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

Applet
Derived from the diminutive of "application," this small Java program is often embedded in HTML pages. In contrast to full-fledged Java applications, applets are denied access to many local computer resources.

Application
Another way to say computer program, sometimes truncated informally to "app."

Article
A message posted to a newsgroup.

Attachment
This is a file that is sent with an e-mail. Separate from the text attachments are files sent along with the message.

Attributes
In HTML, attributes are added to some tags to allow extra formatting options. An attribute is included after the command word and before the tag's closing angled bracket. You may use more than one attribute for one tag.

AVI file
This file is a video clip. Media Player for Windows will play this type of file.

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B

Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the carrying capacity of any communications technology, the amount of information (usually measured in bits per second) that can be sent through the Internet (or network) connection.

Baud
Baud better known as "Bits per Second" (bps) is a term referring to the speed of data transmission. Beta A beta is an early release of a product.

Beta
products are considered "work in progress".

Bcc :
An acronym for "blind carbon copy." You will find a Bcc: field when you are creating an e-mail message. If you enter an e-mail address into this field, the message will be sent to that address, but it will not be visible to other recipients.

Bit
This is actually an acronym for Binary Digit. A binary digit is a single digit consisting of either a 1 or a 0. This is the smallest unit of data.

Boot
To "boot" is to start a computer; usually the process is called rebooting. Often, after you install some new software on your computer, you are asked to "reboot," i.e. shut down and restart your computer. Also… “Booted off” means getting evicted by a moderator in a newsgroup.

Bookmark
A “bookmark” is also known as “favorite” in Internet Explorer. It refers to a saved address of a web site stored so you can return at a later time without having to search for the site again.

bps
Bps is an acronym for “Bits per second”. Measurement of data (bits) transmitted in one second. Most people use 56Kbps modems, which can transmit up to 54K bits per second. The fastest modems commonly used today are 56Kbps.

Broken links
This is one of the most annoying problems with the Web. Usually this will occur when a site no longer exists. Often, they lead to dead-end messages, which say the requested page could not be found. This could happen because the site shut down permanently or temporarily.

Browser
Also called a Web browser, is software used for viewing Web pages. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Neo Planet and Netscape Navigator are the most popular browsers.

Bug
A bug is glitch or a mistake that causes a problem in a program or the computer system. Some bugs lead to incorrect results; others to poor performance; others to system crashes.

Byte
There are 8 bits in a byte. (see bit)

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C

Cache
Files or data stored temporarily on your hard disk for quick access. This is a common phrase for Internet users. Internet Explorer refers to its cache as the Temporary Internet. This is an area on your hard drive that stores information automatically for you. If you wish to view a web site you have already been to, your computer doesn't have to go out on the Internet and download them again.

Cc:
An acronym for "carbon copy." Using the Cc: field you can send a copy of a message to someone who isn't the primary recipient. For example, if you are sending a message to the Bill Gates about some concerns you might have with Windows, you may want to Cc: a you computer club so that they are informed of your email as well.

Cookie
A small packet of information saved on your hard drive by your web browser at the request of a web server. The text of the cookie is used to store various kinds of information that the web server can use to customize a web page with your preferences. This is like having a personal secretary for your needs of that site.

Cyberspace
William Gibson originated the word cyberspace in his novel Neuromancer. It is now used to describe the universes entire information services available through the computer and Internet. Cyberspace is initially coined to point out the infinite possibilities of travel, not just the Internet.

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D

Domain
This is the name that identifies an Internet site. Example www.tech2you.com. Many companies have secured their name on the Internet to promote sales via the WEB.

Download
The process of transferring data from one computer to another is described as downloading. Whenever you receive a file from the Internet, you have downloaded it.

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E

E-Mail
Abbreviation for electronic mail: These are messages, usually text, sent from one person to another via computer through the Internet.

E-Mail Headers
Address information stored at the beginning of an E-mail message that shows where the e-mail originated, it's destination, and all of the computers it went through to get there, There are 8 bits in a byte. (see bit)

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F

FAQ's
This is an acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. FAQs are documents that list and answer the most common questions on a particular subject. There are thousands of FAQs on thousands of subjects all available on the Internet.

Favorites
See "Bookmarks"

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G

Gigabyte
A term used to measure space. 1 billion bytes = 1 GIG

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H

Handshake
This is the initial exchange of information between two modems upon contact. During the handshake, the two sides agree upon a protocol and other rules (such as how fast they are going to transfer information) to govern the transfer of information back and forth between them. Without a handshake, the connection will not be successfully created.

Headers
Headers are at the top of the e-mail messages that you receive, usually looking like “computereeze”. Headers provide information on who sent the message, how it was sent, and where it went to get to you. This information is very useful when trying to track down the sender of a message.

Home Page
Your “Homepage” is usually defined as the page that comes up as soon as you start the Internet. Making changes in your options screen can alter you homepage.

HTML
This is an acronym for Hypertext Markup Language, the coding language used to create hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web.

Hyperlink
This is a link between two related pieces of information on the Internet. It allows you to quickly visit a site from another by simply clicking on a “Link” Hypertext Generally, any text that contains "links" to other documents or a different part of the same document - words or phrases in the document that can be clicked on which will cause another document to be retrieved and displayed.

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I

Internet
The Internet now connects millions of computers together across the world to share ideas, information and commerce.

IP Address
Each domain name translates into an IP address. Each web site that you visit has a distinct IP address. This is the numeric address of a computer connected to the Internet; also called Internet address. (Similar to a street address for your house.)

IP Number
The IP number is also called the IP address, and is a unique number consisting of four parts separated by dots; for example, 000.00.000.00

IRC
This is an acronym for Internet Relay Chat. IRC is a large chat room. Connecting millions of users across the world. There are a number of major IRC servers around the world, which are linked to each other

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J

Java
Java is a programming language that will work on most operating system. Regardless what operating system you are using a program written in Java can run on Windows, Macintosh, Unix, or any other Java compliant system.

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K

Kilobyte
This refers to One thousand bytes. *(for you geeks 2 to the 10th power or 1024)

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L

Link
A link is a piece of information lying within another piece of information. For example, a picture of your dog can have a link in it so that when your dog is click on, the link will bark. When you click on the picture, your web browser could retrieve the sound file and play it.

Load
Often used in reference to the process of retrieving information, or the process of starting an application on a computer. For example, "It took almost fifteen minutes to load that new card game on my computer.”

Login / Log In
There are many uses for login. The account name used to gain access to a computer system, or the act of entering into a computer system, logging into chat rooms, logging into newsgroups. Anything that wants to individualize its users will have some sort of “login”.

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M

Megabyte
Often abbreviated MB, a megabyte is roughly one million bytes (one thousand kilobytes.)

MIME
This is an acronym for Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions. This is an Internet standard for transferring non-textual data, such as audio or pictures, via e-mail.

Modem
Abbreviation for MOdulator, DEModulator a device inside your computer that when connected to a phone line, allows the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. Basically, modems are a telephone for your computer.

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N

Network
Any time two or more computers share information you have a computer network. Connect two or more networks together and you have an intranet.

Newsgroups
The name for discussion groups on the internet.

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O

Operating System
This is the software that forms the foundation of a computer. It allows you access to all of the software in your computer. It is the language that all of the programs will understand when loaded onto your computer. All programs need an operating system to run. Windows 95, 98, 2000, Macintosh OS, Unix, Linux, DOS are all examples of operating systems.

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P

Password
A code used to gain access to a locked system. The user or the person granting access to a particular information area usually assigns a password

Path
This process is similar to a file cabinet. Everything has a folder and possibly a “sub-folder”. The path will tell you where something has to go to reach its destination on the drive.

Port
A port is a place where information goes into or out of a computer.

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Q

Query
This is a way of searching and aligning data to meet your needs. To sort through a database, you might query information to suit your needs.

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R

Reply
Often used in Email format. When you use “Reply” the message will automatically be assigned to the original send

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S

Server
A computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers. The term can refer to a particular piece of software, such as a WWW server, or to the machine, on which the software is running, e.g. "Our web server just got upgraded, that's why our web page comes up so quickly." A single server machine could have several different server software packages running on it, thus providing many different services to clients on the network.

Shareware
Shareware is typically software that is distributed via the Internet. There is no fee to obtain the software and try it out, but some authors do expect compensation if you continue to use the software. The author sets the trial period.

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T
TCP/IP
Acronym for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol A command and program used to login from one Internet site to another. The telnet command/program gets you to the login: prompt of another host, which must be running a telnet server.

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U

URL
Acronym for Uniform Resource Locator The standard way to give the address of any website on the Internet. For example: www.tech2you.com.

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V
Virus
A computer virus is a small program that attaches itself to another program or document and replicates with the potential to cause damage. Viruses are typically written by misguided individuals interested in causing damage or receiving notoriety.

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W
Web Browser
A program used to access files on a web server. Web browsers can also be used to access other types of information on the Internet, such as files on FTP servers and gopher servers. Most web browsers can send and receive e-mail and Usenet news using either built-in e-mail and news programs, or applications that you choose to have the browser use. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are examples of web browsers.

Web Page
This is a document that exists on a web server.

Web Site
This is a system of web pages, viewable through a web browser.

Wizard
A term used by Microsoft for an automated procedure that configures software to use particular information.

WWW
This is an acronym for World Wide Web.

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X

Y

Z

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