Terms of Enclearment: An Internet Glossary
by Larry Magid

For a complete online computer dictionary, visit Webopedia and Tech Web's TechEncyclopedia

Broadband: High speed Internet. Today it typically means a digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable modem to the home or a T1 line or other high speed connection at an office. Speeds vary but are typically at least 512 kilobits per second (kbps)

Browser or Web Browser: Software that allows you to access the World Wide Web. The software, which runs on your PC or Macintosh, provides the graphical interface between your computer and the Web.  Popular browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

Blog: Short for "web log," a blog is a web page that is typically updated on a regular basis. Blogs are sometimes used for personal journals but they can also be used by professional journalists and others who wish to keep their readers informed on up-to-date information.

Cyberspace: A term coined by science fiction author William Gibson to describe the whole range of information resources available through computer networks.

DSL: Short for "digital subscriber line," it's a technology that allows phone companies to deliver high-speed (broadband) Internet access via regular phone lines.  DSL requires a special subscription and a DSL adapter or "modem."

Electronic Mail (E-mail): Messages sent from one computer to another via a network, online service or the Internet. It generally takes only seconds for a message to reach its destination anywhere in the world. E-mail messages can contain only text or contain programs or data including graphics, word processing files and audio or  video.

Fixed Internet: Refers to accessing the Internet from a PC or other non-mobile device. See Mobile Internet

Firewall: Software or hardware that can protect your computer or network from hackers and other intruders

FTP: An acronym for File Transfer Protocol -- a very common method of transferring one or more files from one computer to another. FTP is built into most browsers so you don't need to know complex commands to use it.

HTTP: Anyone who's used the World Wide Web has seen those web sites that begin with http://. HTTP is abbreviation for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

Internet: A global network of networks, the Internet is a system that links computer systems so that they can exchange various types of data including e-mail, video, audio, data and program files, World Wide Web pages and more. The Internet isn't a single computer service. It's a worldwide network of networks that consists of millions of computers located on every continent.

Internet Service Provider (ISP): A company that provides users with access to the Internet, usually for a fee. Unlike an online service, an ISP doesn't necessarily provide additional content but does provide access and, in most cases, technical support for its users.

Java: Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. to create executable content (i.e. self-running applications) that can be easily distributed through networks like the World Wide Web. Developers use Java to create special programs called "applets" that can be incorporated in a web page to make it interactive.

Local Area Network (LAN): A network of computers that is typically located within a company, a department or a campus or, increasingly in homes. They are not necessarily connected to computers outside the facility though a LAN can be connected to other computers via the Internet.

MP3: Short for "Motion Picture Expert Group Audio Layer 3," it's an encoding and compression scheme for audio files typically used for music files that are downloaded via the Internet.

Mobile Internet: Refers to accessing the Internet, instant messaging and other online tools from a cell phone, PDA or other portable device

PDA: Short for Personal Digital Assistant -- a handheld device like the Palm or PocketPC organizers that typically store phone numbers and addresses, calendar information and other personal information. Many PDAs today are connected to the Internet and can also handle e-mail and web surfing. Some can also be used as cell phones.

Phishing:  Spam emails that appear to come from a legitimate bank or other institution but actually lead you to a rogue website where you are asked to provide personal information. Often they say they need this information to keep your account open. The danger of providing such information is that it could fall into the hands of identify thieves or other criminals.

Podcast:  Audio files that have been loaded onto an Internet server to be listened to online or downloaded to an Apple iPod or other digital music player. A conjunction of "iPod" and "broadcast."

Protocol: A protocol is the standard or set of rules that two computers use to communicate with each other. Also known as a communications protocol or network protocol, this is a set of standards that assures that different network products or programs can work together. Any product that uses a given protocol should work with any other product using the same protocol.

RSS: "Really Simple Syndication":  A means by which software can be automatically informed of new Internet content such as updates in weblogs or Podcasts. Users use RSS to "subscribe" to Internet content which is then automatically delivered to their browser or other software or, in some cases, transferred to portable devices such as digital music players.

Search Engine: A search engine is a type of software or website that creates indexes of databases or Internet sites based on the titles of files, key words, or the full text of files. The search engine has an interface that allows you to type what you're looking for into a blank field. It then gives you 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. Popular search engines include Google and Yahoo.

Smartphone: A mobile phone with advanced features such as e-mail, web access and PDA functions

Spam: Unsolicited e-mail or "junk mail" that comes to your computer. It typically tries to sell you something or get you to click on a link to take you to a web site.

Spyware: Software that is loaded on to your computer that can display advertising or, in some cases, redirect your web browser. In extreme cases it can jeopardize your privacy by tracking your online activity or keystrokes.  It is sometimes bundled with other software and loaded on your computer without your knowledge or permission.

Trojan Horse: Similar to a virus, a "Trojan horse" masquerades as a benign piece of software but can do damage to your computer or jeopardizes your privacy and security.

URL: An abbreviation for Universal Resource Locator, it is an addressing scheme. A URL is just an address. The URL for the Los Angeles Times, for example, is http://www.latimes.com.

Virus: A malicious piece of software that can harm your computer or jepordize your privacy or security by making it possible for an intruder to     gain access to your computer. Can be spread via e-mail as well as web sites or through networks or discs.

Web Mail: Email that arrives and is sent via a web page rather than an email program. Examples include Yahoo Mail, Hotmail and Gmail.

Web Log: See Blog

Web page: A single "page" on a web site. A page may be longer than a single screen (you may have to scroll down to read its entire contents). A web site can consist of multiple pages.

World Wide Web: The part of the Internet that provides access to documents and pages through "hypertext links." Users can jump from one document to another by clicking on a link even if they documents are stored on different computers on the Internet. World Wide Web documents often contain graphics and sometimes audio, animation or video. They are created using a language called HTML. Web sites generally have a Home Page which typically links to other pages on that and other Web sites.

Worm: Similar to a virus. A worm replicates itself over a network and performs malicious actions

©1996 to 2005 by Lawrence J. Magid