Online Glossary
A collection of common words and phrases.
Archie
Derived from the word archive, Archie is a Net-based service that allows you to
locate files that can be downloaded via FTP.
ASCII
(pronounced "Ask-ee") An acronym for American Standard Code for Information
Exchange, ASCII is an international standard in which numbers, letters,
punctuation marks, symbols and control codes are assigned numbers from 0 to 127.
Easily transferred over networks, ASCII is a plain, unadorned text without style
or font specifications.
Asychronous Connection
The type of connection a modem makes over a phone line, this connection is not
synchronized by a mutual timing signal or clock.
AU Sounds
This is an audio format developed for Sun workstations and often used to
distribute sound clips via the Web.
Bandwidth
The range of transmission frequencies a network can use. The greater the
bandwidth the more information that can be transferred over that network at one
time. The term bandwidth also broadly includes throughput, meaning the amount of
data sent.
BinHex
A file conversion format that converts binary files to ASCII text files.
Bit
A contraction of binary digit, a bit is the smallest unit of information that a
computer can hold. Eight bits is equivalent to a byte. The speed at which bits
are transmitted or bit rate is usually expressed as bits per second or bps.
Browser
A type of software that allows you to navigate information databases; examples
are Netscape Navigator and NCSA Mosaic.
Byte
The number of bits used to represent a character.
Client
A computer that has access to services over a computer network. The computer
providing the services is a server. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings
of client and server are reversed.
Client-Server Architecture
An information-passing scheme that works as follows: a client program, such as
Mosaic, sends a request to a server. The server takes the request, disconnects
from the client and processes the request. When the request is processed, the
server reconnects to the client program and the information is transferred to
the client. This architecture differs from traditional Internet databases where
the client connects to the server and runs the program from the remote site.
Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
Configuration
This is a general-purpose computer term that can refer to the way you have your
computer set up. It is also used to describe the total combination of hardware
components that make up a computer system and the software settings that allow
various hardware components of a computer system to communicate with one
another.
Configure
The act of changing software or hardware actions by changing the settings.
Dial-up Connection
The most popular form of Net connection for the home user, this is a connection
from your computer to a host computer over standard telephone lines.
Direct Connection
A permanent connection between your computer system and the Internet. This is
sometimes referred to as a leased-line connection because the line is leased
from the telephone company.
DNS
An acronym for Domain Name Server, DNS refers to a database of Internet names
and addresses which translates the names to the official Internet Protocol
numbers and vice versa.
Document
When used in reference to the World Wide Web, a document is any file containing
text, media or hyperlinks that can be transferred from an HTTP server to a
client program.
Download
To transfer to your computer a copy of a file that resides on another computer.
FAQ
This is the acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. A common feature on the
Internet, FAQs are files of answers to commonly asked questions. Read FAQs
before wasting electrons asking obvious questions. Saves you from receiving
flames.
Firewall
This term refers to security measures designed to protect a networked system
from unauthorized or unwelcome access.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol is a protocol that allows the transfer of files from one
computer to another. FTP is also the verb used to describe the act of
transferring files from one computer to another.
GIF
This acronym stands for Graphic Interchange Format, a commonly used file
compression format developed by CompuServe for transferring graphics files to
and from online services.
Gopher
A menu-oriented tool used to locate online resources developed at the University
of Minnesota.
Home Page
The document displayed when you first open your Web browser. Home Page can also
refer to the first document you come to at a Web site.
Host
A computer acting as an information or communications server.
HTML
An acronym for Hyper-Text Markup Language, HTML is the language used to tag
various parts of a Web document so browsing software will know how to display
that document's links, text, graphics and attached media.
HTML Document
A document written in Hyper-Text Markup Language.
HTTP
The abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP is used to link and
transfer hypertext documents.
Hypertext
This term describes the system that allows documents to be cross- linked in such
a way that the reader can explore related documents by clicking on a highlighted
word or symbol.
Inline Images
These are the graphics contained within a Web document.
IP
The abbreviation for Internet Protocol, IP refers to the set of communication
standards that control communications activity on the Internet. An IP address is
the number assigned to any Internet-connected computer.
JPEG
The acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEG is an image compression
format used to transfer color photographs and images over computer networks.
Along with GIF, it's one of the most common ways photos are moved over the Web.
Links
These are the hypertext connections between Web pages. This is a synonym for
hotlinks or hyperlinks.
MIME
An acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, MIME is a messaging
standard that allows Internet users to exchange e-mail messages enhanced with
graphics, video and voice. MIME file types are also used in Mosaic.
MPEG
The acronym for Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG is an international standard
for video compression and desktop movie presentation. A special viewing
application is needed to run MPEG files on your computer.
NCSA
This is the abbreviation for National Center for Supercomputing Applications at
the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
NFS
The abbreviation for Network File System, NFS is a protocol suite developed and
licensed by Sun Microsystems that allows different makes of computers running
different operating systems to share files and disk storage.
NIC
The abbreviation for Network Information Center, NIC is an organization
responsible for supplying information for component networks that comprise the
Internet.
NOC
The abbreviation for Network Operations Center, NOC is the organization
responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Internet's component networks.
Node
A device attached to a network. A node uses the network as a means of
communication and has an address on the network.
POP
An acronym for Point of Presence, POP is a service provider's location for
connecting to users. Generally, POPs refer to the location where people can dial
into the provider's host computer. Most providers have several POPs to allow
low-cost access via telephone lines.
PPP
The abbreviation for Point-to-Point Protocol, PPP is an Internet connection
where phone lines and a modem can be used to connect a computer to the Internet.
Protocol
A set of standards that define how traffic and communications are handled by a
computer or network routers.
Router
A communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient
route possible.
Search Engine
This term refers to a program that helps users find information in text-oriented
databases.
Server
A computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers.
Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
Socket
This is a communication mechanism originally implemented on the BSD version of
the UNIX operating system. Sockets are used as endpoints for sending and
receiving data between computers.
TCP-IP
The basic protocols controlling applications on the Internet; it stands
for "transmission control protocol/Internet protocol."
URL
This is the abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the addressing system
used in the World Wide Web and other Internet resources. The URL contains
information about the method of access, the server to be accessed and the path
of any file to be accessed.
WAIS
The abbreviation for Wide Area Information Service, WAIS is a Net-wide system
for looking up specific information in Internet databases.
WAIS gateway
This term refers to a computer that is used to translate WAIS data so it can be
made available to an otherwise incompatible network or application. Mosaic must
use a WAIS gateway.
