Glossary
A short list of words used on this site in relation to the internet (part 1):
- Address
-
Either the address of a user (usually a name, followed by '@' and some other bits, separated by dots) ... or the address ('URL') of an Internet site (usually preceded by 'http://...' or 'ftp://...'
- ANSI
-
American National Standards Institute. They approve standards in many areas -- including one of the computer character sets.
- Arc
-
A method of compressing files using PKARC. An out-of-date method, but there are still plenty of them about.
- Archie
-
One of the searching tools available, Archie searches for files available for FTP.
- ASCII
-
American Standard Code for Information Exchange. The lingua franca of the computer world, this simple set is all that can be reliably sent by e-mail. (Note: the '£' sign is NOT one of these!)
- Bandwidth
-
The amount of traffic in a newsgroup or conference. If there's a high bandwidth, there's a lot of mail!
- Baud
-
The speed of a modem. The figure is close to, but not the same as the number of bits per second that the modem will send or receive.
- BBS
-
Bulletin Board System
- Bit
-
The smallest unit of storage in a computer, this represents a single letter or character.
- BPS
-
Bits per second. The figures are bigger than Baud so BPS is much used in advertising.
- Blinking
-
Using an Off Line Reader to access an online system.
- Bookmark
-
A reference in your Web browser (or similar) to a site to which you may want to reconnect.
- Bounce
-
If the system cannot deliver your e-mail, it is 'bounced' back to you (if you are lucky!)
- Byte
-
A group of eight bits.
- CIS
-
(Or CI$). Compuserve, an American BBS. The '$' suggests that the system is expensive!
- CIX
-
A popular UK BBS -- or -- the Commercial Internet Exchange, an agreement among ISPs about the commercial use of the Internet.
- COIN
-
Christians On the INternet. An ever-so-friendly UK user group that is well worth joining and who helped publish this book :-)
- Conference
-
See Forum.
- Crash
-
A total system failure.
- Domain
-
Part of an Internet address
- Download
-
To collect a file from another computer to yours.
- Duplex
-
To send signals simultaneously to and from your computer.
-
Electronic Mail.
- Ethernet
-
A local area network system
- FAQ
-
Frequently Asked Questions. Can be found all over the Internet.
- Finger
-
A program that displays information on users and other things on a remote system.
- Flame
-
An abusive or personal attack on another user.
- FTP
-
File Transfer Protocol.
- Gopher
-
A system for exploring the Internet.
- Hacker
-
Someone who enjoys exploring computer systems. It doesn't always mean an illegal hacker, as the Press seem to think.
- Hayes
-
A modem manufacturer whose commands have become the standard.
- Header
-
Part of a mail packet that shows the source, destination and route. The 'envelope' of your message.
- HTML
-
HyperText Mark-up Language. The set of controls that produce smart WWW documents.
- HTTP
-
Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The method that the WWW uses to transfer those smart WWW documents.
- IRC
-
Internet Relay Chat. A sort of real-time conference.
- ISDN
-
Integrated Services Digital Network. The high-powered 'telephone' line used to connect servers to the Internet.
- ISP
-
Internet Service Provider. A commercial company which allows you to access the Internet.
Glossary J - Z
Return to Resources Index