Parkelly: Internet Terms

Router

A device that connects any number of LANs, which ultimately connect them to the Internet. An example of a switch.

Hub

A device that connects nearby computers together and enables them to communicate with one another.

Internet

A global network connecting millions of computers, making it possible to exchange information.

Social Networking

Focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities. Ex. Facebook.

HTML

Hyper Text Mark-Up Language. The programming language of the WWW.

Discussion Group, Internet Forum, Bulletin Board, Usenet

Websites that support interactive discussions by users on a common topic.

fire wall

the primary method for keeping a computer SECURE from intruders by either allowing or blocking traffic into and out of a private network or the uesers computer

download

to transfer a file from the Internet or other computer to your own computer

Generic Top Level

.com .org .net .gov .edu .mil

tweet

A Twitter post, limited to 140 characters.

blog

A Web log, which is a journal or newsletter that is updated frequently and published online.

Wiki

A collaborative website which can be directly edited by anyone with access to it. Ex. Wikipedia

client

A computer designed to request information from a server

LAN/WAN

A computer network that spans a specific area. Most Local Area Networks are confined to a single building or group of buildings (e.g. a school district). A Wide Area Network is the connection of two or more Local Area Networks.

server

A computer that handles requests for data, e-mail, file transfers, and other network services from other computers (clients).

Switch

A device for transmitting data on a network. A switch makes decisions, based on the media access control (MAC) address of the data, as to where the data is to be sent. A smart hub.

Cookie

A message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message and is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and prepare customized Web pages for them.

packet switching

A method of transmitting data in which messages are separated into packets that travel along the network separately, and then are reassembled in the proper order at the destination.

applet

A small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page. Applets differ from full-fledged Java applications in that they are not allowed to access certain resources on the local computer, such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, and so on), and are prohibited from communicating with most other computers across a network.

Email/Instant Messaging

A system for sending and receiving messages electronically over a computer network, as between personal computers. The former sends messages asynchronously while the other sends it synchronously

discussion group

A type of Internet communications that enables individuals to post messages on a particular topic for others to read and respond to.

Ethernet

A type of high-speed network for interconnecting computing devices. Can be either 10 or 100 Mbps

ARPAnet

Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. A pre-cursor to the internet; developed in 1968.

Web Browser

Allows users to view the web and interact with web sites. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer are some popular examples.

wi-fi

An Ethernet-compatible wireless network that uses 802.11a, b, g, and n standards.

WYSIWYG

An acronym that stands for "What you see is what you get." And allows you to see what the final document will look like.

Plug-Ins

An auxiliary program that works with a program to enhance its capability. They are added to Web browsers to enable them to support new types of content (audio, video, etc.). Ex. Java, Flash, Shockwave

Hyperlink

An electronic link providing direct access from one place (hypertext) to another in the same or a different document/web page.

Domain Name

An organization's unique name on the Internet. For example, Apple.com is the domain name for the company Apple Computers.

css

Cascading Style Sheets. A feature added to HTML that gives both Web site developers and users more control over how pages are displayed. Allows designers and users to define how different elements, such as headers and links, appear.

CGI Scripts

Common Gateway Interface scripts allow Web sites to interact with databases and other applications in order to interact with a user. For example, Amazon.com uses a database so users can interact and purchase its products.

Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses

Different types of malicious programs that can cause damage to your computer.

HTTP

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, is a set of rules used to transfer files from a Web server onto a browser in order to view a Web page that is on the Internet.

Tim Berners-Lee

In 1989, created the Internet protocol HTTP and the World Wide Web Language HTML

imap

Internet Message Access Protocol. The main set of rules used by email clients in communicating with email servers.

ISP

Internet Service Provider. An organization that provides access to the internet. Examples include AT&T, Astound, and Comcast.

RSS feed

Really Simple Syndicate. A feature that downloads up to date information to your computer.

Phishing

The act of sending email that falsely claims to be from a legitimate organization. This is usually combined with a threat or request for information: for example, that an account will close, a balance is due, or information is missing from an account

bandwidth

The amount of data that can be transmitted over a network in a given amount of time.

World Wide Web (WWW)

The complete set of documents residing on all Internet servers that use the HTTP protocol.

IP Address

The identifying number (address) that enables any computer on the Internet to find any other computer on the network.

upload

To send a file from one computer to another through a network

tcp/ip

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This is the group of rules that defines the Internet and that every computer must have to connect to it.

DSL/Cable

Two common telecommunication technologies that allow consumers to access the Internet, video or telephone services. Digital Subscriber Lines use telephone networks and the latter uses cable.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. Web address or location of a web page on the WWW.

voip

Voice over Internet protocol - a phone connection through a personal computer with any type of broadband Internet connection.