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Customer Services
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Support: Glossary |
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Glossary
of Internet Terms |
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.........A |
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| 404
Not Found |
Error message
your web browser
frequently displays
when it can't
locate the page
you requested
commonly caused
by mistyping a
URL or clicking
on a broken link. |
| ai |
Artificial Intelligence |
| algorithm |
A
sequence of steps
or program routines
that carry out
a particular task. |
| aliasing |
In
bitmapped
graphics, the
jagged boundary
along the edges
of different-colored
shapes within
an image. |
| alt
text |
Text description
of a graphic
that appears while
the graphic is
being downloaded. |
| animation |
An
image composed
of several consecutive
images that are
loaded by the
browser
one after another,
creating the illusion
of movement. These
images are usually
made up of GIF
images. |
| anti-aliasing |
A technique for
reducing the jagged
appearance of
aliased
bitmapped images, usually by inserting pixels that
blend at the boundaries
of adjacent colors. |
| applet |
Is a very small form of a larger, full-featured application
or app. It refers
to simple or single
function or function-specific
programs that
are often found
with larger programs.
Programs such
as WordPad and
NotePad, which
are found in Windows,
are examples of
applets. These
applets are written
in the Java language that requires a browser to execute.
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| artifacts |
Image imperfections
caused by compression. |
| ASCII |
A text file that conforms to the American Standard
Code for Information
Interchange. |
| attachment |
A
computer file
electronically
stapled to an
e-mail message. |
| attributes |
Keywords and associated
values that modify
or extend a basic
HTML tag in some way. |
| authentication |
Any of several methods used to provide proof
that a particular
document received
electronically
is actually from
the individual
it claims to be
from and is unaltered
or in its original
state. |
| authoring
tools |
Creation tools
for interactive
media. |
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| B2B |
Business-to-Business |
| B2C |
Business-to-Consumer |
| backbone |
The
high-speed communications
link that connect
Internet providers
and other large
Internet sites
together. |
| background |
Addition of a color or pattern behind a web page's
text and graphics.
|
| BI |
Business Intelligence |
BMP
(bit map)
|
A file format used to transfer graphic images within compatible applications.
A BMP file is
a neutral format
designed for compatibility
with all applications |
| bridge |
A device that
links different
networks together so they can form one single network |
| broken
links |
Links between pages in a web site that do not work
because the destination
web page has been
deleted or the
path has been
changed. |
| browser |
A software program for viewing HTML pages on the Internet. |
| browser-safe
colors |
The 216 colors
that do not shift
between platforms,
operating
systems (o/s)
or most web browsers. |
| button |
Individual graphic indicating a link that, when clicked on,
takes a web site
visitor to another
location on the
page, another
page in the web
site, or another
web site altogether. |
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| cache |
A temporary storage
area that a web
browser uses to store text and graphics. When the web page is revisited, the web
browser will quickly
retrieve the data(text
and graphics)
from the cache
instead of downloading it again to save time. |
CGI
(Common Gateway
Interface) |
Is a standard
method for passing
information between
a server and an
application as
part of the world
wide web's HTTP protocol. The most common
way is by scripting. A CGI script is a program written with
a scripting language
such as Perl,
Java or C++. |
| client |
A computer on the world wide web that receives data
and information
from a server
which handles
requests for information
and locates the
files. |
| clip
art |
Previously create
illustrations
and graphics that you can use as is, or modify by ungrouping,
combining with
other illustrations,
and adding different
backgrounds, borders
and effects. |
| code |
Anything written in a language intended for computers
to interpret. |
| compositing |
Is the process
of combining multiple
images into one
image, usually
by feathering,
blending, and
altering the transparency
of the images. |
| compression |
The process of making a computer file smaller so
that it can be
transferred more
quickly between
computers. |
| corporate
identity |
The consistent
image created
by your company's
print communications,
ranging from letterheads
to business cards
to brochures,
newsletters, and
documentation.
The elements that
makeup a corporate
identity include
the consistent
use of a limited
number of typefaces,
type sizes, colors,
graphics, and logo. These elements typically appear
in the same position
and at the same
size on all corporate
documents. |
| CRM |
Customer Relations
Management |
| cropping |
Photographs usually
include extraneous
detail at their
top, bottom, or
sides. Cropping
removes the unwanted
information, allowing
the most important
message-bearing
elements of the
photograph to
emerge with added
clarity. |
CSS
(Cascading Style
Sheets) |
A
method of coding that allows users to define how certain HTML, DHTML, or XML structural elements, such as paragraphs and headings,
should be displayed
using style rules.
At the present
time there exists
versions CSS1
and CSS2. |
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| deprecated |
Within the context
of HTML DTDs, a deprecated term is one whose use is no longer
recommended, but
which is still
supported for
backward compatibility. |
| DHTML |
Dynamic
HTML. |
| dithering |
A technique for
alternating the
values of adjacent
dots or pixels to create the effect of intermediate values
or giving the
illusion of a
third color. |
| DOM |
Document Object
Model. A platform-independent
and language-neutral
programming interface
that allows programs
and scripts to access and update the content, structure,
and style of documents
in a standard
way. |
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.........E |
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| e-mail |
E-mail (electronic
mail) is the exchange
of computer-stored
messages, usually
text, sent from
one computer to
another. However,
you can also attach
non-text files, such as graphic images and sound files. |
| e-mail
address |
Is an internet
address of a user,
typically made
up of a username,
an at sign (@),
and a domain name
(that is, user@domain).
E-mail addresses
are translated
from the numeric
IP addresses by
the domain name
system (DNS). |
| emboss |
A three-dimensional
effect created
with an illustration
program that allows
text to look like
it was raised
from the background. |
| extranet |
An internet technology used to connect a company with
its customers
and business partners. |
| e-zine |
Short for electronic
magazine. |
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| FAQ |
Frequently Asked
Questions. A collection
of frequently
asked questions
and answers related
to a specific
topic. |
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| gradient
fill |
Background fill created with illustration and
presentation programs
characterized
by a smooth transition
from one color
to another, or
from one color
to white or black.
The direction
of the transition
can be top to
bottom, bottom
to top, side to
side, diagonally,
etc. |
| graphics
|
Digitized pictures and computer-generated images.
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GUI
(Graphical User
Interface) |
Any number of programs and operating systems, such as Windows
or Macintosh systems,
that are operated
by using a mouse
input device to
move a pointed
to various graphics, icons, and menus. |
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| hit |
way
of measuring the
number of visitors
to a web site.
Although most
believe a hit
equals one visit
to a site, it
actually refers
to the number
of files opened
at the site. For
example, if you
access a web page
that has four
images on it,
the site will
register five
hits (one hit
for the web page
and four hits
for the four images,
one for each image).
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| home
page |
The entry page
or main page of
a web site. |
| HTML
(Hypertext Markup
Language) |
is a language used to create electronic documents for
the world wide
web which contains
hyperlinks. HTML tells a web browser how to display web pages on a user's computer
through the use
of tags. |
| HTTP
(Hypertext Transfer
Protocol) |
is a set of standards that lets users of the world wide
web exchange information
found in web pages.
The standard method
for exchanging
information between
HTTP servers and
clients on the
web. The HTTP
specification
establishes the
rules of how web
servers and browsers must work together. |
| hyperlink |
is
an icon, graphic or word on a web page that, when clicked
with the mouse,
automatically
links the user
to another web
page. |
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| ICANN |
Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names
and Numbers. This
organization is
responsible for
issuing the IP
addresses and
domain names used
on the internet,
ie., .com, .net
and .org. |
| icon |
As it relates to a web page, an icon is a graphical image that usually represents the main
topic or information
category of another
web page. Frequently,
the icon is a
link to that page.
On a computer's
GUI (graphical user interface), an icon is an image
that represents
an application,
a capability or
some other concept
specific to that
software. |
| image
map |
An image that
has clickable
"hot" spots that
acts as links
to other web pages. |
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| LAN |
Local
Area Network |
| link |
Links are navigational tools that allow a web site visitor
to move from place
to place within
a web site, moving
from page to page
or from location
to location. Links
also permit web
sites to be linked
together, so that
visitors to one
web site can easily
visit a web site
devoted to a similar
topic or area
of interest. Links
consist of different
color text or
icons. When visiting
a web site, you
can tell when
the mouse is moving
over a link because
the pointer turns
into a hand. |
| lossless
compression |
A data compression technique that reduces the file
without sacrificing
any of the original
data. In lossless
compression, the
expanded or restored
file is an exact
replica of the
original file
before it was
compressed. |
| lossy
compression |
A data compression technique in which some data is
deliberately discarded
in order to achieve
massive reductions
in the size of
the compressed
file. |
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| mail
bombing |
Sending someone
vast amounts of
un-wanted e-mail. |
| mailbot |
A program that
automatically
sends or answers
e-mail. |
| mail
server |
A computer on
the Internet that
provides mail
services for mail
clients. |
| MAN |
Metropolitan Area
Network. Is a
group of PCs connected
over a common
medium within
a campus environment
or city. |
| masking |
The process of
blocking out areas
in a computer
graphic. |
| meta |
As part of the
HEAD of an HTML document, this tag provides information that describes the document
in various ways.
It contains valuable
information for
search robots
to use in adding
your web pages
to their search
indexes.
A number of search
engines use the
information within
tags as part of
their algorithms.
Solar Winds Online
strongly recommends
that you implement
<META> tags
that describe
the content and
keywords that
describe your
web site and its
web pages. |
| MIME |
Multipurpose
Internet Mail
Exchange. Extensions
that allow e-mail messages to carry multiple types of data (such
as binary, audio,
video and graphics) as attachments. |
| modem |
Acronym for modulator/demodulator.
This device allows
a computer to
transmit and receive
information over
telephone lines
by converting
digital data into
analog data. The
opposite process
takes place on
the receiving
end. |
| MPEG |
A type of high-quality
video file. |
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| navigation |
Navigation is the act of moving from location to
location within
a web site, or
between web sites.
Navigation is
accomplished by
clicking on links. Links can consist of either colored and underlined
text or icons representing the link's destination. |
| navigation
bar |
Horizontal or
vertical design
element containing
buttons or text
links
to various pages
within a web site. |
| netiquette
|
Internet Etiquette.
Refers to traditional
and socially accepted
behavior for users
on the Internet. |
| Netscape |
Netscape Communications Corporation is a software
company that developed
one of the world's
most popular web
browser called Navigator. Navigator is part of a
software suite
called Communicator. |
| network |
A
set of computers
interconnected
so that they can
communicate and
share information.
Most major networks
are connected
to the global
networks-of-networks,
called the Internet. |
| newbie |
Slang for a newcomer
to the Internet. |
| node |
A network-connected device such as a PC, printer or
server. |
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| object-oriented
graphics |
A graphic image composed of autonomous objects such
as lines, circles,
ellipses, and
boxes that can
be move independently.
Object-oriented
graphics are based
on math instructions
instead of pixel
locations. |
| online |
A general term referring to anything connected to or conveyed
through a communications
network. |
| opacity |
The density of
a color or shade,
ranging from transparent
to an opaque. |
| o/s |
operating system. Some common operating systems are Windows
95/98, NT, Linux,
and DOS. |
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| packet |
A
group of data,
usually consisting
of data and an
address header
prior to being
sent over a network. |
| pixel |
an individual dot of color in a computer graphics image. |
| plug-in |
A computer program
you add to your
browser to help it handle a special type of file. |
| POP |
Post Office Protocol.
A system by which
a mail server
on the internet allows you to pick up your e-mail and download it to your computer. A POP server is the
computer from
which you pick
up your e-mail. |
| portal |
Generally synonymous
with a gateway
for the web. Some
major portals
include Yahoo,
Excite, Netscape,
Lycos, Cnet and
America Online's
AOL.com. Portals
can be characterized
as having a directory
of web sites,
search capabilities
to find other
web sites, documents,
news, weather
information, e-mail, phone and map information and sometimes a
community forum. |
| POTS |
Plain Old Telephone
Service. |
| protocol |
is a set of procedures for exchanging data between
computers on a
network through the Internet. A protocol usually contains information
on error checking,
data compression, and sending/receiving address information. |
| prototype |
A working model
that is not yet
finished but that
represents the
major technical,
design, and content
features of the
site. Prototypes
are used for testing. |
| pull
technology |
A technique in
which your browser retrieves information from a web server. |
| push
technology |
A technique used
to initiate delivery
of information
from a web server
to a properly
equipped client. |
| PWS |
Personal Web Server.
A low-end version
of IIS found on
Windows 95/98.
PWS allows your
windows 95/98
computer to act
as a web server. |
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| queue |
Commands or processes,
waiting to be
processed. May
also be called
scrolling. |
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RAM
(random access
memory) |
Is the place in
a computer where
the operating system, application programs and data reside
so that they can
be accessed quickly
by the computer's
processor. |
| remote
mailbombing |
Is the act of
subscribing people
to lots of mailing
lists against
their will so
that their e-mail mailboxes fill up with unwanted list postings. |
| resolution |
The number of
individual dots
or pixels that make up an image. |
| rollover |
A JavaScript technique in which one image is replaced
by a second image
when a mouse is
passed over it. |
| router |
A device that
routes packets
toward their destinations
essentially acting
like a traffic
'cop' on the internet.
Routers decide
how to send and
where to send
data based on
network conditions. |
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| script |
is
a sequence of
commands that
the computer executes
in response to
to a mouse click. |
| search
engine |
is a program that searches the web for documents
for specified
keywords and
returns a
list of these
documents
where the
keywords were
found.
In general,
a search engine
works by sending
out a spider to retrieve as many documents as possible.
Another program,
called an
indexer, then
reads these
documents
and creates
an index based
on the words
contained
in each document.
Each search
engine uses
their proprietary
algorithm to create its indices so that only the
most meaningful
and relevant
documents
are returned. |
| secure
server |
A web server that
uses encryption
to prevent others
from reading messages
to or from your
browser. Web-based shopping sites usually use secure
servers so others
can't intercept
your ordering
information. |
| site
architecture |
The structure
of a web site.
It reflects how
information is
organized, including
categories, subsites,
labeling and other
relationships. |
| site
flow |
The flow of movement
through your site.
Site flow usually
represents the
way an average
user will move
through your site's
space. |
| S/MIME |
Secure Multipurpose
Internet Mail
Extension. An
extension to MIME that includes encryption and authentication. |
SMTP
(Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol) |
Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol. Method
by which e-mail is delivered from one computer to another. |
| spider |
is
a program that
searches and retrieves
web pages. |
SSL
(Secure Socket
Layer) |
Secure Socket
Layer. A security
protocol methodology designed to create a secure
connection to
the server for
the transmission
of confidential
data through the
internet. SSL
uses public key
encryption, one
of the industry's
strongest encryption
methods, to protect
data as it travels
over the internet.
Originally created
by Netscape. |
| surfing |
another term for
browsing. |
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| T1 |
Transmission rate
standard for telephony
or data communications
circuits. T1 operates
at 1.544 Mbps.
Typically, this
circuit is subdivided
into many 64 Kb
channels. |
| tables |
Tables create
rows and columns,
as in a spreadsheet,
and can be used
to align data
and images. |
| tag |
a
coded HTML command used to indicate how part of a web page
should be displayed. |
| text
file |
A file that contains only textual characters with
no special formatting,
graphical information,
sound or video
files. |
| TIFF |
Tag Image File
Format. A file
form used in storing
image files. |
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| UNIX |
An operating system
developed by Bell
Laboratories during
the late 1960s
and early 1970s.
Arguably the best
operating system
for mission-critical
applications because
of almost 30 years
of refinement. |
| upload |
The process of
transferring data
file(s) from a
client or local computer to a remote server via the
internet. Opposite
is download. |
| URL
(uniform resource
locator) |
also commonly called a location or address. This is an
addressing system
that locates documents
on the Internet. |
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| visit |
Synonymous with
viewing a world
wide web site.
It is defined
where a single
person makes contact
with a website.
Normally mistaken
as a 'hit'
where a 'hit'
is the total number
of files that
a user receives
while visiting
a website. |
| vortal |
A vortal (Vertical
industry portal)
is a web site
that provides
a gateway or portal
to information
relating to a
particular industry,
such as health
care, insurance
or automobiles.
In other words,
a vertical industry
is one that is
focused on a relatively
narrow range of
goods and services
whereas a horizontal
industry is one
that aims to offer
a wide range of
goods and services.
As more and more
industries tend
to specialize,
more and more
industries are
said to be vertical. |
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| W3C |
World
Wide Web Consortium.
Is the organization
that recommends
and drafts standards
for the world
wide web. HTML
3.0 and 4.0, CSS2 and XML are a few examples of W3C-recommended standards. |
| walk
through |
A skeletal, text-only
version of a site
that allows designers
to test basic
navigation.
|
| WAN |
Wide Area Network.
A computer network interconnected over distances beyond a city
or metropolitan
area. |
| web |
Synonym for the
World Wide Web,
often referred
to as "The Web." |
| Windows
95/98/ME/2000/XP
|
Microsoft's client
operating system. |
| Windows
NT |
Microsoft's enterprise
operating system.
Fully preemptive
and reliable. |
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| XML
(eXtensible Markup
Language) |
A
standard recommended
by the WC3 for defining new document types, as well as user-defined
or application-specific
tags to extend the capabilities of HTML. |
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| zip |
A compressed file
format(*.zip).
To reduce storage
space and transfer
times files are
compressed. Utilities such as PKZip (DOS) or
WinZip (Windows)
are needed to
compress and uncompressed
files. |
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