Internet Terminology

Address Unique location of a person or computer on the Internet. Communication on the Internet requires an address.

Browser Software program used to move through (browse or navigate) the World Wide Web. Examples are Netscape navigator and Microsoft Explorer.

Baud Way of measuring transmission speed.

Download Transfer of an electronic document, file, graphic, etc., from a host system to another computer.

E-mail Electronic mail transferred over a computer network. (Much faster than snail mail, netspeak for traditional mail).

FAQ Frequently asked question(s).

FTP File Transfer Protocol, referring to a system used to transfer files (software, text and graphics) between computers over the Internet.

GIF Graphic Interchange Format, the most common format used for graphics on the Internet.

Gopher Text-based menu system used to search for information.

Home page Main document and display on the World Wide Web.

HTML Hypertext Markup Language used or creating World Wide Web documents.

Internet Cyberspace or the realm of information in the on-line universe of interconnected computer networks. Originally developed by the U.S. government, the Internet is now controlled and operated by private, for-profit companies.

Log on Process of linking your computer to the Internet.

Hotlist A feature on many WWW sites that maintain a list of frequently accessed URLs.

Hyperlink or Hypertext Highlighted text on a Web page that help you link to a related site.

Mailing lists Way to send e-mail automatically to many people on a regular basis. Most are organized around an area of interest.

MPEG Type of video file requiring a special external player to view.

Netiquette Net etiquette, typically unwritten rules for communicating with others on the Internet, i.e., typing something in all caps is the same as shouting.

Newsgroups Discussion forums organized around a particular interest, issue or activity. Can be used to share expertise, views and information, and debate issues.

Protocol The first part of a URL that references the type of Internet tool to be accessed by the URL, i.e., FTP, gopher or http.

Search Service that helps you locate files scattered across the Internet, when you enter the engine name or key words. Popular ones include Yahoo, Lycos, and Alta Vista.

Server Synonymous with host, it is a computer system that provides information over a network.

Upload Transfer of information from a computer to a host system.

URL Uniform Resource Locator, the location of a host system, containing a prefix like http, FTP, or gopher, followed by an Internet address.

World Wide Web Collection of hyper linked information, called web pages, across cyberspace, which Web provides for rapid access to information, graphics, videos, animation and sound on the Internet.