Set 2 is a duplicate set that allows you to see two definitions simultaneously - read set
1 and choose links to see your second definition.
- bps (bits per second) - a bit is the smallest unit of information
that is transferred on the network so this refers to the rate
at which
information flows from computer to computer
- CGI (common gateway interface) - cgi scripts are programs written to
facilitate communication between a web site and the
server that hosts
the pages. For example, if we create a web site that has a
web form for
visitors to submit information, we will use a cgi script to process the
information submitted by a visitor and have the
server send it to us by email.
- database - a file or files that act as a storage center for information or "data".
The database is set
up to allow data to be drawn from it in an organized way. For example,
if you were a salesman, you might want to create a database of email
addresses for potential clients and then draw from this collection of
addresses using an application.
- domain - Just as your mailing
address, phone number, and social security number are specific
identifiers for you, a domain provides you with a specific identifier on
the Internet. This is why you must register a domain because the process
is carefully monitored so that each domain is only owned and used by one
individual or company. Domains do come with 3 letter extensions such as .com, .net , .org, .gov, .edu,
etc. If you started a company called "Smith's Construction Company" than
you might be interested in acquiring the domain "smithconstruction.com".
- download - when you receive information from another computer
- FTP (file transfer protocol) - provides the instructions for
moving files from one computer to another over the
Internet. For
instance, if I make changes to one of my web pages on my home computer,
I then need to transfer that file to the
server so that visitors who
access my site on the WWW will see the updated version. I use an FTP
application to send the file to the
server or host machine.
- gif (graphic interchange format) - one of the two common formats for
images displayed on web pages. These are limited to 256 colors and are
typically used for images that are not photographs.
- HTML (hypertext markup language) - this is the "code" or programming
language that is read and understood by a
web browser. When you develop
a web page, this is the set of instructions to tell the
browser what to
display and how to display it to visitors on the
WWW. HTML controls most of
what a visitor sees when they come to your web site.
- http (hypertext transfer protocol) - this is the set of rules that
control how web pages are accessed,
downloaded, and viewed on the
Internet.
- Internet - a world-wide
network of computers that allows information
to be transferred to and from computers that are linked to this
network.
- Intranet - a network of computers that is linked within an
organization. A large company might have hundreds of computers linked
together in a building to form a communication network within the
company. These computers
would probably also be linked to the larger global network (or
Internet).
- IP (Internet Protocol) address - an identifier for a computer or
device on the Internet.
Networks using the
TCP/IP protocol route
messages based on the IP address of the destination. The format of an IP
address is a numeric address written as four numbers separated by
periods. Each number can be zero to 255. For example, 1.160.10.240 could
be the IP address for http://www.smithconstruction.com.
All domains on the WWW are
really located by this numeric code that is normally "behind the
scenes".
- ISDN (integrated services digital network) - a high speed digital
phone line that allows a relatively fast flow rate of information
- ISP (internet service provider) - companies that offer access to the
main backbones of the Internet network.
Earthlink, AOL, Time Warner and others allow us to connect to the
internet and
communicate with other computers using phone lines, cable lines, satellite
links,
etc.
- JavaScript - scripts are little programs that can used to add
interactivity to a web site. They provide special instructions that make
the browser do special things. A common example is when you are on a web
page and your mouse cursor passes over an image and the image changes
into a different image. This "rollover" effect is possible because of
instructions written in a JavaScript.
- jpg (joint photographic experts group) - one of the two common
formats for images displayed on web pages. JPEG images can have millions
of colors and are typically used for photographs and complex images.
- modem - a device that allows computers to exchange information
through telephone or cable lines
- MySQL (SQL = structured query language) - a
database management
system. It is very fast and enables us to efficiently store, search,
sort, and retrieve data from your
database. A MySQL server controls
access to your data and allows multiple users to work with it
simultaneously and ensures that only authorized users can obtain access.
- network - when two or more computers are linked
(normally by cable) to allow
data to be transferred between them.
- packet - when you send and receive information from the
Internet,
the information is broken down into smaller pieces, called packets. Each
packet travels independently and may take a different path to reach its
destination. When the packets arrive at the destination, they are
reassembled.
- Perl - a programming language that is commonly used to write
CGI
scripts. We use a file written in Perl to process the
web forms on the web
sites we create
- php (php hypertext preprocessor) - an open source scripting language
designed specifically for the web. We use it to allow interaction
between the client, their web site, the
server, and the
database
- router - a device that regulates traffic on the
Internet and chooses
the most efficient path for each information
packet
- search engine - refers to a software application written to catalog
the vast resources of the WWW
and help users find the information that interests them
- server - computers that are set up to share files/information to
networks (either intranets or the
Internet). This allows visitors to
retrieve/download files from the machine. When you design a web site on
your home machine, you can view it but the problem is that no one else
can access your files. You need to move your files to a machine that
will "host" your pages and "serve" them to others on the
WWW.
- TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol) - this is a
language computers on the Internet use to communicate with each other.
TCP/IP divides information into
packets and sends the packet through the
network. When information arrives at its intended destination, TCP/IP
ensures that all the packets arrived safely.
- upload - when you send information to another computer
- URL (uniform resource locator) - a URL is your
Internet address.
Using the previous example in
domains, your URL would be "http://www.smithconstruction.com".
These addresses are registered on the
Internet and "route" or guide
internet users to the correct computers to get the information they are
looking for. Every URL is truly registered and known on the
Internet as
a string of numbers called an
IP address.
- web browser - this is a software application that retrieves, reads,
and displays web pages. The most commonly used browsers are Microsoft's
Internet Explorer and Netscape's Navigator/Communicator.
- web form - these are used to gather information from visitors to a
web site. If you have ever purchased anything "on-line" then you
certainly would remember typing all your information into boxes and
selecting information from drop-down menus. This is an example of a web
form. When you clicked the "submit" button, this information was sent to
the server and processed so that the business would receive this
information.
- WWW (World Wide Web) - this refers to part of the
Internet. The
"Web" consists of a vast collection of documents stored on computers
around the world.
Some of these terms are discussed in more detail in our FAQ section. |