A Glossary of Internet Terms
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The Internet has brought about its own vocabulary, combining both user jargon and technical terms. Here are some of the more commonly used phrases:
Address
Normally refers to ones e-mail address, which can be a series of letters or numbers. When referring to a World Wide Web site, an address is the URL.
Bandwidth
A term used to describe the amount of data that can travel in a given time - usually one second - across a network or a connection to a network, such as a modem. When you send a message across the Internet, you are using part of its bandwidth, just as your car takes up space on the freeway.
Bits Per Second (BPS)
The data transfer rate that specifies the number of bits that a computer system can transmit per second. The latest computer modems are designed to allow transfer rates up to 6 thousand per second. Cable modems, DSL and network connections provide much higher transfer speeds than computer modems.
Blog
a 'blog' is short for a web log, or a live Internet journal. Blog's often focus on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news. Some blog's function as online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images and links to other blog's, web pages , and other media related to its topic.
Browser
A program used to view, download, upload, surf or otherwise access documents (pages) on the World Wide . Browsers can be text-based meaning they do not show graphics or images but most however are text and graphical based. Browsers read "Marked up" or coded pages (usually HTML, but not always) that reside on servers and interpret the coding into what we see"rendered" as a Web page. A few popular Internet browsers include Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.
Chat
An Internet feature that allows two or more people to communicate live with each other by typing messages. This is like a telephone conversation, but using typed messages on computers.
Chat Room
A virtual room where people can communicate in real time while on the Internet. Users type their messages with a keyboard and the entered text will appear on the monitor, along with the text of the other chat room visitors.
Domain Name
A Domain Name is usually is a customized, unique, and easier - to - remember Internet address. This Internet address in entered into a computer and then looked up in the global Domain Name Systems (DNS). Internet users access your web site using your domain name.
Download
The process of copying a file (e.g. text or graphics) from a remote computer to your computer. There are a few methods of doing this on the Internet. HTTP, FTP and email attachments are the most common.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
A public network technology that delivers high bandwidth over conventional copper wiring (such as telephone lines) at limited distances. DSL can allow voice and high speed data to be sent simultaneously over the same line.
ECommerce (Electronic Commerce)
The conducting of business communication and transactions over networks and through computers. Specifically, ecommerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, and transfer of funds, through digital communications.
Email (Electronic Mail)
Refers to messages sent from one person to one or more other persons over the Internet or a private network.
Email Address
An electronic location for sending and receiving e-mail. The email address contains your username, an @ symbol, and the domain name (e.g. LArnoff@mandalaartllc.com)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A system for moving or copying files, such as programs, text or graphics, from a remote computer, called FTP site, to another computer via the Internet.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
A language designed for the creation of web pages and other information viewable in a browser. HTML is used to structure information - denoting certain text as heading, paragraphs, lists and so on - and can be used to define the semantics of a document.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
The set of rules for transferring files on the World Wide Web. HTTP allows people to navigate among documents or pages linked by hypertext and download pages from the World Wide Web. An http:// precedes every web site address.
Hypertext
Highlighted words on World Wide Web pages that enable you to jump from one page to another without typing commands.
Internet
A dynamic, global network of computer networks that allows people to send e-mail messages, participate in discussions and access information without a central authority. The term is often used to describe the total body of interconnected computer networks.
Internet Protocol (IP)
A standardized method of transporting information across the Internet in packets of data. It is often linked to Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which assembles the packets once they have been delivered to the intended location.
IP address
A unique Internet Protocol address assigned to a specific computer connected to the Internet. An IP address can be compared to the physical address of a house or business. A letter sent from one address to another will usually include the address of the sender and the address of the recipient. Likewise, when a computer on the Internet sends a request for information from another commuter, the request is sent with both the sender's IP address and the recipient's IP address. The receiving computer responds by sending the requested information back to the IP address of the computer that made the request.
Link
A connection from one word, picture, or information object to another that can be selected with the click of a mouse. A link most commonly appears as highlighted, underlined text.
Netiquette
A term used to describe Internet etiquette. Basically, netiquette is an attempt by hardcore Internet users to set rules for online conversations.
Online
Technically describes one's computer being connected to one or more other computers. Regarding the Internet, online means a computer is connected to the Internet.
Search Engines
World Wide Web sites that allow users to search for specific web sites on interest by typing key words or phrases. Popular search sites include Yahoo!, Goggle, MSN, and many others.
UNIX
A computer operating system with powerful networking features. Much of the Internet has been built on a foundation of UNIX technology.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
An HTTP address used by the World Wide Web to specify a certain site. This is the unique identifier, or address, of a web page on the Internet. It is important to type the address correctly. An extra space, a capital letter, a missing or additional period, or slash will cause a problem when trying to visit the web site, etc.
Visit
A visit, or a visitor, is an actual human being who comes to a web site. The number of visits a web site receives per hour/day/month/year is the primary (but not the only) measure of traffic to a web site.
Webmaster
The person responsible for creating and managing a web site on the World Wide Web.
World Wide Web (WWW)
A collection of interconnected Internet sites that can be traversed through hypertext links. Typically, these links are screen areas that lead to other web sites when a mouse is positioned on a link and clicked. Web sites can include text, graphics, input fields, audio, video and access to a wide range of Internet features.