Web Glossary
- Anchor
- Synonymous with hyperlinks, anchor refers to non-linear links among documents. Or more
simply put, it's the word or phrase that can be selected to connect to another page or
resource.
- Anchor Color
- The color on the screen that represents the anchors. The reason so many are blue is that
is often the default color. This color can be changed to any combination of red, green and
blue.
- Agent
- Search tools that automatically seek out relevant online information based on your
specifications. Agents are also called intelligent agents, personal agents, knowbots or
droids.
- Annotations
- Personal notes you can attach to the documents you have saved in your Web browser. The
notes are available to you whenever the document is viewed.
- Archie
- Derived from the word archive, Archie is a Net-based service that allows you to
locate files that can be downloaded via FTP.
- ASCII
- (pronounced "Ask-ee") An acronym for American Standard Code for Information
Exchange, ASCII is an international standard in which numbers, letters, punctuation marks,
symbols and control codes are assigned numbers from 0 to 127. Easily transferred over
networks, ASCII is a plain, unadorned text without style or font specifications.
- Asychronous Connection
- The type of connection a modem makes over a phone line, this connection is not
synchronized by a mutual timing signal or clock.
- AU Sounds
- An audio format developed for Sun workstations and often used to distribute sound clips
via the Web.
- Authoring Software
- Software that enables the creation of multimedia or hypertext documents and
presentations.
- Avatar
- An interactive representation of a human in a virtual reality environment; term was
popularized by Neal Stephenson's novel "Snow Crash."
- Bandwidth
- The range of transmission frequencies a network can use. The greater the bandwidth the
more information that can be transferred over that network at one time. The term bandwidth
also broadly includes throughput, meaning the amount of data sent.
- Baseband
- A transmission method in which a network uses its entire transmission range to send a
single signal.
- Baud
- A unit of speed in data transmission, or the maximum speed at which data can be sent
down a channel. Baud is often equivalent to bits per second. Named after J. M. E. Baudot
(died 1903).
- BBS
- Acronym for Bulletin Board System, a computer equipped with software and
telecommunications links that allow it to act as an information host for remote computer
systems.
- BinHex
- A file conversion format that converts binary files to ASCII text files.
- Bit
- A contraction of binary digit, a bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer
can hold. Eight bits is equivalent to a byte. The speed at which bits are transmitted or
bit rate is usually expressed as bits per second or bps.
- Broadband
- A transmission method in which the networks range of transmission frequencies is divided
into separate channels and each channel is used to send a different signal. Broadband is
often used to send different types of signals simultaneously.
- Browser
- A type of software that allows you to navigate information databases; examples are
Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- Byte
- The number of bits used to represent a character.
- CD-ROM
- Compact Disk-Read Only Memory; an optical disk from which information may be read but
not written.
- CD-R or Compact Disk-Recordable
- Computer peripheral disk drives that allow the user to record content on to a blank
compact disk.
- Client
- A computer that has access to services over a computer network. The computer providing
the services is a server. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and
server are reversed.
- Client-Server Architecture
- An information-passing scheme that works as follows: a client program, such as Internet
Explorer, sends a request to a server. The server takes the request, disconnects from the
client and processes the request. When the request is processed, the server reconnects to
the client program and the information is transferred to the client. This architecture
differs from traditional Internet databases where the client connects to the server and
runs the program from the remote site. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of
client and server are reversed.
- Configuration
- A general-purpose computer term that can refer to the way you have your computer set up.
It is also used to describe the total combination of hardware components that make up a
computer system and the software settings that allow various hardware components of a
computer system to communicate with one another.
- Configure
- The act of changing software or hardware actions by changing the settings.
- CyberMall
- Term commonly used to describe an electronic site shared by a number of commercial
interests.
- Cyberspace
- Term coined by William Gibson in his novel "Neuromancer" to refer to a
near-future computer network where users mentally travel through matrices of data. The
term is now used to describe the Internet and the other computer networks.
- Dial-up Connection
- The most popular form of Net connection for the home user, this is a connection from
your computer to a host computer over standard telephone lines.
- Direct Connection
- A permanent connection between your computer system and the Internet. This is sometimes
referred to as a leased-line connection because the line is leased from the telephone
company.
- DNS
- Acronym for Domain Name Server, DNS refers to a database of Internet names and addresses
which translates the names to the official Internet Protocol numbers and vice versa.
- Document
- When used in reference to the World Wide Web, a document is any file containing text,
media or hyperlinks that can be transferred from an HTTP server to a client program.
- Document Window
- The Web browser's scrollable window in which HTML documents can be viewed.
- Download
- To transfer a copy of a file that resides on another computer to your computer.
- DSU
- Abbreviation for Digital Services Unit, DSU replaces the modem in synchronous
connections to the Internet.
- EDI
- Abbreviation for Electronic Data Interchange, EDI system allows linked computers to
conduct business transactions such as ordering and invoicing over telecommunications
networks.
- External Viewer
- A program used for presenting graphics, audio and video files. Programs that allow the
viewing of GIF and JPEG files and the hearing of AU files fall into this category.
- FAQ
- Acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. A common feature on the Internet, FAQs are files
of answers to commonly asked questions. Read FAQs before wasting electrons asking obvious
questions. Saves you from receiving flames.
- Firewall
- Security measures designed to protect a networked system from unauthorized or unwelcome
access.
- FTP
- File Transfer Protocol is a protocol that allows the transfer of files from one computer
to another. FTP is also the verb used to describe the act of transferring files from one
computer to another.
- GIF
- Acronym for Graphic Interchange Format, a commonly used file compression format
developed by CompuServe for transferring graphics files to and from online services.
- Gopher
- A menu-oriented tool used to locate online resources developed at the University of
Minnesota.
- Gopherspace
- A term used to describe the entire gopher network.
- Groupware
- Software applications that facilitate shared work on documents and information.
- GUI
- Acronym for Graphical User Interface, this term refers to a software front-end meant to
provide an attractive and easy to use interface between a computer user and application.
The Macintosh operating system has a GUI, DOS does not.
- Home Page
- The document displayed when you first open your Web browser. Home Page can also refer to
the first document you come to at a Web site.
- Hotlists
- Lists of frequently used Web locations and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators).
- Host
- A computer acting as an information or communications server.
- HTML
- Acronym for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is the language used to tag various parts of
a Web document so browsing software will know how to display that document's links, text,
graphics and attached media.
- HTML Document
- A document written in HyperText Markup Language.
- HTTP
- Abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP is used to link and transfer
hypertext documents.
- Hypermedia
- The hypertext concept extended to include linked multiple media.
- Hypertext
- Describes the system that allows documents to be cross- linked in such a way that the
reader can explore related documents by clicking on a highlighted word or symbol.
- IAB
- Abbreviation for Internet Architecture Board, the IAB is the council that makes
decisions about Internet standards.
- IETF
- Abbreviation for Internet Engineering Task Force, IETF refers to a subgroup of the
Internet Architecture Board that focuses on solving technical problems on the Internet.
- Inline Images
- Graphics contained within a Web document.
- IP
- Abbreviation for Internet Protocol, IP refers to the set of communication standards that
control communications activity on the Internet. An IP address is the number assigned to
any Internet-connected computer.
- ISDN
- Abbreviation for Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN is a telecommunications
standard that uses digital transmission technology to support voice, video and data
communications applications over regular telephone lines.
- ISOC
- Abbreviation for Internet Society, an organization formed to support a worldwide
information network. ISOC is the sponsoring body of the Internet Architecture Board.
- JPEG
- The acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEG is an image compression format
used to transfer color photographs and images over computer networks. Along with GIF, it's
one of the most common ways photos are moved over the Web.
- Links
- Hypertext connections between Web pages. This is a synonym for hotlinks or hyperlinks.
- Live
- When used in reference to a World Wide Web file, this term designates an object linked
to another layer of information.
- Metaverse
- From the novel "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, this term describes a virtual
online representation of reality.
- MIME
- An acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, MIME is a messaging standard that
allows Internet users to exchange e-mail messages enhanced with graphics, video and voice.
MIME file types are also used in Mosaic.
- Mosaic
- Common name of a World Wide Web multimedia browser program developed at the National
Center for Supercomputing Applications in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. The official, copyrighted
name of the program is NCSA Mosaic(tm).
- MPEG
- The acronym for Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG is an international standard for
video compression and desktop movie presentation. A special viewing application is needed
to run MPEG files on your computer.
- NCSA
- Abbreviation for National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of
Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
- NFS
- Abbreviation for Network File System, NFS is a protocol suite developed and licensed by
Sun Microsystems that allows different makes of computers running different operating
systems to share files and disk storage.
- NIC
- Abbreviation for Network Information Center, NIC is an organization responsible for
supplying information for component networks that comprise the Internet.
- NOC
- Abbreviation for Network Operations Center, NOC is the organization responsible for the
day-to-day operations of the Internet's component networks.
- Node
- A device attached to a network. A node uses the network as a means of communication and
has an address on the network.
- NREN
- Abbreviation for National Research and Education Network, NREN is an effort to combine
the networks operated by the U.S. government into a single high-speed network.
- OSI Model
- The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model for describing network protocols
was devised by the Internet Standards Organization. It divides protocols in to seven
layers to standardize and simplify definitions.
- POP
- Aronym for Point of Presence, POP is a service provider's location for connecting to
users. Generally, POPs refer to the location where people can dial into the provider's
host computer. Most providers have several POPs to allow low-cost access via telephone
lines.
- POTS
- Acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service.
- PPP
- Abbreviation for Point-to-Point Protocol, PPP is an Internet connection where phone
lines and a modem can be used to connect a computer to the Internet.
- Protocol
- A set of standards that define how traffic and communications are handled by a computer
or network routers.
- QuickTime
- A digital video standard developed for Apple Macintosh computers. Special viewing
applications are needed to run QuickTime movies.
- Router
- A communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient route
possible.
- Search Engine
- A program that helps users find information in text-oriented databases.
- Server
- A computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers. Note:
in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
- SGML
- Abbreviation for Standard Generalized Markup Language, SGML is an international standard
for the publication and delivery of electronic information.
- Shareware
- Software that is available on public networks and BBSs. Users are asked to remit a small
amount to the software developer, but it's on the honor system.
- SLIP
- Acronym for Serial Line Internet Protocol, SLIP refers to a method of Internet
connection that enables computers to use phone lines and a modem to connect to the
Internet without having to connect to a host.
- Socket
- A communication mechanism originally implemented on the BSD version of the UNIX
operating system. Sockets are used as endpoints for sending and receiving data between
computers.
- Synchronous Connection
- An analog to analog or digital to digital connection that is able to perform two or more
processes at the same time by means of a mutual timing signal or clock.
- T-1
- High-speed data line connection. T-1 operates at 1.45 Mbps.
- Tags
- Formatting codes used in HTML documents. Tags indicate how parts of a document will
appear when displayed by browsing software.
- TCP-IP
- Basic protocols controlling applications on the Intn the Internet; it stands for
"transmission control protocol/Internet protocol."
- TIFF
- Acronym for Tagged Image File Format, a graphic file format developed by Aldus and
Microsoft. Mosaic supports the viewing of TIFF images.
- Trumpet Winsock
- A popular, cheerier TCP/IP protocol stack.
- URL
- Abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the addressing system used in the World Wide
Web and other Internet resources. The URL contains information about the method of access,
the server to be accessed and the path of any file to be accessed.
- Veronica
- A search utility that helps find information on gopher servers. Veronica allows users to
enter keywords to locate the gopher site holding the desired information. The name is an
acronym for "very easy rodent oriented net-wide index of computerized archives."
Honest!
- WAIS
- Abbreviation for Wide Area Information Service, WAIS is a Net-wide system for looking up
specific information in Internet databases.
- WAIS gateway
- A computer that is used to translate WAIS data so it can be made available to an
otherwise incompatible network or application. Mosaic must use a WAIS gateway.
- Web Browser
- Software that allows a user to access and view HTML documents. Examples of Web browsers
include Netscape, Mosaic, Cello and Lynx.
- Web Document
- An HTML document that is browsable on the Web.
- Webmaster
- The person in charge of administrating a World Wide Web site.
- Web Node
- Synonymous with Web site or Web server.
- Web Page
- An HTML document that is accessible on the Web.
- Webspace
- The space created by the World Wide Web.
- World Wide Web
- Also known as WWW or W3, the World Wide Web is a hypertext- based Internet service used
for browsing Internet resources.