image files on the web.

Hacker - A person with an in-depth understanding of computer systems and networks.

Home Page - The first page display of a Web site.

Hypertext - A term coined by computer author Ted Nelson to describe text that is linked, via an underlying URL, to other text, sound, video, or graphical images.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) - A tag language used as the standard for creation of web pages.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) - Communications instruction set for the transfer of data between a server and a Web client.

Information Superhighway - Commonly used term to describe the Internet and the access users will have to the networks that provide the information.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - Communication line that carries a combination of voice and data across a single line.

Internet - The worlds largest network sharing a common address scheme.

Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)- A popular compressed format for photographic images used on Web pages.

Keyword - An indexed word that defines a document.

Local Area Network (LAN) - A network of computers in a relatively small area such as an office, department, or building.

Modem - Shortened version of Modulated/DEModulator which is a device that enables a computer to transmit data over a phone line.

Network - A group of computers interconnected so they can transfer and share information between individual computers.

Plug-In - Helper applications accessed by Web browsers to play multimedia and other resources.

Portals - A Web site or service, such as AOL, that offers an array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and on- line shopping malls.

Real Time -The transmission and processing of transactional data as they occur, rather than in batches.

Secure Sockets Layers (SSL) - A protocol for transmitting private documents and confidential information via the Internet. Developed by Netscape, it is supported by both Netscape and Internet Explorer.

Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) - A relatively new standard that will enable secure credit card transactions on the internet. SET employs digital signatures which enables merchants to verify that buyers are who they claim to be. It also protects buyers by transferring their credit card number directly to the credit card issuer for verification and billing without the merchant being able to seeing it.

Uniform Resource Locater (URL) - The technical name of Internet addresses which include both the address of the Web server and the specific directory structure to locate an individual Web page.

Usenet - Collection of thousands of bulletin boards/newsgroups on the internet.

Wide Area Network (WAN) - A network or system of connected computers covering a large geographic area.

World Wide Web (WWW or W3) - The subset of the Internet which uses text, graphics and multimedia (audio and video) to communicate.

WYSIWYG (wizzy-wig) -A WYSIWYG application enables you to see on the monitor exactly what the document will appear like when printed.

ZIP (.zip) - A compressed file format used to reduce storage requirements and data transfer times.