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Tutorials - Common Terms |
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Common Terms
ActiveX
An application programming interface (API) that allows web browsers to download and execute Windows programs. For example, Netscape Communicator's support for ActiveX lets users open an Excel spreadsheet from within Netscape Navigator.
ADSL
Short for asymmetric digital subscriber line, a new technology that allows more data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines.
Agent
A program that creates a model of a computer user's personal interests and tastes, and acts as a proxy in searching out and prioritizing information for that user. Agent technology is often used to classify and prioritize information for custom delivery via push technology.
Anonymous FTP
A way to use the FTP program to log on to another computer to copy files when you don't have an account on the other computer. When you log on, enter anonymous as the username and your address as the password. This gives you access to publicly-available files.
Applet
A client-side program written in Java or JavaScript that downloads and executes on the enduser's computer rather than executing on the server.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A standard interface built into a program that lets other programs communicate with it. Used by web browsers and databases as an alternative to CGI gateways. The client-side program is written in Java or JavaScript, and it downloads and executes on the end user's computer rather than executing on the server.
ARPANet -- (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network)
The precursor to the Internet. Developed in the late 60's and early 70's by the US Department of Defense as an experiment in wide-area-networking to connect together computers that were each running different system so that people at one location could use computing resources from
ASCII
The "American Standard Code for Information Interchange" is basically a set of numbers that represent all the normal characters one would find on their keyboard. There are many variations on this theme used for different languages or other purposes. Text saved in ASCII (.txt) format can be read by all word processing programs on most platforms.
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Backbone
A high-speed line or series of connections that forms a major pathway within a network. The term is relative as a backbone in a small network will likely be much smaller than many non-backbone lines in a large network. (see also: Network)
Bandwidth
How much information you can send through a connection. Usually measured in Kilobits-per-second.
Blog -- (weB LOG)
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
Bookmark
A way for web browser users to mark a web page they want to return to later.
Broadband
Broadband is a faster way of accessing the Internet, typically 500Kbps or above.
Browser safe colors
The 216 colors that will not get dithered on monitors that only display 256 colors.
Browser
A client program (software) that is used to search through information provided by a specific type of server.
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Cable
Cable is a method of accessing the Internet, either dial up or broadband.
Cache
To store on a computer user's hard disk a local copy of a web page accessed via the Internet. The web browser compares the cached copy of the page to the original, and if there have been no changes, the browser will use the cached copy rather than reloading the page onto the client, saving processing and download time. Also refers to a web site's database generating static copies of frequently requested dynamic pages, reducing processing time.
Channel
A dynamic information-delivery source. A web site becomes a web channel when it dynamically broadcasts its content to users who have expressed an interest in receiving that information. Users can select channels they want to receive so they do not have to type the address for each site every time they want that information. It's ready for them when they want it, stored in a cache for easy viewing offline.
Chatting
Talking in real-time to other network users from any and all parts of the world.
Client
Computer hardware or software used by an end user on a computer network or the Internet to query a remote server. A web browser is an example of client software.
Client-Server
A computing network in which the functions are divided between clients (or personal computers or terminals), and servers that store, process, and transmit the information.
Client-Side Program
A computer program that is downloaded from a server and executed or run using the end user's computer hardware. Java and JavaScript are examples of client-side programs.
Commands and Filters
Commands and filters allow users to prioritize and organize incoming email messages and discussion group postings.
CGI (Common Gateway Interface)
A server-side communication standard supported by all web servers for accessing external programs. Since HTML allows only one-way communication from the server, which is read by the web browser or client, CGI permits communication and interaction from the client to the server for two-way, dynamic web pages.
.com
International domain name
Cookie
The most common meaning of "Cookie" on the Internet refers to a piece of information sent by a Web Server to a Web Browser that the Browser software is expected to save and to send back to the Server whenever the browser makes additional requests from the Server.
Depending on the type of Cookie used, and the Browsers' settings, the Browser may accept or not accept the Cookie, and may save the Cookie for either a short time or a long time.
Cookies might contain information such as login or registration information, online "shopping cart" information, user preferences, etc.
When a Server receives a request from a Browser that includes a Cookie, the Server is able to use the information stored in the Cookie. For example, the Server might customise what is sent back to the user, or keep a log of particular users' requests.
Cookies are usually set to expire after a predetermined amount of time and are usually saved in memory until the Browser software is closed down, at which time they may be saved to disk if their "expire time" has not been reached.
Cookies do not read your hard drive and send your life story to the government, but they can be used to gather more information about a user than would be possible without them.
.co.uk
United Kingdom based domain name.
Cyberspace
A virtual universe of computers, programs and data.
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Digital Certificates
The digital equivalent of positive identification, such as a driver's license. Issued by various certificate authorities, digital certificates are used to prove that a web site, or a visitor to a web site, is the entity or person they claim to be.
Digital Signatures
Digital signatures work just like paper-and-ink signatures, allowing document recipients to confirm the source of a document. Digital signatures are generated by digital certificates.
Dithering
When a color that is not browser safe is displayed, two browser safe colors are mixed (or alternated) to create the desired color. This is called dithering.
Domain Names
All servers on the Internet have a TCP-IP address that consists of a set of four numbers like 123.45.6.78 By assigning a name to the TCP-IP address - or vice versa - the Web becomes easier to use. URL addresses (domain names) are obtainable from us. Anyone can own a domain name.
Download
To receive a copy of a file from another computer or web server using a modem.
Dynamic
A web document that is created from a database in real-time or "on the fly" at the same time it is being viewed, providing a continuous flow of new information and giving visitors a new experience each time they visit the web site.
DHTML (Dynamic HTML)
The next generation of HTML, the language that specifies exactly how text and images will be displayed on a web page. Dynamic HTML, developed by Netscape and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), is based entirely on industry-standard HTML and Java. New features in Dynamic HTML, such as absolute positioning, give designers and developers greater control over the look and feel of web pages.
Dynamic IP Addressing
Allows users to automatically locate Internet or intranet sites.
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e-commerce (Electronic Commerce)
Conducting business online, including product display, online ordering, secure transactions and inventory management.
.edu
Educational institution domain name.
E-mail
Electronic Mail. Messages, usually text, sent from one person to another via computer.
Encryption
A method of encoding messages to provide privacy for email, discussion group postings, and other communications as they move over intranets or the Internet.
Enterprise
A large-scale, organization wide computer network that may include web-based, client-server, and mainframe computing technologies.
Extranet
A specialized virtual community created by linking business groups via the World Wide Web. Similar to an intranet, an extranet includes outside vendors and uses web technology to facilitate inter business transactions, such as placing and checking orders, tracking merchandise, and making payments.
E-zine
An electronic magazine or newsletter delivered over the Internet via E-mail. A Web-zine is a web site that has a magazine format and is not e-mailed.
Ethernet
A very common method of networking computers in a LAN.
There is more than one type of Ethernet. By 2001 the standard type was "100-BaseT" which can handle up to about 100,000,000 bits-per-second and can be used with almost any kind of computer .
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FAQ -- (Frequently Asked Questions)
FAQs are documents that list and answerthe most common questions on a particular subject. There are hundreds of FAQs on subjects as diverse as Pet Grooming and Cryptography. FAQs are usually written by people who have tired of answering the same question over and over.
File-transfer protocol (FTP)
A method of transferring one or more files from one computer to another on a network or phone line.
Firewall
Firewalls have two basic functions. They protect your system from unsolicited scans coming from the Internet. Secondly, they usually offer outbound control.
Frame
On web pages, a "frame" refer to a part of the screen which is reserved for a particular purpose. On this web site, there is a "navigation frame" and a "content frame".
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GIF (Graphic Information File)
Originated by CompuServe as a way of keeping image files small for easier transport over networks. GIFs are the most widely used graphic file type because can be transparent or even animated. GIFs are limited to 256 colors and look best when using the 216 browser safe colors.
Gigabyte
1000 or 1024 Megabytes, depending on who is measuring.
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
A user interface that displays in graphic or pictorial format rather than in text only .
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Hexadecimal
When you define colors for backgrounds, links, fonts and whatever else in HTML, you can either define them with a word (i.e. "white") or the hexadecimal equivalent. The hexadecimal notation represents each RGB (red, green & blue) component of a color in two characters, 00 to FF, rather than three characters, 000 to 256. The hexadecimal equivalent of white is 000000, and black is FFFFFF. A very large GIF that contains a complete list of browser safe colors and their hexadecimal designations is here.
HTML Editor
A software program that makes creating a web page nearly as easy as typing a memo using a word processor. Instead of learning HTML commands, users can format web pages using a menu. HTML editing tools support bullets, tables, paragraph alignment, font size, font color, indenting, and other common formatting features. Many HTML editor packages display the page being edited exactly the same way it will be displayed on the web - a feature called WYSIWYG, or what you see is what you get.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language, used for writing pages for the World Wide Web. HTML allows text to include codes that define fonts, layout, embedded graphics, and hypertext links.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The method by which World Wide Web pages are transferred over the network.
Hyperlink
An element found on web pages and other electronic documents that, when clicked with a mouse, automatically opens a file or web page in your web browser. A hyperlink may be a word, button, or graphic. When a hyperlink is text, it typically displays in a different color and may also be underlined. A text hyperlink that has already been visited is usually displayed in a different color.
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Internet
The vast collection of inter-connected networks that all use the TCP/IP protocols and that evolved from the ARPANET of the late 60's and early '70s.
Internet Explorer
A common web browser supplied by Microsoft.
Internet Protocol (IP)
The transport layer protocol used as a basis of the Internet. IP enables information to be routed from one network to another in packets and then reassembled when they reach their destination
IP Number
A four-part number separated by dots (e.g. 192.321.991.2) which uniquely identifies a machine on the internet. Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique IP number.
IRC
Internet Relay Chat. A system that enables Internet users to talk with each other in real time over the Internet rather than in person.
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network. A way to move more data over existing regular phone lines. ISDN can provide speeds of 128,000 bits-per-second over a regular phone line.
ISP -- (Internet Service Provider)
An institution that provides access to the Internet in some form, usually for money.
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Java
Java is a network-friendly programming language invented by Sun Microsystems.
A very common use of Java is to create programs that can be safely downloaded to your computer through the Internet and immediately run without fear of viruses or other harm to your computer or files. Using small Java programs (called "Applets"), Web pages can include functions such as animation's,calculators, and other fancy tricks. Java is also becoming popular for creating programs that run in small electronic devices, such as mobile telephones.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language that is mostly used in web pages, usually to add features that make the web page more interactive. When JavaScript is included in an HTML file it relies upon the browser to interpret the JavaScript.
JPEG -- (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
JPEG is most commonly mentioned as a format for image files. JPEG format is preferred to the GIF format for photographic images as opposed to line art or simple logo art.
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