Glossary of Internet & Computer Terms
- accesskey
- An HTML hypertext attribute used to create Access Keys for keyboard navigation. An "access key" is created
using a single alpha-numeric character selected by the page author, that when activated in combination with the
"Alt" key (MS Windows) or the "Cmd/Ctrl" key (Apple/Mac) executes a function. Access Keys are commonly used for
shortcuts to important links and form elements. Pressing an access key brings focus to the assigned element. The
action that occurs when an element receives focus depends on the element. For example, when a user activates a
link defined by the <a> element, the user agent(browser, screen reader,
etc) follows the link. View the list of access keys used for this
site.
- anchor
- Hypertext Markup Language provides the a element to designate an anchor. Anchors used as
hyperlinks have a source and destination. These are the "hotspot", clickable links, that are used for navigation.
In the following
<a
href="http://www.bigbaer.com">BIG BAER Urban Alternative</a>, the destination anchor is the URL
"http://www.bigbaer.com" while the source anchor is the hyperlink BIG BAER
Urban Alternative.
- bookmark
- A saved Web location or URL. Netscape Communicator and Mozilla save bookmarks in its Bookmarks list, while
Internet Explorer organizes bookmarks in its Favorites and Opera in its Hotlist. A bookmark can be saved by
selecting "Bookmark This Page" or "Add to Favorites" from the browser menu. Keyboard and mouse shortcuts are
available as well.
- boolean search
- A method of searching for information in databases that combines search terms with the operators AND, OR,
NOT, and parentheses.
- browser
- A browser is a user agent, a software program used to
access web content. There are many types of browsers. The most common and familiar are the graphical broswers,
Internet Explorer and Netscape. They "translate" HTML-encoded files into the text, images, sounds, and other
features that may be present on a website. Other browsers may display "text-only" content or audibly "read" a
page. Braille browsers render web content to a "tactile" interface so that users with special accessibility needs
may surf the Web.
- cache
- A temporary storage area that a web browser or service provider uses to store common pages and graphics that
have been recently opened. The cache enables the browser to quickly reload pages and images that were recently
viewed. The proper pronunciation of cache is "cash".
- cookie
- A Web script designed to retrieve information about you, the site visitor. Cookies build profiles of
what users buy, where they are browsing from, etc. Cookies can store login information that allows quick access
to personalized sites (My Yahoo, My Lycos, etc.) and services (ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger). A
protected site may store a temporary identifier in a cookie after you successfully log in, indicating that you
are an authorized user. Browsers may be set up to either accept or reject cookies.
- DNS
- The letters D N S form the acronym for Domain Name System. The DNS is the hierarchical system by which
easy-to-remember, human-friendly names such as "bigbaer.com" are associated with Internet locations.
- email
- Mail that's electronically transmitted by your computer. Email is short for electronic mail.
- FAQ
- The letters F A Q form the acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. FAQ pages or files list commonly asked
questions and answers to relative subject matter.
- FTP
- File Transfer Protocol as indicated, is a method for transferring files over the Internet.
- Favorites
- Internet Explorer's bookmark list.
- hexadecimal
- Hexadecimal describes a base-16 number system. That is, it describes a numbering system containing 16
sequential numbers as base units (including 0) before adding a new position for the next number. The hexadecimal
numbers are 0-9 and then use the letters A-F.
- HTML
- An acronym for Hyper Text Markup Language. HTML is the authoring language that is used to create documents on
the World Wide Web.
- HTTP
- An acronym for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. HTTP is a formal communication method that transmits requests
and data between user agents or web browsers and Web servers. when you enter a URL in your browser,
this actually sends an HTTP command to the Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web
page.
- hyperlink
- A dynamic element in an electronic document or web page that links to another place in the same document or
to an entirely different document. Hyperlinks or simply "links", use the URL of a file or location to retrieve the content.
- ICANN
- The letters I C A N N form the acronym for the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN is the body that oversees basic technical matters related to the Internet.
ICANN's responsibilities include IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system
management, and root server system management
- link
- See hyperlink.
- login
- The account name used to gain access to a computer system or account. Login as a verb, is the act of
connecting to a computer account by supplying a username and password.
- search engine
- A search engine most commonly refers to an application designed to find requested information on the
Internet. Search engines can be used to find just about anything indexed on the Internet. Search engines can
locate names, images, music, documents, news and much more. Search engines are essential research tools. Learn
how to use search engines effectively by visiting The Basics of
Google Search.
- TLD
- The letters T L D form the acronym for Top Level Domain.TLDs are the names at the top of the
DNS naming hierarchy. They appear in domain names as the string of
letters following the last (rightmost) ".", such as "net" in "www.ismsound.net". The administrator for a TLD
controls what second-level names are recognized in that TLD. The administrators of the "root domain" or "root
zone" control what TLDs are recognized by the DNS. Commonly used TLDs include .com, .net, .edu, .jp, .de, .af
etc.
- URL
- Uniform Resource Locator is the term applied to Internet addresses. The acronym formed by the letters U R L
may be pronounced phonetically as "earl" or by individual letter. URLs typically have four parts: protocol type
(http), host domain name (www.melroseparklibrary.org), directory path (/), and file name (glossary.htm).
- user agent
- A user agent is a generic term for any program used for accessing a website. This includes graphical
browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Netscape or Opera), robots
and spiders, and any other software program that acts as an "agent" for a someone or something accessing Web
content.
- W3C
- Abbreviation for the World Wide Web Consortium, the organization that lists
coding and developmental recommendations for the web community. The term WEB STANDARDS in common usage,
generally refers to the W3C's recommended guidelines.
- WIPO
- The letters W I P O form the acronym for the World Intellectual Property
Organization. WIPO is an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland responsible for the
promotion of the protection of intellectual rights throughout the world. It is one of the 16 specialized agencies
of the United Nations system of organizations.
- World Wide Web
- The World Wide Web, or simply the Web, refers to a system of Internet servers that support documents
formatted using HTML. These documents or
webpages are served to any of the various web browsers using HTTP. Web pages
may contain graphics, movies, sound files or other hypermedia. Pages or content may be linked to other
pages or content using hyperlinks. You are navigating
the Web when you follow hyperlinks.
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