Teach Yourself the Internet in 24 Hours
- Glossary -
ActiveX. Microsoft's answer to Netscape's plug-ins. ActiveX components act like plug-ins but claim to be more dynamic because they can be downloaded along with the page that uses them.
alias. Also called a nickname, an alias is a shortcut that represents a real e-mail address.
Archie. A search engine designed specifically to find files and information on FTP sites.
backbone. Nothing more than a major cable that carries network traffic.
BBS. An abbreviation for bulletin board system. Bulletin board systems contain information specific to the organizations that sponsor them. They are often similar to freenets, except that they rarely offer any type of Internet access.
Big Seven Hierarchies. Newsgroup hierarchies that were established years ago and are still in effect today. They comprise what's known as the Big 7 newsgroup hierarchies. These seven hierarchies contain a majority of all newsgroup traffic: comp, soc, rec, sci, talk, news, and misc.
binary. Any non-text file, such as a picture or shareware program. Special utilities usually are required to decode these files.
bookmark. A way that a Web browser can keep a permanent record of Internet sites. Internet Explorer refers to bookmarks as Favorites.
Boolean operators. These operators are designed to put conditions on a search. The most common Boolean operators are AND, OR, and AND NOT.
browser. A software program that requests, interprets, and presents World Wide Web documents. Frequently used browsers include Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Lynx, and Mosaic.
CC. The Carbon Copy message header. This field contains the e-mail addresses of additional message recipients.
CERN. The European Laboratory for Particle Physics and the birthplace of the World Wide Web.
client. All the computers and software that make up the Internet are either clients (which receive and translate data) or servers (which provide and translate data). Thus, client software allows you to get information from the Internet.
codec. Short for compression/decompression, a mathematical algorithm responsible for encoding an analog signal into digital form. It also decodes a received digital signal back into an analog signal.
command-line environment. In this environment, you type text on a line, the server responds with text, you type in another command, and so on. These interfaces often require special commands and keystroke combinations to perform special functions.
cross-posting. A method by which you can post a single article to multiple newsgroups.
digital data. Data is made up of a series of 0s and 1s that are grouped in unique sequences. Each sequence of 0s and 1s can mean an infinite number of commands to the computers translating them into what you see on your screen.
domain name. The name given to any computer registered on the World Wide Web as an official provider of information and files. Domain Names are usually two or more terms separated by periods. A couple of examples are aol.com or www.msu.edu.
download. Transferring a file from a host computer to your computer, usually using FTP.
dropouts. The sudden loss of a digital signal, consequently cutting off the person who is speaking using an Internet phone application. Dropouts are usually caused by incorrect audio settings.
e-mail address. Consists of a user ID, followed by an @ sign and a domain name. For instance: tom@candlestick.com.
e-text. This term stands for electronic text. E-text is becoming a popular way to put textbooks, noncopyrighted books, and other literature on the Internet.
emoticons. Short for emotional icons. These character combinations are one way of trying to get across a little emotion in what you say. For instance, :) is a smile.
encoding. Sometimes referred to as encryption. A method for turning binary data into textual data for transmission over the Internet. Binhex (used on Macintosh computers and the Eudora e-mail client), UUDecode (used by UNIX and some other e-mail clients), and MIME (used on the Web and by a few other e-mail clients) are standard encoding schemes.
FAQ. Stands for Frequently Asked Questions. Many times, newcomers to a newsgroup will ask questions that the old-timers have heard over and over again. FAQs are written and posted periodically to reduce the number of redundant questions.
filter. Simply a way that an e-mail client looks at e-mail message header information in order to determine what to do with the message. A filter might be defined to put all messages from a certain sender into a particular location.
flame. An Internet message that often uses profanity or otherwise berates and belittles the recipient.
frames. A feature available on the World Wide Web that presents text, links, graphics, and other media in separate portions of the browser display. Some sections remain unchanging, while others serve as an exhibit of linked documents.
freenets. Organizations that offer limited bulletin board system-like access onto the Internet, although some freenets offer no Internet access at all.
FTP. An abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol. FTP is a set of rules for transferring files on the Internet.
full-duplex. Referring to a type of sound card, a full-duplex card allows two users to speak simultaneously while using an Internet phone application.
Global Online Directory (GOLD). A server that maintains the status of all the current users who are using VocalTec's Internet Phone application.
Gopher. Developed at the University of Minnesota, a system whereby many types of information can be displayed and accessed in a simple, menu-based structure.
Gopherspace. The term used to describe the portion of the Internet that contains Gopher sites.
half-duplex. Referring to a type of sound card, a half-duplex card allows only one user to speak at a time while using an Internet phone application.
hits. When conducting an Internet search on the Web, each result of a particular search is called a hit.
home page. Frequently, this term refers to the cover of a particular Web site. The home page is the main, or first, page displayed for an organization's or person's World Wide Web site.
HTML. An abbreviation for HyperText Markup Language. HTML is the coding language for the World Wide Web that informs browsers how to display a document's text, links, graphics, and other media. This language forms the foundation for all Web pages.
ICE. The Excite search engine uses Intelligent Concept Extraction (ICE) to search more than 50 million fully indexed Web pages. The ICE method allows for highly accurate searches based on real language searches, as well as more standard search types.
image map. A feature available on the World Wide Web that allows users to click on various locations in a graphic image to link to different documents.
include marks. These > characters, which are found in e-mail messages and newsgroup postings, are the quotation marks of the Internet. When reading or replying to an e-mail message, an include mark indicates a line of text that belonged to a previous message.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Currently the fastest connection capable using existing phone lines. ISDN allows users to connect at speeds of 128KB per second. The ISDN line is capable of transmitting voice and data simultaneously.
Internet phone. An application that transmits a user's speech across a network (in this case, the Internet) to another user's machine.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC). A very large network of servers that allow users to communicate in real time to one another via the keyboard.
Internet Service Provider (ISP). An organization or company that provides users access to the Internet.
IP Address. An address used by Internet Protocol (IP) to identify each computer on the Internet. This number consists of four numbers between 0 and 255, each separated by a period. A typical IP address might be 35.8.7.92.
link. Short for hypertext link. A link provides a path that connects a user from one part of a World Wide Web document to another part of the same document, a different document, or another resource.
listserv. An e-mail address that is configured to forward every message it receives to the e-mail addresses of those who have subscribed to it. You can think of it as an electronic interactive newspaper.
local/remote. These terms are often used in reference to FTP. A local machine is your computer. A remote machine is simply a server to which you connect via means of a modem or network connection.
lurking. Reading a newsgroup without posting to it.
mailbox. A place where your e-mail client stores mail.
mailing list. See listserv.
Megahertz. One hertz represents a single cycle of current in a circuit. A Megahertz represents 1,000 cycles. PC speed is usually gauged in Megahertz per second, so a 66 Megahertz processor can complete 66,000 cycles in one second.
message headers. The part of an e-mail message (or newsgroup posting) that contains basic information such as sender, receiver, and subject. Message headers act much like the information on the envelope of a letter.
micropayments. A method by which companies can keep an "electronic charge account" for customers. Micropayments offer an affordable way to charge anywhere from one cent to one-hundredth of a cent as payment for services or products offered over the Internet.
modem. A device that allows your computer to talk to other computers using your phone line. Modems range in speeds of 9.6 to 33.6 KB per second.
moderated listserv. Just as a debate has a moderator to make sure both sides stick to the rules, so too do some listservs have a human moderator who makes sure the rules of the listserv are being followed. These listservs are called moderated listservs.
moderator. Anyone who moderates, or filters, the content on a listserv or newsgroup.
Mosaic. The first Web browser, written by Marc Andreessen.
Multi-User Dungeon (MUD). A game on the Internet very similar to IRC. Users solve puzzles, find clues, and interact with other players in hopes of mastering the game.
newsgroups. Topical areas of Usenet that operate much like bulletin boards for the discussion of topics regarding recreation, society, culture, business and--of course--computers. Currently, there are more than 12,000 newsgroups available.
.newsrc file. A file that contains information about your newsgroups, such as which groups you're subscribed to and how many articles (both read and unread) are in each group you subscribe to.
NNTP Server. NNTP stands for Network News Transfer Protocol. An NNTP server transfers news to your client using the language of Usenet.
node. Generally the computer (or computers) at each routing station on the Internet.
noise. Sooner or later, you'll hear the term signal-to-noise ratio. This is merely a way of describing how much useful material (signal) compared to useless material (noise) is contained on a given newsgroup.
operator. Anything that modifies a term or equation. In the equation 2 + 2 = 4, the plus sign is an operator. When searching on the Web, you can often use special symbols or words to build a search "equation" that is often more effective than searching for a single word or phrase.
packet. A single sequence of digital data. As each packet of data is sent through the various networks, it has a distinct digital marker.
plug-in. A small file that increases the capabilities of a Web browser. Plug-ins enable browsers to display file types beyond images and text.
POP. An abbreviation for Post Office Protocol, which is the technical name for the way some e-mail servers deliver your mail.
post. What a message to a Usenet newsgroup is called. When you submit messages (also called articles) to newsgroups, you are said to be posting.
protocol. A set of rules. On the Internet, this translates into the set of rules computers use to communicate across networks.
search engine. A computer program that indexes a database and then allows people to search it for relevant information available on the Internet.
server. Any computer that delivers--serves--information and data.
signature. A small text file that contains information your e-mail or newsgroup client automatically attaches to the bottom of every message you send.
SMTP. An abbreviation for Simple Mail Transport Protocol, which is another technical name for the way e-mail messages are sent.
spam. Any mass-mailed material meant for self-promotion, advertisement, or pure silliness. Spam, or electronic junk mail, is probably one of the most offensive aspects of the Internet.
streaming audio/video. The capability for multimedia to begin playback as the file is being downloaded.
T1 line. A connection capable of transferring data at 1,544,000 bits per second. A T1 is the fastest connection commonly used to connect networks to the Internet.
T3 line. A connection capable of carrying 45 million bits per second. Commonly used in video conferencing and telecommunications where high bandwidth is needed. A T3 is capable of carrying full-screen, full-motion video.
Tables. A feature available on the World Wide Web that presents document text, links, graphics, and other media in row and column format. Table borders may be visible in some documents and invisible in others.
TCP/IP. An abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
Telnet. A method of establishing a direct terminal connection to an Internet host computer. VT100 and TN3270 are popular Telnet protocols.
thread. A series of newsgroup articles all dealing with the same topic. Someone replies to an article, and then someone else replies to the reply, and so on.
traffic. A term used to describe how much activity there is on either a listserv or a newsgroup.
UNIX. A very powerful and portable operating system that is the foundational operating language of the Internet. UNIX is not an acronym for anything.
upload. Transferring a file to a host computer from your computer, usually using FTP.
UPS. An abbreviation for Uninterruptable Power Supply. A backup battery supply that allows you to safely shut down your machine as the result of a sudden power loss.
URL. An abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL (pronounced "You-Are-El" or "Earl") serves as identification for all Internet documents.
Usenet. The name is modeled after Usenix, the UNIX users' conference series. It was supposed to mean UNIX Users Network, because all the early sites were UNIX machines, and many of the early discussions were about the UNIX operating system.
UserID. Every person with an e-mail address has a user identification of some sort. This is usually something very simple, like johndoe, but could be quite a bit more enigmatic.
Veronica. An acronym for the Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Net-Wide Index to Computerized Archives. This is a search engine designed to search Gopherspace.
Web Phone. See Internet Phone.
Web Site. A collection of World Wide Web documents, usually consisting of a home page and several related pages. You might think of a Web site as an interactive electronic book.
Webmaster. The individual responsible for maintaining and updating the content of a World Wide Web document. Webmasters are the creative force behind the World Wide Web.
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