Glossary of Internet Terms
Archie: A search tool for finding files and programs located on FTP servers. The Archie system is comprised of a number of Archie servers located across the United States and the world. Each Archie server indexes the files available on FTP servers in its area. The Archie servers share their indexes with each other; thus, the complete index is accessible from any of the servers. Archie servers can be accessed via a Telnet, e- mail or an Archie program.
ARPAnet: The predecessor to the Internet. Developed by the U.S. Defense Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency in the late 1960s, ARPAnet was an experimental network that initially linked scientists engaged in defense research. ARPAnet was intended to link together different computers in dispersed geographical locations. The network was designed to survive breakdowns along any of its connections by sending information as packets. If a connection broke down, the packets could be automatically re-routed.
ASCII (pronounced AS-key): American Standard Code for Information Exchange. Although now widely used to denote plain text – that is, text without formatting and independent of any type font – ASCII is actually a data code now used universally in communication applications by minicomputers and personal computers to represent 128 possible character combinations, including upper- and lower-case letters of the roman alphabet, the space character, the numerals 0 through 9, punctuation marks and other non-alphanumeric characters found on a standard keyboard, plus several “control codes” that denote invisible characters like the carriage return and tab. ASCII is also sometimes known as TTY, denoting its legacy in the teletype industry.
ASCII value: The number, variously expressed in decimal, octal or hexadecimal notation, that defines a combination of eight bits — seven bits that define a character and an eighth that can be used for a rudimentary form of error correction known as “parity checking.”
ASCII table: A table that lists the ASCII value for any character, in decimal, octal or hexadecimal notation, sometimes in all three.
avatar (pronounced AV-uh-tar): A word adopted by computer users to denote the digital manifestation that humans take on when entering virtual worlds. The word is Sanskrit for the earthly incarnation a god takes on Earth. Vishnu, the Hindu god responsible for maintaining the existence of the universe, has 10 important avatars, including Krishna, the philosopher king, and Varaha, the boar who rescues the planet after it is inundated by the oceans. The 10th avatar of Vishnu, Kalki, will arrive in the future to destroy the world with fire and begin a new age of purity on the planet.
AVI: A video compression standard developed for use with Microsoft Windows. Video clips on the World Wide Web are usually available in both AVI and QuickTime formats.
Return to the top.
bandwidth: The amount of information that can be transmitted over a network connection. Data travel over bandwidth in bits-per-second. A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can move about 28,800 bits per second.
baud: (pronounced BAWD) A unit commonly used to describe the speed of modems. The baud rate technically is the number of times a modem signal changes per second. In the old days of 300 baud modems, each signal change represented one bit of information. Therefore, the baud and transfer rates of a modem – measured in bits per second, or bps – were the same. Modern modems transfer up to 12 bits of information for every signal change. A 28.8 modem is actually is working at 2400 baud, but each signal change carries 12 bits of information. Therefore the data transfer rate is 28,800 bits per second. Over the years, baud and bits per second have been used interchangeably, although that is technically wrong.
BBS: Bulletin Board System. A dial-up computer service which allows users to post messages and files. BBSs often serve specific interests or geographical areas. Some BBSs are connected and provide access to the Internet.
bit: An abbreviation for “binary digit.” Usually represented as either a 0 or a 1 — connoting off and on, respectively — bits are the basic language of computers. A group of eight bits forms a byte.
BITNET: Because It’s Time or Because It’s There NETwork. An international computer network devoted to research and education. BITNET is connected to the Internet and e-mail is freely exchanged between the systems.
Boolean: A query strategy for searching databases. Boolean searches use connectors such as “and” or “or” to expand or narrow a search. For example, to retrieve information about cats and dogs, searchers type in the word “and” to insure they receive information about both groups.
bot: Short for “robot.” Describes programs, usually run on a server, that automate tasks like forwarding or sorting e-mail.
browser: Software that looks at various types of Internet resources. Browsers can search for documents and obtain them from other sources.
bps: Bits Per Second. See baud.
BTW: By The Way. An acronym frequently used in e-mail messages.
byte: (pronounced BITE) A group of eight bits.
Return to the top.
CERN:(pronounced SURN) The Web was created in 1991 at CERN, a particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland.
com: A domain name suffix denoting commercial entities such as corporations.
Cyberspace: The whole universe of information that’s available from computer networks.
Return to the top.
Digerati: A digital play on the word “literati,” digerati refers to people who consider themselves the hip, knowledgeable elite at the vanguard of the digital revolution.
daemon: A program that runs without human intervention. A daemon (pronounced DEE-man) waits silently, springing into action when some condition occurs (for example, when a file lands in a particular directory, or when a Web request is made through a particular communication line). Most server software runs as a daemon, so you’ll see references to a Web server as an “HTTPD” program, for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Daemon.
Return to the top.
edu: A domain name suffix denoting educational institutions.
e-mail: Electronic mail. Messages sent from one person to another via computer networks.
emoticon: (pronounced ee-MOE-ti-con) Shortened form of “emotion icons.” Sideways “smiley-face” symbols created with ASCII characters to express emotions and physical characteristics. Emoticons, also known as a smilies, are often used in e-mail messages and newsgroup postings.
The characters : – ) form an emoticon which means “what I’ve just said was meant in fun.” Other examples of emoticons include: 😎 (a happy person with glasses), B-)~ (a happy person with horn-rimmed glasses who is drooling), B*)~ (a happy drooling person with horn-rimmed glasses who has just been to a bar), :-@ (a screaming person), (%-@ a screaming person who has been staring a computer screen for 15 hours), etc.
ethernet: A common way of networking computers in a local area network or LAN (such as the same building or floor).
Return to the top.
finger: A software tool for finding people on the Internet.
flame: An online insult usually delivered by way of e-mail or a newsgroup posting. Flame exchanges often develop into long-running flame wars, which can then degenerate in holy wars.
FTP: File Transfer Protocol. The standard rules that govern the transfer of files and programs over the Internet. FTP allows files to be moved from one computer to another regardless of the types of computers or operating systems involved in the exchange.
FTP is also used as the general name for the programs which employ File Transfer Protocol to move files.
FYI: For Your Information. An acronym frequently used in e-mail messages.
Return to the top.
GIF, gif (pronounced GIFF — as in “gift” — or JIFF): Graphics Interchange Format. Developed by CompuServe, GIF is a widely-used method of compressing image files such as photographs and graphics. Image files typically take up large amounts of computer memory and hard drive space and take long periods of time to download. Various groups have come up with ways of alleviating some of these problems by compressing the image data into smaller files. JPEG is a competing image-compression format.
GIF can also refer to an image compressed with Graphics Interchange Format.
Gopher: A menu-based system used in organizing and retrieving files and programs on the Internet. Gopher allows access to files found on FTP servers, as well as to files normally accessed through Telnet, Archie or WAIS programs. Each Gopher server has its own unique menu of files and programs. Gopher servers and menus can be accessed through Gopher programs and some World Wide Web browsers.
gov (pronounced GUV) : A domain name suffix denoting government. In Internet addresses, gov denotes non-military government sites.
Return to the top.
hacker: A person who breaks into a computer network and tampers with the system.
hexadecimal (pronounced hex-uh-DES-I-mull): Numbers expressed in base sixteen. Integers larger than 9 are expressed as sequential letters A through F. In hexadecimal, the number ten is written A. The number sixteen is expressed as 10 – that is, one sixteen and no ones, just as 10 in the standard decimal system represents one ten and no ones. Why would anyone want to express numbers in base sixteen? Because that’s how many bits there are in a 16-bit word, so using hexadecimal allowed programmers to denote a specific bit in any word as a single digit, 0 through F. Back in the days of eight-bit machines, programmers used octal, or base eight, numbers.
home page: A World Wide Web document. Home page often refers to a person or organization’s main Web page which provides links to other pages within the person or organization’s Web site.
hypertext: Text that links one document to another.
holy war: An endless debate often carried on over newsgroup message threads. Such debates usually center on fundamental issues of faith for which there is no chance of resolution. For example: Can the starship Enterprise go faster than warp 10? Yes it can. No it can’t. Yes it can, … and so on.
html: HyperText Markup Language. The coding language of the World Wide Web.
http: HyperText Transfer Protocol. The set of rules that govern the transfer of most documents traveling over the Web. It’s also the beginning of URL addresses on the World Wide Web. For example The New York Times URL is http://www.nytimes.com.
Return to the top.
Internet: The international network of networks. The Internet came into being between the late 1970s and early 1980s with the development and adoption of TCP/IP. TCP/IP allowed ARPAnet to join with other networks.
Although often thought of as synonymous with the World Wide Web, the Internet encompasses much more than just Web servers and hypertext documents. The Internet includes all of the computers that are linked to it on its various networks and all of the systems used to exchange information between those computers, including Gopher, Telnet, FTP and WAIS.
IP Address: Internet Protocol address. Every machine on the Internet has a unique IP address which consists of four parts separated by dots. (For example: 204.146.46.8) If a machine does not have an IP address it’s not officially on the Internet.
IRC: (Internet Relay Chat) A multi-user chat program. Around the world, many IRC servers are linked to each other. Anyone using these servers can create a “channel,” an area for text messages that can be viewed by users with access to that channel.
ISDN: (Integrated Services Digital Network) A network that moves more data faster over phone lines. ISDN is quickly becoming available in most of the U.S. It can move data at speeds of up to 128,000 bits-per-second.
Return to the top.
Java: A computer language that allows users to add animation, moving text and interactive games to a Web site. Designed by Sun Microsystems, Java works on a variety of computer systems such as Windows, Macintosh and Unix. Netscape Navigator incorporated Java into the latest version of its Web browser.
JPEG: jpeg, jpg: (pronounced JAY-peg): A standardized method of compressing image files created by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG images are widely used on the World Wide Web. However, some Web browsers do not support the format, and therefore will not display JPEG images.
JPEG can also refer to images compressed with the JPEG format.
Return to the top.
Return to the top.
LAN (pronounced LAN — as in “land”): Local Area Network. A computer network that’s located in a concentrated area like a building or floor.
Login: An ID or name used to access a computer system.
Return to the top.
mailing list: A subject-specific automated e-mail system that’s also known as a listproc, listserve or majordomo. Users subscribe to it and via e-mail they receive information about the subject of the list and postings about the topic from other list subscribers.
mil (pronounced MILL) : A domain name suffix denoting an abbreviation for military. In Internet addresses, mil indicates a site belonging to a military branch or organization.
modem (pronounced MOE-dim): Shortened form of “modulator- demodulator.” A device that allows computers to communicate with each other via telephone lines, cellular signals or television cables. To send information from one computer to another, a modem converts digital signals from a computer into analog signals that can be sent over telephone lines. On the receiving end, the modem converts the analog signals back into digital ones that can be understood by the computer.
MPEG, mpeg, mpg (pronounced EM-peg): A standard for compressing video images developed by the Motion Picture Experts Group. Video clips on the World Wide Web are sometimes available in MPEG format; however, video clips are more often found in AVI and QuickTime formats.
MUD (pronounced like the word “mud”): Multi-User Dungeon. An online role-playing game similar to Dungeons and Dragons. Normally text-based, Multi-User Dungeons allow numerous people play and interact in the same game scenario at the same time.
Return to the top.
net: An abbreviation for “network.” In Internet addresses, net indicates a computer network service.
When capitalized, Net is used as a slang term for the Internet.
Netscape Navigator: A Web browser that’s widely used because of its speed and easy interface.
netiquette (pronounced NET-i-ket or -kit): Internet etiquette. The unofficial standards that govern behavior on the Internet. The rules of netiquette are sometimes obscure and are usually learned only through experience.
network: A hardware/software system that allows two or more computers to be connected so they share resources.
newbie (pronounced NEW-be): A new Internet user. As used by more experienced Internet users, newbie usually carries derogatory connotations. Newbies are often faulted for not knowing netiquette.
newsgroup: A broad grouping of online discussion groups. Newsgroups are the Internet equivalent of BBSs. Most newsgroups are distributed through USENET.
Return to the top.
org (pronounced ORG): A domain name suffix denoting an abbreviation for organization. Internet sites which don’t fall into any other category are given the domain name of org. Org usually indicates that the site belongs to a non-profit, non-governmental organization.
Return to the top.
PPP: Point-to-Point Protocol. A protocol that allows a computer to use a telephone line and modem to connect to the Internet. It’s an alternative to a SLIP connection.
Return to the top.
QuickTime: A video compression standard developed by Apple. The QuickTime standard is one of the most popular formats for video clips on the World Wide Web.
Return to the top.
Return to the top.
search engine: A mechanism for finding documents on the Internet. For example, WAIS, Yahoo and Alta Vista are search engines.
server: A computer system that manages and delivers information to users. One server can have several different software programs running on it.
signature file: A footer added to the bottom of e-mail messages.
SLIP (pronounced SLIP): A protocol that allows a computer to use a telephone line and modem to connect to the Internet. It’s an alternative to a PPP connection.
spam: The act of spewing out large numbers of electronic messages via e-mail or newsgroups to people who don’t want to receive them. Spamming is considered a gross breach of netiquette. The term is believed to be derived from a Monty Python skit in which the word “spam” is repeated over and over again. Its relation to Spam, the much-maligned pork luncheon meat, is uncertain.
Return to the top.
TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet (working) Protocol. A standard set of rules which allows computers on different networks to communicate with one another. The Internet came into being with the development and adoption of TCP/IP.
Telnet: The Internet protocol which allows a computer at one location to connect with and act as a terminal of a computer at a different location. Unlike FTP which involves the transfer of files between computers, Telnet involves primarily the transfer of commands from the terminal emulator to the host computer and responses to those commands from the host to the terminal.
Telnet also refers to the terminal emulation programs which utilize Telnet protocol.
T-1: A phone line connection that can transfer data at 1.5 million bits-per-second. It is frequently used to connect LANs to the Internet.
T-3: A phone line connection that can carry data at 45 million bits-per-second. This is more than enough to do full-screen video.
tn3270: A Telnet program and protocol used to log in to IBM mainframe computers.
twitch games: Action games requiring lightening-quick reaction times, dexterity and caveman intelligence.
Return to the top.
UNIX: A computer operating system that is designed to be used by many people at the same time. UNIX is the most widely-used operating system for servers on the Internet.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): This is the protocol for identifying documents on the Web. All Web addresses have a URL. For example, The New York Times is http://www.nytimes.com
USENET (pronounced USE-net): A world-wide system of thousands of discussion areas, called newsgroups, with comments from hundreds of thousands of users. Most Usenet machines are on the Internet.
Return to the top.
Veronica: (Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives) A frequently updated database with the names of almost every menu item on the thousands of Gopher servers.
VMPEG (pronounced VEE EM-peg) : An application for playing MPEG video files.
VRML: (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) is a computer language that allows users to create three-dimensional programs. In a VRML application a user can click on any object to travel to another part of the program or to visit another Web page. It is pronounced VER-mull
Return to the top.
WAIS (pronounced WAYS) : Wide Area Information Service. A search engine that indexes large quantities of information and makes the indexes searchable.
WAV (pronounced WAVE) : An audio file format.
Web browser: A program used to navigate and access information on the World Wide Web. Web browsers convert raw html coding into a graphical display. Some browsers are also able to navigate Gopher sites, connect with FTP servers and display different types of image files.
Popular Web browsers include Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mosaic.
Web goddess, webgoddess: A female Web master.
Web master, webmaster: The person in charge of maintaining the content found on a Web site, or of keeping the site up and running.
Web site: A collection of World Wide Web pages, usually consisting of a home page and several other linked pages.
Webzine: A magazine on the World Wide Web. See zines.
word: A group of bits, used to designate various information within a computer. An 8-bit word is called a byte.
World Wide Web: A system of finding and accessing Internet files and programs utilizing hypertext. The World Wide Web allows users to navigate the Internet by following links from documents on one computer to documents on others. The Web employs html, allowing files to be viewed in a graphical format.
The World Wide Web was developed by CERN in the early 1990s and has quickly become one of the most popular Internet applications.
WWW: See World Wide Web.
Return to the top.
Return to the top.
Return to the top.
zine: Short for magazine. Generally, zines have a narrower focus, a stronger personality and a lower circulation than traditional magazines.