Search Engines Glossary:
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Search Engines Glossary: Terms A - Z
Internet glossary...
A
Anonymous FTP - an FTP service that permits any user, not just those with accounts at the host site, to access and download files.
App - short for "application."
Application - there are many programs available for different kinds of applications or "things" you can do. Anything from word processing, record keeping, and even playing interactive games is available on software.
Archie - a Internet software tool that searches directories of FTP sites by keyword.
ARPAnet (Advanced Research Project Agency Network) - was originally called DARPANET. The network was developed in the late 1960's by the U.S. Department of Defense as a way to communicate in the event of a nuclear attack. The purpose of the network was to be able to survive a nuclear attack, even if major portions were damaged or destroyed. Today's Internet is a descendent of this network.
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) - the standard used to represent all of the upper and lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation in the Latin alphabet.
Attachment - a useful feature that allows you "attach" files, documents, pictures, video, and even sound with your email. Not all email clients support this feature.
ATM - Asynchronous Transfer Mode.
Avatar - a virtual identity, usually three-dimensional, taken by visitors in a virtual reality world or chatroom.
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B
Backbone Network - a backbone network is a high-speed network, usually a WAN, that connects powerful computers. It may also serve as a carrier of data from smaller regional networks. Backbone networks provide the high-speed interconnection of secondary carriers.
Bandwidth - the amount of information that can flow between two points in a given amount of time.
Baud - a unit of measure commonly thought of as how many bits per second a modem can send and receive information.
BBS - (Bulletin Board System) - a computer based environment in which people converse and share information, similar to the newsgroups found on the Internet. They may be run from a personal computer in someone's home.
Bit (Binary Digit) - a single digit number in base-2, another words, either a 1 (one) or a 0 (zero). The smallest unit of computerized data.
BIOS - Basic Input/Output System.
Browser - a software program that generally resides on a user's computer and is used to view different aspects of the Internet. A Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, provide a graphical window in which to view the Internet allowing a user to see graphics, pictures, video, and even hear sounds on the Web.
C
CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) - A special team appointed by DARPA and the White House to deal with computer & Internet related emergencies such as viruses, hackers, etc.
CD-ROM - Compact Disk - Read Only Memory.
CD-RW - Compact Disk - ReWritable.
CERN - European Particle Physics Laboratory
CGI - Common Gateway Interface.
Chat/Chatroom - an Internet feature that allows real-time communications between two or more people, similar to a phone conversation but with keyboards instead.
Client - a computer program that reaches into the Internet to try and find information for a computer user. Clients contact server computers to request the information, then bring the data to a computer user.
CMOS - Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.
Compression - the act of making a file smaller than it's original size.
Cookies - tasty snack treats that compliment that cup of coffee in the morning, in the real world that is. In the online world they are bits of data or information placed on your hard drive by Web sites that you visit. Click here! to learn more about cookies.
Crash - a disk crash that involves the read/write heads dropping onto the surface of the disks and scraping off the oxide may also be referred to as a "head crash", whereas the term "system crash" usually, though not always, implies that the operating system or other software was at fault.
CSLIP - a variation of SLIP that is compressed for improved performance.
Cursor - the blinking point on your screen controlled by the mouse or keyboard that indicates where data will be entered.
Cyberspace - a term used to describe the imaginary space that exists between computers.
D
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) - the branch of the United States Defense Department that is dedicated to the research & development of military defense systems.
DARPAnet (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Network) - the network developed in the late 1960's by the U.S. Department of defense. Was made to determine if such a wide area network could survive a nuclear attack. Later changed to ARPANET. The Internet is a descendent of this network.
Data Packets - when you request information on the Internet, TCP/IP takes that information and divides it all up into hundreds of smaller pieces of the original request called "packets." TCP/IP then sends these data packets over the Internet. These packets travel separately through different routes over the Internet to their destination where they are reassembled upon arrival.
DBMS - Database Management System
DHTML - Dynamic Hyper-Text Mark-up Language
Digest Mode - a mailing list option that groups messages together and sends them on a periodic basis such as daily rather than sending each individual e-mail as it is received.
DLL - Dynamic Link Library.
Domain Name - a unique name or address that identifies an any given location on the Internet.
DOS - Disk Operating System.
Download - the process of transferring files or any type of graphics from a Website to your hard drive or other network enabled device.
DLS (Digital Subscriber Line) - DSL offers users higher bandwidth with speeds of up to 156 kbps and is only available in certain areas.
E
E-mail (Electronic Mail) - a way to send a message to another person, or a group of people, through the computer. Email has become the nost popular feature on the Internet with more email sent in a day than regular postal (snail) mail.
Ethernet - a popular, cost effective way information can travel through a network, also the easiest type of network to set up.
Execute - to issue a command to a computer or other electronic device.
External Image - an image that is not displayed when a WWW page loads (like an inline image), but is accessed by a hypertext link from the page. An external image is usually very large, which is why it is displayed on a separate page.
F
FAT - File Allocation Table
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) - an electronic document that itemizes and answers the most common questions on a particular subject.
Filter - another useful email feature that allows you to sort, automatically delete, or otherwise organize your email inbox.
Firewall - hardware or software that separates information on a computer from outside users not authorized to access this information.
Flame or Flaming - a negative or vicious message that disparages or attacks another person on the Internet. Generally seen on a mail list or newsgroups. A Flame war is a thread of flames.
Forms - provides an area to input and submit information on a Webpage.
Frames - a feature supported by most modern Web browsers than enables the Web author to divide the browser display area into two or more sections (frames). The contents of each frame are taken from a different Web page. Frames provide great flexibility in designing Web pages, but many designers avoid them because they are supported unevenly by current browsers.
Freenet - a service that provides internet access without charging usage fees.
Freeware - copyrighted software given away for free by the author. Although it is available for free, the author retains the copyright, which means that you cannot do anything with it that is not expressly allowed by the author. Usually, the author allows people to use the software, but not sell it.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - a method for downloading and uploading files to and from an Internet site.
G
Gateway - a means for providing access to the Internet.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - GIF (pronounced "Jiff") is a format of digitized images, designed to be transferable between computer systems. The GIF format is used almost entirely for inline images that appear on Web Pages.
Gopher - an information sub-network software program connecting all of the university, government, and research facility databases together.
GUI (Graphical User Interface) - GUI (pronounced "goo-wee") is a program that uses "icons" such as pictures, buttons, and symbols as commands that you "click" on. An example of a GUI interface is the Microsoft Windows operating system. GUI is also used throughout the Internet and in Web browsers making it easy to explore the World Wide Web. It's as easy as using your mouse to "point and click" to travel anywhere in the world you choose to go.
H
Hacker - someone who attempts to gain unauthorized access to files in various computer or network systems.
Helper Applications - software that works with Netscape and other Web browsers to perform functions such as viewing video and graphic files or editing text.
Homepage - the first and main or index page of a Web site.
Host - a computer on the Internet, or any other network, that provides server where web pages can be located.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) - a protocol that allows HTML documents to be moved across the Internet.
HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language) - a formatting language used to create pages on the WWW. A major feature allows allows documents to link to any other documents on the Web. Documents can be viewed through a browser that runs on your computer.
Hyperlink/Hypertext - a link within a hypertext document. The link can be text,image, sound, or video. The reader can click on a link to get more information about a topic or to transfer to another site with related information.
Hypermedia - an interactive system of linking text, video, sound, and animation within a document. The World Wide Web is a hypermedia system.
I
IDE - Intergrated Drive Electronics.
IETF - Internet Engineering Task Force.
Internet - a global network of computers linking computers of all types. The Internet is not owned or controlled by any single business, government, or organization.
InterNIC (InterNetwork Information Center) - a U.S. company where you register your domain name and who maintains a database with all registered names.
IP (Internet Protocol) - the set of rules and standards that allows an Internet transmission to traverse a flexible course on the way to its destination. It is one of the foundation technologies of the Internet.
Internet Society (ISOC) - an international organization that is dedicated to the development and use of the Internet. The purpose of the Internet Society is to promote and encourage global cooperation, use, and coordination of the Internet infrastructure and its networking technologies and applications around the world. Members consist of individuals, commercial, government, and non-profit organizations.
IP Number - a unique number that identifies every computer on the Internet. Each unique number has four parts separated by dots. you do not have to know a computers IP number to access it. If you use a domain name, it is translated from an IP number.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) - an Internet feature that allows groups of people to chat with each other by typing messages that are seen by everyone accessing the same "channel", similar to CB radio.
IRQ - Interupt Request.
ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) - a method for transmitting data over existing home and business phone lines without the use of a modem that provides faster access to services to the Internet.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - a company that provides access to the Internet to individuals and companies for a fee.
Inline Image - an image that appears or loads on a Web page at the same time as the text.
J
Java - a programming language that permits interactivity with information on the Internet by downloading small programs (applets) to the user's computer.
JavaScript - a cross-plateform scripting language. Can run as a server-side scripting language, as an embedded language in HTML, or as an embedded language in browsers.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - an image file format that supports three levels of file compression. Image quality is affected by the level of compression used.
K
Kbps (Kilo bits per second) - a measure of how many kilobits can be moved from one place to another per second. A kilobit is 1,024 bits.
L
Leased-line - a phone line that is rented for for exclusive use, generally by a company. Internet sites with permanent connections, rather than modem dial-up, use leased lines to connect to an Internet backbone.
Listserv - a specific type of mail list application that is presently the most common mailing list type on the Internet.
Login, Logon, or Sign-on - the method used to identify a person prior to allowing access to a computer system or online service.
M
MAE - Metropolitan Area Exchange.
Majordomo - a specific type of mail list application that is presently the second most common mailing list type on the Internet.
Mailing List - a service that allows people who are interested in a particular topic to send email messages to one place and have them automatically distributed to everyone in the group.
MIDI - (Musical Instrument Device Interface) - an industry standard format for music files.
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) - a software that allows users to send e-mail with attached documents that can containing graphics, sound, photos and even video clips.
Mirror site - an alternative site to the main computer Web site that "mirrors" or duplicates the content of the main site. The mirror site helps to handle the high traffic (visitors) to a popular site.
Modem (MOdulator/DEModulator) - a hardware device that allows your computer to talk to other computers through a phone line.
Mosaic - The original Web browser that pioneered the ease of use and popularity of the World Wide Web.
Mouse - a pointing device that works by rolling the mouse on a flat surface top and clicking its buttons. This in turn allows you to tell your computer what to do.
MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) - a popular format for movies over the Internet.
MUDs (Multi-User Dungeon, Domain, or Dimension) - an environment that allows multiple users to interact in a simulation.
N
NAP (Network Access Point) - an actual connection to the Internet backbone network.
Netiquette - an informal rules for conduct on the Internet.
Netizen - any Internet user who has experience in the online world.
Netscape Navigator - a widely used Web browser for the Internet.
Network - two or more computers connected for the purpose of exchanging data.
Newsgroups - a electronic discussion group. The internet host thousands of newsgroups on specific topics. Sometimes refereed to as Usenet groups.
Newsreader - a software program that allows you to read and post messages on a newsgroup.
NNTP - (Network News Transfer Protocol) - is the language used by two computers to communicate when delivering Usenet messages.
O
OCR - Optical Character Recognition.
Online Service Provider - a paid service, such as CompuServe or America Online, that provides a wide variety of interactive services and content to their subscribers. All major online services offer full Internet access to their customers.
Operating System (OS) - software that is by far the most important program for a computer as it instructs the computer how to do some of its basic functions such as saving files, checking the system, etc.
Windows, Apple/Mac, and DOS are examples of OS software. Most computers sold today come with Windows 95 OS already installed along with different pre-installed software application. In facts 75 to 80 percent of the computers in the world operate on Windows 95 OS?
P
Packet Switching - the method by which information is broken into small blocks and sent to a destination computer where the pieces are then reassembled. Data on the Internet moves this way.
Plan, Plan File - a special file that contains information about each Internet user. It is accessible through Finger utilities.
Plug-in - a hardware or software module that adds a specific feature or service to a larger system. For example, there are number of plug-ins for the Netscape Navigator browser that enable it to display different types of audio or video messages. Navigator plug-ins are based on MIME file types.
POP: (1) Post Office Protocol - a protocol for receiving e-mail from an ISP. (2) Point Of Presence - a city or location where an ISP offers local dial-up access to the Internet.
Point and Click - when you give a command by typing it out on the keyboard or clicking on an "icon" with your mouse, or using a joystick to input commands you are interacting through the programs interface. This interaction takes your instructions and performs the necessary functions, giving you the desired results.
PPP (Point to Point Protocol)- a protocol that allows a computer to have full access to the Internet, through the telephone.
Port - a specific gateway into and/or out of a computer system. This term can apply to physical plugs, such as printer or modem port. On the Internet it specifically applies to programmed gateways that lead to specific features within computer systems.
Posting - an electronic message sent to a newsgroup.
Protocol - a language or set of rules understood by different types of computers.
Q
R
Real time - something that is done while you waite or watch, e.g., "with special software you can communicate in real time."
RFC (Request For Comment) - documents that contain technical specifications that, upon approval, are adopted as Internet Standards (STDs). RFC's are the closest the Internet comes to having a set of laws.
Routers - computers that handle all the flow of traffic over the Internet. Since packets travel different distinct routes, the router chooses the best possible route to send the information to its destination. If any part of the Internet should fail or become disabled the router finds the best possible way around the damaged or disabled computer and sends the information on it's way.
S
Search Engine - a keyword-search utility software.
Server - a computer or software program that controls the dissemination and movement of information.
Shareware - software distributed on the basis of an honor system. Most shareware is delivered free of charge, but the author usually requests that you pay a small fee if you like the program and use it regularly. By sending the small fee, you become registered with the producer so that you can receive service assistance and updates. You can copy shareware and pass it along to friends and colleagues, but they too are expected to pay a fee if they use the product.
"SIG" - is an ASCII text signature that is automatically attached to the bottom of your online writings, such as your email and newsgroup postings.
SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) - a protocol that allows a computer to have full access to the Internet through a modem. SLIP is gradually being replaced by a more recent protocol, PPP.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) - an internet protocol deicated to the delivery of email.
Snail mail - is a term used to describe mail that is delivered via the Post Office. When someone asks for your snail mail address, they want your home mailing address.
Software - the instructions a computer needs to perform certain tasks in response to a user's request is called "software." Without a software program a computer will not do anything but turn on. There are two kinds of software programs: Operating System Software (OS) and Applications Software.
Source Document - a text document formatted with HTML. The Web page, when viewed through a Web browser, is a representation of the source document.
Spam/Spamming - the act of sending an electronic message to a large group of people who did not request it or have no interest in its contents.
Streaming - A method that allows the ability to start playing a file in realtime instead of having to download the completed file. You can play them as they come into your machine and they will look or sound like a seamless, continuous video or audio clip.
Sysop (SYStems OPeration) - the individual responsible for the operation of a network service.
T
T-1,T-3, or T-10 - extreme high-speed connections that transfer data on the Internet at enormous rates.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - the group of protocols that defines how computers on the Internet communicate.
Telnet - a method of logging in to a computer system on the Internet from a remote computer.
Terminal - a hardware device that lets you use the resource of a computer.
Thread - a reply or several replies to a newsgroup or mailing list post.
Tweaking - the act of making simple adjustments or changing available options to your computer's system options or software (including your browser) to enhance or speed-up the computer's performance. WARNING!: Making adjustments to your computer's systems options is not recommended unless you are an experienced user!
U
UCE - an acronym for "Unsolicited Commercial Email."
URL (Universal Resource Locator) - an address system that identifies the service, the host, the path, and the filename of a document found on the WWW.
Usenet - a worldwide network of online, interactive newsgroups. most newsgroups are open to anyone who wants to read, comment on, or contribute articles.
UNIX - an operating system with built-in support for TCP/IP. Most servers on the Internet use UNIX.
Uploading - the process of sending files to a Web server or other computer.
V
VERONICA (Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives) - a searchable database that contains the names of all menu items available in gopherspace. It has basically becoming obsolete as the Web has become the popular choice for retrieving information.
VRML - Virtual Reality Mark-up Language.
Virual Reality - a reality that does not actually exist, but appears and feels real.
Virtual World - an artificially created environment, normally three-dimensional, that allows for the interaction between multiple players.
W
WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) - WAIS (pronounced "ways") - is an application that indexes very large amounts of data and provides indexes of the information to networks. A WAIS search organizes results by the degree to which the information is relevant and allows you to customize a search by selecting particular items and asking for more items that are similar.
WAN - Wide Area Network.
Warez - (pronounced "wheres") - refers to commercial software that has been pirated and made available to the public via a BBS or the Internet. Typically, the pirate (also called a cracker) has figured out a way to de-activate the copy-protection or registration scheme used by the software. Note that the use and distribution of warez software is illegal. In contrast, shareware and freeware may be freely copied and distributed.
Web, WWW, or W3 - abbreviations for World Wide Web.
Web browser - a software application that provides a graphical window for users to view (or browse) linked Web pages created in HTML format.
Webpage - a document that is readable by a Web browser. A Web page is created using the Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) and is readable by all types of computers.
Website - a Website is a collection of Web pages maintained by universities, companies, government agencies, and individuals like you and me. These Web sites consists of catalogs, corporate updates, product information, research papers, and just about anything else that can be viewed on a computer screen on a Web site. Colorful graphics and interesting layouts make the pages look more like a magazine pages than text documents and can be used to present more information than possible with words alone. Most sites on the Web periodically update their Web page contents to give them a fresh look. A Web site usually consists of a homepage and several additional pages, but can be just the homepage
WIMP - Windows Icon Menu Pointer.
World Wide Web - a feature on the Internet that presents information in a graphical format as a system of linked pages. Web information is stored on many publicly and privately owned computers worldwide called Web servers.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) (Pronounced "WissyWig") - a term used to describe the plain features of a Web page making tools.
XYZ
Y2K - An acronym for Year 2000. Visit our Y2K page for more.
Zip - "zip" is a popular data compression format. Using special software utilities, you can compress files into archives from their original size. Files that have been compressed with the ZIP format are called ZIP files and usually end with a .zip extension.
Copyright 1999 - Ruben Flores - All Rights Reserved
You can reprint this article (if not stated otherwise above) on your website or publication with notice "Reprinted from Zongoo! Computers".
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