Backbone

A large, fast network, connecting other networks.

Back Button

A button on the browserís tool bar which allows you to revisit locations that you have visited during the current session on the Internet.

Bandwidth

The speed at which data is transmitted along a communication link.

Baud

Measure of bandwidth. The higher the baud rate, the faster the data is transmitted.

BBS

A Bulletin Board System handles e-mail using the metaphor of a noticeboard. A modem and appropriate software are required to log into BBSs that don't use Internet. "FirstClass" is an example of a BBS that uses modems or the Internet.

BinHex

Macintosh file compression format. BinHex files have the extension .hqx. They can be decompressed by ëStuffit Expanderí.

Bit

A contraction of the term "binary digit". The smallest unit of measurement for computer data.

Bookmarks

A feature of your browser which stores the URLs of sites which you have ëbookmarkedí so that you can access them again without having to type in the siteís URL. Known as ëFavouritesí in Internet Explorer.

Bounced Mail

An e-mail which has been returned to the sender.

Bps

Bits per second. The speed by which modems are rated. This specifies the maximum amount of data they can send and receive each second.

Browsers

Software programs that allow users to access the Internet. Browsers have different capabilities; some cater for people with disabilities. Examples of browsers include Netscape Navigator / Communicator, Internet Explorer, Mosaic, Opera ...

Byte

A byte is made up of (usually) 8 bits. A byte is the smallest addressable unit of data storage.

Cache

A cache is a temporary storage place inside your computer for frequently-or recently accessed data. When you download a web page, the data is "cached," meaning it is temporarily stored on your computer. The next time you want that page, instead of requesting the file from the web server, your web browser just accesses it from the cache, so the page loads quickly. If the web page is updated frequently, (news, sports scores, financial data etc.), you won't see the most current information. Use the Reload button on your browser to download fresh data from the server.

CGI

Common Gateway Interface. CGI is a protocol for scripts which can be used by programs on a web server. It is used for tasks such as processing form responses etc.

Chat

Two way, real time communication via the Internet. Real time chatting is available at three levels - text only, voice, using programs such as Internet Phone, and video, using programs such as CUSEEME. The words you type appear on the screen(s) of all the other participants in the "chat" and their typing appears on your screen.

Compression Formats

There are many programs available to compress and decompress files. File name extensions (suffixes) are often used to indicate the format and so, how to decompress the file.

At times you may see a file which has two of these extensions. This means that it has been compressed twice. It is uncompressed by the last one first.

Cookie

A special text file that a web site downloads onto your computer to record your preferences. This information is then used by the web site to modify itself to suit your tastes on your next visit.

DHTML

Dynamic HyperText Markup Language. Almost every modern Web Browser has the ability to use these new commands. DHTML solves a HUGE list of problems associated with laying out web page designs.

Domain Name

A name that identifies one or more IP addresses. Domain names are used in URLs to identify particular Web pages. For example, in the URL http://www.pcwebopedia.com/index.html, the domain name is pcwebopedia.com.

Every domain name has a suffix that indicates which top-level (TLD) domain it belongs to. There are only a limited number of such domains. For example:

Domain Name Server

A computer which converts a Host Name to the IP number of the host computer.

DNS Error

A "DNS Error" may occur if browsers cannot find a Domain Name Server to translate the alias into an IP number. This may mean that the Host Name doesn't exist, the DNS the browser is pointing to is unable to convert the alias, or perhaps there is something wrong with the DNS. If you know the IP number of the host it may help to replace the host name with the IP number.

Download

The act of copying files from one computer (referred to as a "remote host") to your computer. For instance, you might download the latest version of the Netscape browser from the Web

Drag

To click down on something and then move the pointer while continuing to hold down the mouse button.

Electronic Mail
E-mail

E-mail is electronic mail. Electronic mail is an electronic means of sending a message from one computer to another in an organized fashion. E-mail slang / text shortcuts follow:

E-mail Address

Your e-mail address contains all the information other computers connected to the Internet need to send e-mail to you. It is comprised of your userID and the domain name of your ISPís computer, separated by the "@" symbol. Example: fred.bloggs@fake.com

Common symbols people use to show emotion. They make more sense when viewed sideways, or turn the monitor clockwise 90 degrees ;-)
:-) Smiley, sometimes seen as <g> or :->
:-( Sad face
;-) Wink
:-& Tongue-tied
:-o A look of shock
:-p Tongue stuck out

Typing in CAPITALS is read as SHOUTING.

Fax Modem

A type of modem that can send and receive faxes in addition to transferring data files.

Find Button

A button on the toolbar of some browsers which allows you to search for specific text on the current page.

Firewall

A computer situated between a network and the Internet that restricts data flow. Firewalls can be used for censorship, security and restriction of a range of services. A firewall prevents computers in the organization's network from communicating directly with computers external to the network and vice versa.

Forward Button

A button on the browserís tool bar which allows you to revisit locations that you have visited during the current session on the Internet.

FTP

File transfer protocol: the method that computers use to send files from computer to computer across the Internet.

Gateway

The computer which links two networks.

Gopher

Gopher is an old menu based system to find text-based resources on the Internet using a system of menus.

GIF

Graphic Interchange Format. Browsers recognise this graphic format. GIF format is not recommended for photographs.

Hardware

The parts of your computer system that you can bump into ñ physical components such as hard disks, printers, modems, scanners, keyboards, mice and the computer itself.

Home Button

A button on the tool bar of your browser which returns you to the page designated as your Internet start up (or home) page.

Home Page

Common name for the entry point to a web site. An alternative meaning for homepage is the default page for the browser.

Host

A computer on the Internet which allows users to connect to it.

Host Name

A host computer is one that is connected directly to the Internet. A host name looks like: www.schools.nt.edu.au. It is really an alias for the unique IP number of the host computer. It can be useful for discovering where a computer is and whom it represents, for example, "www.schools.nt.edu.au" suggests a computer in an area called ëntí at ëschoolsí which is apparently an educational institution in Australia.

The following information might be useful:

Hot Spot

Another name for a hyperlink.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language. The formatting language which browsers use to display web pages.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol. A code or protocol used to transfer web pages.

Hyperlink / HyperText

Pointer to another Internet resource such as another web page.

Internet

A network of millions of computers connected to each other around the world. The Internet originated in the sixties in the United States, when they were trying to find a way of enabling computer networks to survive military attacks.

In order to exchange information via the Internet, all the connected computers have to use a common set of rules for communication. These rules are called protocols, and the Internet uses a set of protocols called TCP/IP. Many systems run on Internet including the World Wide Web, FTP, gopher, e-mail, Usenet news, telnet, IRC and WAIS.

Many people equate the Internet with the World Wide Web.

Intranet

An Internet type network usually running within a single institution.

IP

Internet Protocol. A protocol for numbers, which identify a computer, linked in to the Internet. This is used in conjunction with the TCP protocol to form a method of communication over a network and then over the Internet.

IP address

An IP number that identifies a specific computer on the Internet. An IP address is a 4- to 12-digit number that identifies a specific computer connected to the Internet. The digits are organized in four groups of numbers (which can range from 0 to 255) separated by a dot. A sample IP address is 204.162.80.183. This collection of numbers is not random. It gives information about where you are connecting to or from.

IRC

Internet Relay Chat. This is a technology that allows you to communicate with other people on the Internet instantly, without waiting for e-mails or newsgroup postings to receive a response. IRC's let you dial into "Channels" (which are sometimes called rooms) and join conversations.

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network. A special telephone line for data and voice simultaneously. Access to the Internet via an ISDN line is much faster than via modem. It is also more expensive.

ISP

Internet Service Provider

Internet Service Provider. A commercial service that sells access to the Internet to individuals. Fees and services offered vary enormously from one ISP to another.

A computer language used to create interactive web pages.

Javascript

This is a hybrid language that rests between HTML and Java. It allows many interactive features to become a part of an HTML page. Instead of a page loading and remaining static in appearance, Javascript can control animation, help you fill out a form more accurately, and many other custom features.

JPEG

Joint Partner Experts Group or Joint Photographic Experts Group. A variable compression image format that supports true colour images.

LAN

Local Area Network. A data communications network which is geographically limited (typically to a 1km radius) allowing easy interconnection of terminals, PCs and computers within adjacent buildings.

Link

A word, picture or other area of a web page that Users can click on in order to move to another place in the document, or to another document. Words and phrases that are links may be underlined and usually appear in contrasting colour text. The text and underline colour may change after you click on the link, to indicate that have already visited the link. A link is indicated when the cursor transforms into a hand.

Location Box

A box located near the top of your browser screen. You can click in this box, then enter the URL (address) of the site you wish to view.

Lynx

A text-only program for browsing the Web.

Modem

A device used to connect two computers via a telephone line.

MP3

A technology that allows sound files to be compressed to a very small size

Netiquette

Etiquette for the 'net.

Net

In general, ëNetí is a slang abbreviation for "The Internet".

Network

A group of computers set up to communicate with one another.

Newsgroups

A system similar to bulletin boards, where people can post and reply to messages. There are thousands of special interest groups. Newsgroups are often referred to as USENET news.

Pixels

Acronym for PICture ELements. Pixels are the smallest un-break-down-able units of a picture on a monitorís screen. When the image is poor you will be conscious of looking at a collection of square dots. On the Internet, the standard picture resolution is between 72 and 96 pixels per inch.

Plug-in

Add-on feature for your browser that increases functionality, such as multimedia capabilities.

Pointer

The icon that moves on the screen when you move the mouse. Its most common shapes are the arrow, the I-beam and the hand.

POP

Post Office Protocol - a protocol for the storage and retrieval of e-mail.

Portal

A web site designed to be a main starting point for users logging on to the Internet, containing a wide range of consumer-oriented features like web site directories, news and weather services and e-mail etc.

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol - a method for connecting computers to Internet via telephone lines and a modem.

Print Button

A button on the tool bar of your browser which allows you to print the current Web page

Protocol

The method computers use to communicate with each other. There are several different methods that are used to communicate from one computer to another based on what you're trying to do. The most important protocol for Internet computers is TCP/IP.

Reload Button

A button on the tool bar of your browser that allows you to reload the current Web page.

Search Engine

A search engine is a type of software that creates indexes of databases or Internet sites based on the titles of files, keywords, or the full text of files. Search engines have either an interface that allows you to type what you're looking for into a blank field, or a categorised system of searching. You are provided with a list of the results of the search. When you use a search engine on the Web, the results are presented to you in HyperText, which means you can click on any item in the list to get the actual file.

Server

The computer which controls a network.

Shareware

Software that is copyright protected. It is publicly distributed on the condition that if a user trials a program and decides to keep using it they will send payment to the author.

SMTP

Simple Mail Transport Protocol - protocol used for mail transfer

Snail Mail

Snail Mail - the name Internet users use to refer to paper (postal) mail because it's so slow compared to e-mail :-)

Software

A file containing instructions that tell the computer what to do.

Spamming

Sending multiple unsolicited e-mails (or junk mail).

A button on the tool bar of your browser, which allows you to stop the download process.

Surfing

A term denoting the use of browsers to move through the World Wide Web.

Telnet

A protocol for controlling remote computers via the Internet.

The top portion of your browserís window that shows the title of the current Web page being displayed.

Thread

A thread is an article and related responses on an e-mail list or newsgroup.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol ñ an Internet specific communications protocol which allows computers with different operating systems to communicate with each other.

Tool bar

A row of buttons at the top of your browserís window which you can use to perform a range of functions like: revisit pages, load images, stop transfers etc

Upload

The act of sending files or information from your computer to another computer, usually referred to as a remote host.

Uniform Resource Locators (sometimes known as Universal Resource Locators) also referred to as a location or address is the global term for a ëplaceí or ëfileí you can visit on the Internet. URLs specify the location of Internet resources. Generally, a URL has the syntax protocol: //host/filepath. For example, http://www.schools.nt.edu.au/olsu/projects/index.htmlspecifies that

• the protocol is http and
• the host is www.schools.nt.edu.au
• the path & filename is /olsu/projects/index.html

VRML

Virtual Reality Modelling Language. A vector based 3-dimensional modelling language that sends ASCII text files over the Internet to be translated by the VRML viewing engine at the other end.

WAN

Wide Area Network. A network extending over distances greater than one kilometre.

WAIS

Wide Area Information Server - a computer system that searches databases for documents.

Web Browsers

See Browsers

Web Page

A document on the World Wide Web, written in HTML so that it can contain text, pictures, movies, sounds or links to other web pages.

Web Server

Another name for a 'host computer'. Internet pages need to be located on a web server to allow retrieval by other Internet users via a browser.

Web Site

A collection of Web pages on the World Wide Web having to do with a particular topic or organisation.

World Wide Web (WWW)

The World Wide Web is a subset of the Internet. It consists of a collection of interlinked documents that work together using a specific Internet protocol called HTTP, allowing communication between different computers around the Internet. The defining feature of the World Wide Web is its ability to connect pages to one another, (as well as to audio, video, and image files) with hyperlinks. Clicking a link allows you to look at a Web site hosted on the other side of the world. (Before the World Wide Web was developed, you had to type in exact Internet addresses or wade through a series of menus to get where you wanted to go.)