W E B   W O R D S Use index to refine your search Tinted = words are defined = return to index I N D E X A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # Admin (Administrator) The person responsible for the web server (the computer where your website resides). Also known as a Webmaster or Sysadmin. Application Another name for a computer program. Back-end Behind the scenes; complex technology and systems that programmers, admins and web developers work with, and not normally seen by the end-user. Backup A backup is a duplicate copy of your data (or disk, software...) made by the user as to safeguard against the loss of original information. Hosting companies may routinely make backups of data files on their servers in case a customer accidentally deletes an important file. Bandwidth The transmission capacity of data, usually measured in bits per second (bps). Bandwidth is basically the maximum speed at which data can be transmitted between computers in a network. Bits & Bytes A bit represents the smallest amount of data on a computer, either "0" or "1". A byte is a set of 8 bits that represents a number from 0 to 255. 1 Kilobyte (Kb) = About a thousand bytes (1,024 bytes) 1 Megabyte (Mb) = About a million bytes (1,048,576 bytes) 1 Gigabyte (Gb) = About a billion bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes) 1 Terabyte (Tb) = About one million Megabytes Broken link A link to a file that does not exist or is not at the location indicated by the URL, often prompting a "404" error. When an image is improperly linked or missing, one of the following "error images" will be displayed rather than the intended image. EXAMPLE of broken links:  EXAMPLE of missing links:   and missing image file: Browser A software program that allows you to "surf" the World Wide Web. Popular browsers include Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mosaic. CGI - Common Gateway Interface Web server feature allowing HTML clients such as browsers to communicate over the web using scripts installed on the server. A common use for CGI is in forms. CGI-Bin Common name for a directory on a web server where CGI scripts are stored. CMYK - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black CMYK represents the 4 colors of ink used for printing, as in four-color process reproduction. See also RGB. Cable Modem Device connected to your computer enabling you to connect to the Internet by using your local cable TV or telephone line. See also DSL and Dial-up. Today, most people use DSL, fiber or wireless which are faster and more reliable methods of connecting. Chat Room Users can talk to each other on the Internet by typing their messages into a program that allows other users to view their messages and respond. Client In networking, any program that communicates with a server, such as a browser. For purposes of clarity, all references to client in this glossary refer to the customer unless designated by tinted lettering. Cloud In broad terms it is a third-party system of software, networking equipment and other resources that provide you with computing capability. A simple comparison is the electrical grid; a working knowledge or understanding of the grid is not required to plug in and utilize the benefits of electricity. Colocated Server A colocated server is a web server that is provided by and used exclusively by one client, and located on the hosting company's network. DNS - Domain Name Server or Domain Name System The way in which the network turns a domain (ensane.com) into an IP address for use with TCP/IP (a fancy name for the Internet). Internet applications use both domain names and IP addresses to connect to other computers. DPI - Dots Per Inch The resolution of electronic images. The larger the dpi number, the better the resolution. DSL - Digital Subscriber Line A super fast, fairly reliable connection to the Internet that uses an existing phone line, without interruption to regular telephone service. The speed of your connection will vary depending on the plan you purchase; the minimum is much faster than a dial-up. Database An organized collection of data designed for easy access. An example of database content would be your customers' names and addresses. Dedicated Server A web server that is provided by the hosting company, and is is used exclusively by one client. See also Virtual Server and Colocated Server. Dial-up Temporary connection to the Internet that uses an existing telephone line. The connection is used to reach your ISP who in turn provides you with access to the Internet. Unlike DSL, you cannot use the telephone line to place or receive calls while it is connected to the Internet. Domain Name A unique name that identifies an Internet site. A domain name always points to a specific server, and the server may host many names. Most domain names are assigned by InternNIC, who keeps track of all the domain names and their registered owners. Download Transfer of data from a server to your computer's hard drive. You can use your browser or an FTP program to download files to your computer. Retrieving email is also downloading to your computer. Downtime A euphemism referring to the amount of time your webserver breaks down, making your website inaccessible. Ecommerce - Electronic Commerce Business that takes place between two (or more) computers over the Internet. Examples include orders, invoices, inquiries, payments, etc. Editor (HTML Editor) A program such as HoTMetaL Pro or Dreamweaver used to create or edit content of HTML documents commonly known as web pages. Email - Electronic Mail Messages, usually text that are transmitted over the Internet from one person to another. See also Snail Mail for comparison. Email Alias Additional email addresses that point to another email address. All messages sent to an alias are automatically and instantly redirected (forwarded) to the specified "real" email address. This is done so you don't have to configure (set up) your email software to retrieve mail sent to your alias (it all goes to one account). Encryption A security measure preventing theft, i.e.: the process of converting data, such as credit card information, into unreadable code so unauthorized users can't understand it. Extranet ¹ An intranet linked to other intranets of one or more organizations. ² An intranet that provides limited access from the outside world. FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions Document containing the most commonly asked questions and answers about a particular subject, generally providing information regarding the website. FTP - File Transfer Protocol This standard communications protocol is often used to upload web pages and images from a remote computer to the webserver, or download a file from another remote computer. Fiber Fiber is the Internet delivered to your computer using fiber optic cables, allowing you to view websites, download email, chat, use VOIP (Voice Over IP) and more. Internet. Firewall Security that prevents intruders (hackers) from accessing all the computers on a network if they manage to break into one computer. The firewall usually sits between your inside network and the outside Internet. Flash The name of a popular program developed by Macromedia™ used by web designers to create animation and interactive web sites. Font The name of the text used in print or on a computer, for example: "Times New Roman", "Courier New" or the font used on this website: "Verdana". Form ¹ Simple definition: A computerized questionnaire, containing blank spaces that you fill in with requested information. Some forms contain "required fields" meaning you must fill in those fields (blank spaces) in order to process the form. ² Technical definition: A group of graphical controls in an HTML document: text boxes, drop-down lists, check boxes. Many are processed using CGI and a script such as Perlthat automatically emails a copy of the completed form to the person responsible for processing the form's information. Frame Technology that allows web designers to break the browser window into smaller windows, each of which can load different web pages. This page is in a frame, allowing the title graphics to remain accessible at all times, and without reloading the graphics each time you go to a new page. Some designers choose not to use frames. GIF - Graphics Interchange Format A common graphics format used in HTML documents. Owned by CompuServe™. Some GIFs are animated. See also JPEG, PNG. GUI - Graphical User Interface (Pronounced "Gooey") - When someone says a program has a nice GUI, it means the program is pleasing to look at and use. See also user friendly. Home Page Top-level document of a website, usually containing introductory information and links to other web pages. Sometimes called an Index Page. HTML - HyperText Markup Language The standardized format for documents published on the Web. HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol Used to transfer HTML documents over the network between a web server and an HTML browser. The HTTP protocol is implemented by web servers. Hyperlink Clickable text or graphic image that represents a link to another location in the same file or different file. IP Address - Internet Protocol Address The specific address in numerical form, of a computer on the Internet. Each IP address is unique to that computer and consists of four numbers separated by periods. ISP - Internet Service Provider An ISP provides access to the Internet for a fee, through use of a dialup, DSL, cable modem or other connection. Image Editor Software used to edit images, such as Adobe Photoshop™. Interactive Certain actions performed by the user will produce reactions on the web page. This is called interactivity, and has become increasingly popular. The complexity of the interactivity will depend on the program used and the designer's skills. Internet A worldwide "network of networks" made up of thousands of computer networks and millions of commercial, education, government and personal computers. Also referred to as the Net. Internet Explorer™ A popular browser developed by Microsoft™. InterNIC™ - Internet Network Information Center The entity that keeps track of domain names. Most domain names are registered with InterNIC™. Intranet An internal Internet whose pages are only accessible to its members or employees, not the general public. JPEG - Joint Photographic Expert Group An image format supported by most web browsers. See also GIF, PNG. Java Script Programming language loosely based on Java™, invented by Sun Microsystems™. Instead of being referred to in an HTML document, as Java applets are, JavaScript code is usually embedded in the document itself. Without getting overly technical, Java Scripts allow an almost unlimited number of effects on a web page including mouseovers, and many other interactive features. KBPS - Kilobits Per Second The unit used to measure how fast data is transferred between devices on a network. One kilobit = 1024 bits. Kilobyte Unit used to measure data storage. 1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes or 8192 bits. LPI - Lines Per Inch The resolution of printed images. Link An element in an HTML document that points to another document or specific location in a document. See also hyperlink. Login (Log On) The process of gaining access to the resources on a particular computer, normally accomplished by entering a user ID (login name)and password. Mirror Site An exact duplicate of a website on a different server. This is often done to spread the load of a busy website over more than one computer. Mosaic The first widely used web browser, developed at the NCSA (The National Center for Supercomputing Applications), located at the University of Illinois. Mouseover An effect that is produced when the mouse is moved over text or a graphic on a webpage. A common example are menu buttons that react to the mouse moving over them. The menu buttons on this website are a good example of a mouseover. Multimedia The presentation of video, audio (sound), graphics, text and animation by a software program. A popular program for creating and presenting multimedia presentations on the Internet is Flash™. Net (The Net) Another term for Internet. Netiquette - Net Etiquette The generally accepted rules of behavior associated with sending email and messages posted on newsgroups and in chatrooms. Visit a website about Netiquette. Netscape Navigator™ A popular web browser developed by Netscape Communications Corporation™. Network A group of computers connected together so they can share resources and exchange data. Newbie A nickname for someone who is unfamiliar or "new" to the Internet. Newsgroup A message board where information is posted on a specific topic of discussion. There are newsgroups for virtually any topic imaginable. Once you find a group of particular interest, you can "subscribe" to it and participate in the discussion. Groups exist to help you solve various computer related problems, others are dedicated to social issues, business, sports, etc... Offline Not connected to a computer network. Online Connected to a computer network. Operating System The software that runs your computer, for example: DOS, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Unix, etc. PNG - Portable Networks Graphics Graphics format supported by some browsers. POP - Post Office Protocol Used by your ISP to handle email for its subscribers. A POP email account is simply a synonym for an email account. Page (Web Page) A single HTML document on the Internet that can be longer than one screen. Perl - Practical Extraction and Report Language A powerful computer language, often used for writing CGI scripts used in forms. Pixel - Picture Element Also known as a pel, a pixel represents image information in a digital format. An image file is made up of up to hundreds or thousands of pixels arranged in grid formation. 1 Pixel = << Tiny white dot Protocol Rules and conventions that describe the behavior that computers must follow in order to understand each other. Proxy Server A computer that is directly connected to the Internet, allowing multiple users on a network to access the Internet simultaneously. It may also be part of a firewall, protecting the network from unauthorized access. Queue Just like waiting in line at a buffet, you serve yourself when the people in front of you have finished serving themselves. Data requests placed in queue are simply waiting for previous requests to finish, and then will perform their tasks. RGB - Red, Green, Blue Color model in which every color is composed of a varying amount of three colors: red, green and blue. Commonly used for computer graphics, unlike CMYK which is a standard used in printing. Redundancy Redundancy means you have multiple backups for the various systems that need to function continuously in order for your website to remain online without interruption. For example: Redundant climate control means more than one air conditioning system. Redundant images:          Remote Computer A computer that is in another location. Resolution The level of detail in an image, expressed in dots per inch (DPI). The greater the DPI number, the higher the resolution and resulting file size. The standard resolution for computer graphics is 72 pixels per inch. SCSI - Small Computer System Interface (Pronounced "Skuzzy") - The format for interfacing hardware to Macintosh. SEO - Search Engine Optimization The process of improving a website's ranking on search engines. SEM - Search Engine Marketing A variety of website advertising methods including paid listings on search engines. Knowledgable marketers avoid the practice of black hat SEO or spamdexing which can result in a website being rejected from search engines. SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol The standard for transferring email messages between computers. Your SMTP server name is located in your email properties and tells your computer which mail server to use to send email. Your incoming email server is specified using your "receive mail" or POP account server name (provided by your ISP). SQL - Structured Query Language The standard for managing, changing, retrieving and deleting records from relational databases (databases that are separate, but relate to each other). You may hear the term "SQL Server" pronounced "seek´-well server" which is an advanced back-end database creator/management program. Scanner A device that captures (copies) an image such as a photograph or negative, and converts it into a digital form that your computer can display, edit, store and output. Scheme The part of the URL that tells an HTML client, such as a browser, which access method to use to retrieve the file specified in the URL. For example: http. Search Engine On the Internet, a search engine helps you find information. Examples include: Google, Bing, Yahoo! Search engines are basically massive databases of website URL's and information that are be accessed by typing in "key words". A search engine on a website will allow you type in key words that help you find specific content on one of its web pages. Server (Web Server) A powerful computer that is permanently connected to the Internet. Websites are stored on a web server. Snail Mail Regular postal mail, refers to it's slowness compared to email. Storyboard A graphical and text representation of a finished project, usually presented to a client for approval before work is started. A storyboard of a website generally contains sketches and verbal desciptions, text content, and a flow chart showing how the web pages will link to each other. Surf (Surfing the Net) Originating from the Father of the Internet, Vint Cerf, the term "Surf the Net" refers to looking around the Internet by going from page to page, website to website, without a specific destination in mind. It can be compared to flipping through the channels with your television remote also known as "channel surfing". TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol A low-level protocol used by much of the Internet. Common variables include Serial Line/Internet Protocol (SLIP) and Point to Point Protocol (PPP). TWAIN Software industry standard allowing software applications and hardware imaging devices such as a scanner to communicate directly with TWAIN compliant programs like Photoshop. According to the Twain Working Group (scanner and software developers), Twain is not intended to be an acronym, although it is sometimes called "Technology Without An Important Name". URL - Uniform Resource Locator The address of a file, written in a format that can be interpreted by a web server, which then retrieves the file. Most web servers use the scheme http. Upload Sending files from your computer to another computer through the Internet. For example, sending an email or HTML files to the web server. User (End User) A person who uses a computer. Developers and designers try to keep the end user in mind when designing new programs and layouts for websites. User Friendly Any application, for example a computer program, that is simple to learn and use is considered "user friendly". See also GUI. Virtual Server A "virtual" server is a server that is divided up into many sections allowing resource sharing, effectively making the cost affordable for those who can't afford or don't need the resources of an entire dedicated server. See also colocated server. VOIP (Voice Over IP) A system using fiber optics that allows you to use your telephone and computer simultaneously. W3C - The World Wide Web Consortium An industry association for the development of World Wide Web technologies. For more information, see http://www.w3.org. WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get An editing view that displays HTML documents as they might appear in a browser. WWW - World Wide Web Generic term for the collection of webservers and browsers that literally span the globe. Web (The Web) Informal name for the World Wide Web. Web Page A single document on the Web. Web Server A networked computer that responds to requests from local or remote computers for HTML files. You give the web server a file name in the form of a URL, and the web server gives you back the file over the same network connection. See also virtual server, colocated server, and dedicated server. Webmaster The person responsible for the web server, sometimes referred to as a "Sysadmin" or "Admin". Website A website is a collection of computer files stored on a web server, which is connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. When you view a website you are actually downloading a copy of those files to your browser making it possible for you to see the files as web pages. Feel free to contact me with your questions or suggestions. Copyright © Lori Goodman * No reproduction and/or distribution without written approval