glossary...a-z of the most frequently used web terms
| A • B • C • D • E • F • G• H • I • J • L M • N • O • P • Q • R • S • U • W |
A
Acrobat
A software programme that enables any sort of document to be displayed on any computer over the Web. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a freely available plug-in needed to view PDF documents.
Applet
An application programme inserted into a Web page to add extra features.
Application
A software programme which performs a specific function.
Attachment
A document, picture, programme or audio/video clip sent with an email.
B
Bandwidth
The measurement of how much information can be transmitted at a given time over the Internet. It is measured in Kilobits per second (kbps). Most domestic connections are 56kbps.
Book-marking
A way of storing pointers to favourite Web sites in your browser.
Browser
Software programme used to view Web pages. Eg Internet Explorer or Netscape. Lynx is a text-only browser. Also known as a Web Browser.
C
Caching
Local storage of remote data designed to reduce network transfers and therefore increase speed of download. The cache is a ‘storeroom’ where the data is kept.
Cookie
A small data file placed on your hard disk by a Web site to record your preferences for when you return.
D
Dial-Up Connection
Method of connecting a computer to the Internet via a standard telephone line.
Direct X
Microsoft DirectX is an advanced suite of multimedia APIs built into Microsoft Windows operating systems. DirectX provides a standard development platform for Windows-based PCs by enabling software developers to access specialised hardware features without having to write hardware-specific code.
Domain Name
Denotes the name of a specific Internet area controlled by an organisation.
Download
The retrieval of a file from a Web page on another computer to your own computer.
E
Email
Electronic Mail. Text messages sent through a network to specified individuals or groups. Email messages can also carry attached files.
F
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions. A page containing FAQs is generally a list of questions and answers about a specific subject.
Flash
A programme that allows the creation of animated features on Web pages. The Flash plug-in is required to view these features.
Firewall
Software that prevents certain kinds of access to a computer network.
Frames
The sections into which your computer screen can be divided so that you can do different things in each section. A common use is to put the navigation in a static frame at the top and/or side of the content.
G
GIF
An image file format – it stands for Graphic Interchange Format.
Graphics
Image files used on the Web. These are predominantly either GIF or JPEG format.
H
Home (Page)
The entry point into the pages of a Web site. From the Home Page you can generally access the other site areas.
HTML
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the code used to write Web pages.
Hyperlink
These are links in HTML documents that you can click on to go the other Web resources. Links in a Web browser are usually underlined and are a different colour than the rest of the text.
I
Internet
‘The Net’ is a world-wide network of networks in which computer users may obtain information from other computers.
IP Address
Internet Protocol – the number that identifies your machine as unique on the Internet.
ISDN
This stands for: Integrated Services Digital Network. Digital telephony scheme that allows two simultaneous connections over the same wire.
ISP
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides access to the Internet.
J
Java
An object-oriented, cross-platform programming language that is designed for building applications for the Internet.
JPEG
Stands for: Joint Photographic Expert Group. This is a file format using a compression technique to reduce the size of graphic files used on Web pages.
L
Link
A word or phrase emphasised in a hypertext document that acts as a pointer to related information. Links in a Web browser are usually underlined and are a different colour than the rest of the text.
Listserv
A programme that automatically redistributes email to names on a mailing list.
Load
On the WWW, HTML documents and graphics are loaded into the browser whenever a URL is accessed.
M
Mailing List
A facility on the Internet that links a group of people together with common interests. If you belong to a mailing list you can receive regular messages posted to that list via email.
Modem
A device that translates computer signals to analogue signals suitable for sending across phone lines.
MP3
Digital computer format for transferring music files over the Web.
MPEG
This stands for: Moving Picture Experts Group – A common method for digitally encoding video files.
N
Navigation
Tools, bars and buttons which allow you to move around, on and between Web pages.
O
Online
When a user is connected to a network, they are described as being online.
P
PDF
Portable Document Format – a standard used by Adobe Acrobat to display any sort of document on any computer.
Pict
The default graphics format on Macintosh computers.
Plug In
A small programme that adds extra features to another programme. eg the Flash plug-in lets you view animated Web pages. Other examples include Adobe Acrobat Reader, RealAudio, QuickTime and ShockWave.
Proxy Server
Proxy servers can be used for sharing a single Internet connection among a number of workstations. It can monitor and intercept certain requests being sent, and therefore filter access to and from the Web.
Q
QuickTime
A common method for digitally encoding video files. The QuickTime plug-in is required to view these files.
R
RealAudio
A Browser plug-in programme which allows the playback of realtime audio recordings over the Web.
RealVideo
A Browser plug-in programme which allows the playback of realtime video recordings over the Web.
S
Scroll
To move a page up or down or sideways to view parts of the page that do not fit onto the screen. The scroll bars are usually grey panels to the edge of the visible page area.
Search Engine
A tool to help locate information on the Web using keywords and/or phrases.
Server
A 'host' computer which supplies information and services to other computers on a network.
ShockWave
A programme that allows the creation of animated features on Web pages. The ShockWave plug-in is required to view these features.
U
URL
A URL – or Uniform Resource Locator – is the address of a file, eg an HTML page. Also known as the 'web site address'.
User
A person who uses Internet services.
W
Web Site
A collection of Web files on a particular subject.
World Wide Web (www)
A collection of electronic documents loosely knit by a concept called ‘Hypertext’. Documents connect to each other by clickable ‘hyperlinks’. You need to run a Browser programme to access the Web.
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