Glossary of Internet terms
applet:
a program that can be downloaded over a network and launched on a user's computer.
ASCII:
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII files are also called plain text files.
active server page (ASP):
a specification for a webpage that is dynamically created by the web server and contains both HTML and scripting code. With ASP, programs can be run on a web server in a similar way to cgi scripts, but ASP uses the ActiveX scripting engine to support either VBScript or Jscript.
application:
a program that helps the user accomplish a specific task; for example, a word processing program, a spreadsheet program or an FTP client. Application programs are distinguished from system programs, which control the computer and run the application programs; and utilities, which are small helper programs.
application service provider (ASP):
a company that deploys, hosts, manages and rents access to an application.
AU (.au):
common format for UNIX audio files.
autoresponder:
a program that instantly and automatically sends a prewritten response to all emails received.
bandwidth:
a measurement of the amount of information that can be transmitted over a network at a given time.
bookmark:
a pointer to a given website. Customers might bookmark your site so they may easily return.
browser:
a program that allows users to view webpages. Examples are Internet Explorer and Netscape.
cache:
where computer memory is stored.
cgi:
common gateway interface. Allows programs to run on a web server. Cgi scripts are used to put the content of a form into an email message, to perform a database query, or to generate HTML pages.
CLEC:
competitive local exchange converter.
ColdFusion:
web application server. ColdFusion is a server-side scripting language web development tool. It uses HTML-like tags called CFML to enable back-end ODBC database connectivity as well as data manipulation and validation within webpages.
Control Center:
a web-based management interface for your Affinity account and a portal for centralizing your personal and business information. You can manage your email settings, access and modify account and billing information, order services, and access website development tools. You can also manage your personal and business email lists, calendars, address books, and bookmarks.
cookie:
a file that is written to your hard drive when you access a webpage. Often used to glean information about visitors to the site.
CyberCash:
electronic cash; a way of transferring funds in online transactions.
daemon:
a UNIX program that runs continuously in the background, until it is activated by a particular event. This word is often used to refer to programs that handle email.
data transfer rate:
The speed at which data can be transferred. Measured in kilobytes per second for a CD-ROM drive, in bits per second for a modem, and in megabytes per second for a hard drive.
dedicated:
belonging to only one user. For example, a dedicated IP address is a type of account from an ISP where your computer(s) are assigned the same IP address at all times. A dedicated line is a phone line used only to connect to the Internet, rather than one shared by a modem and a phone.
disk space:
the amount of storage space you can use for storing HTML and graphics files, email messages, programs, scripts and other files that make up your website.
DNS:
Domain Name System. A database system that translates an IP address into a Domain Name. For example, a numeric address like 232.452.120.54 can become something like mycompany.com.
domain:
the name of a company, organization or person's Internet connection, which then becomes part of their web address. For instance, in johndoe@abc.com, "abc" is the domain name.
download:
transferring a file to your computer from another computer.
e-commerce:
electronic commerce; the use of computers and electronic communications in business transactions.
e-mail:
electronic mail sent over the Internet.
FAQ:
frequently asked questions.
FrontPage®:
a website creation and management tool from Microsoft - not supported on our servers.
FTP:
file transfer protocol. The main method for transferring files over the Internet.
GB:
giga byte; 1,024 megabytes or 1 billion characters of information.
gif:
graphic image format. Type of image file.
Gopher:
A document retrieval system from the University of Minnesota. Gopher sites cannot be accessed through the web.
hit:
a visit to a website. Every time someone clicks onto your website, it is counted as a hit.
home page:
the first page people should see on your website.
host:
a company, like Affinity, that provides the hardware, software and communications lines for websites "owned" by other people or companies.
HTML:
HyperText Markup Language. Coding used to format text for use on the World Wide Web.
HTTP:
HyperText Transport Protocol. The transmission standard used to send HTML documents across the web.
hyperlink:
a link in an HTML document that leads to another World Wide Website, or another place within the same document.
hypertext:
a block of text, usually underlined, or a graphic used to link documents. When a user clicks on it, he or she is instantly redirected to another document.
IMAP:
Internet Mail (or Message) Access Protocol. Through IMAP the user can create, delete, or rename mailboxes; get new messages; delete messages; and perform search functions on mail. A separate protocol is required for sending mail.
InterNIC:
Internet Network Information Center. A group of three organizations which together provide services for NSFNet. General Atomics handles information services, AT&T handles directory and database services, and Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) handles registration services. Network addresses and Domain Names for the Internet are assigned by InterNIC through NSI.
ISP:
Internet service provider.
IP address:
The Internet Protocol address; a numeric address such as 123.231.32.2 that the Domain Name server translates into a Domain Name.
Java:
a cross-platform programming language from Sun Microsystems that can be used to create animation and interactive features on webpages.
JavaScript:
a cross-platform web scripting language from Netscape Communications, very popular because it is simple and easy to learn.
JPEG:
Joint Photographic Experts Group. A format for storing high-quality color and grayscale photographs in bitmap form. JPEG files end in .jpg.
link:
a pointer in an HTML document that leads to another World Wide Website, or to another place within the same document; also called a hyperlink. A link is activated by clicking on it.
MB:
megabyte; 1,048,576 bytes or 1,024 kilobytes. Used to measure computer memory. Sometimes used to mean 1 million bytes or 1,024,000 bytes (1,000 kilobytes).
mirror site:
a duplicate of a busy archive site, which is maintained in order to reduce the load on the source site and to speed up access for users close to the mirror site.
MySQL:
a client/server implementation that consists of a server daemon mysqld and many different client programs and libraries. The main goals of MySQL are speed, robustness and ease of use.
PERL:
a general-purpose programming language.
PGP:
Pretty Good Privacy. An encryption program that allows users to exchange files and messages, with both privacy and authentication, over all kinds of networks. The messages are unreadable unless the receiver has an encryption key.
portal:
a gateway to the Internet, which may be a search engine or directory webpage. Examples are Infoseek, Excite, Yahoo! and Lycos.
protocol:
a set of rules that regulate the way data is transmitted between computers.
real time:
occurring immediately.
server:
The computer in a client/server architecture that supplies files or services. The computer that requests services is called the client. The client may request file transfer, remote logins, printing or other available services.
shopping cart:
Shopping cart software acts as an online store's catalog and ordering process. Typically, it allows consumers to browse the website; select items for purchase as they browse; review what they have selected; make necessary modifications or additions; and purchase the merchandise.
spam:
the electronic equivalent of junk mail.
SQL:
Structured Query Language (pronounced SQL or Sequel). A language used to create, maintain and query relational databases. It is an ISO and ANSI standard. SQL uses regular English words for many of its commands, which makes it easy to use. It is often embedded within other programming languages.
SSL:
Secure Sockets Layer. A protocol from Netscape Communications Corp. designed to provide secure communications on the Internet.
T1:
A telephone line connection for digital transmission that can handle 24 voice or data channels at 64 kilobits per second, over two twisted pair wires. T1 lines are used for heavy telephone traffic, or for computer networks linked directly to the Internet.
T3:
A connection made up of 28 T1 carriers, used to transmit digital signals on fiber-optic cable at 44.736 megabits per second.T3 can handle 672 voice conversations or one video channel. The T3 line has enough bandwidth to transmit full-motion real-time video, and very large databases over a busy network.
UNIX:
A multi-user, multitasking operating system originally licensed by AT&T's Bell Laboratories. It was originally designed for minicomputers, then revised for use on mainframes and personal computers.
upload:
transferring a file from your computer to another computer.
UPS:
Uninterruptible Power Supply. A backup power supply that works when electrical power to the computer is interrupted.
URL:
universal resource locator; a web address, such as www.yourcompany.com, that connects a computer user to a site.
virtual hosting:
the ability of a single machine to act like multiple systems, hosting more than one domain.
visitor:
a person who views your website; also known as a user.
warez:
software that is illegally made available, for example on an FTP or Telnet site, by software pirates.
Need help quick?
We have compiled some helpful tutorials to get you set-up quickly and easily.
- Setting up FTP clients to upload files to your web space:
- Setting up your e-mail client: