Home

About Us

Consultancy

eBusiness

Training

Contact Us

 Home >> Tips-Tools-Links >> Beat the Jargon

 << Previous Page

Beat The Jargon

Beat the Jargon - Look up or click link for explanation

Please ensure you read our Disclaimer before selecting any links - Click Here

Beat the Jargon is provided to help out the newer users of PC's, the Internet, and this web-site. This page is more of a site glossary than a comprehensive technical reference point. If you are unable to find the required explanation below, we suggest you use the highly recommended CMPNet Tech Encyclopedia - Click Here

Address - a specific site (web address) or e-mail (e-mail address) on the Internet

Adware - generally free software that contains advertising, which can be in the form of banners, pop-ups or  spyware parasites that "phone home" when connected to the Internet.

Anonymous FTP - Anonymous FTP is a method of using the Internet FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to access publicly available files without identifying yourself.

Applet - small application transmitted from a web-site to run on your PC/ computer

API - Application Programming Interface - usually a file or set of files, with a published interface, that let third party vendors interact with the software application.

Archie - a database search method for finding files stored on Anonymous FTP sites

Archive - the storage of files, often compressed into one storage area/file

ARPANet - Advanced Research Projects Agency Network - The precursor to the Internet. 

ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange - This is the world-wide standard for the code numbers used by computers to represent all the upper and lower-case Latin letters, numbers, and punctuation.

ASP - Application Service Provider (ASP) - provides a software application and hosting as a one stop solution for your requirements.

  OR

ASP - Active Server Pages (ASP) - Microsoft web server functionality that provides special effects to web pages

Attachments - files that can accompany your E-mail (electronic mail)

Authentication - is the process of verifying a person's identity, especially when related to certain rights or privileges on the Internet.  For example systems can be made to authenticate the source of software to the author of that software - certificates of authentication are often issued by Verisign or Thwarte.

Autoexec - Trading style of Exec Express Ltd - Member of FleetNet (UK) - providing IT Management Solutions and Consultancy, including e-commerce applications, recruitment, and project management to the Automotive industry.

    OR

autoexec - Disk Operating System (DOS) command

AVI - Audio VIdeo - Microsoft's standard for reading video files in Windows.

B2B - Business to Business Internet web-site or service.

B2C - Business to Consumer Internet web-site or service.

B2G - Business to Government Internet web-site or service

Backbone - the primary computer link that carries the traffic of the Internet

Backup - a copy of your data file(s) - using floppy disk, cassette tape or cartridge.

Bandwidth - capacity or measurement of the amount of data that can be sent through a particular system connection at any one time. Generally, bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps).

Banner - graphic image on a web-site that advertises goods or services for that web site or another web site.  Generally, visitors to the site can click on the banner graphic in order to visit another web site or web page associated with that service.

Baud - unit of measure for a Modem data transmission in bits per second.

BIOS - Basic Input Output System - located in a chip on the Motherboard - and interacts with the operating system (eg windows).

BIT - Binary DigIT - smallest unit of computerised data. A bit is either a binary1 or a binary 0 (zero).

BitMap - Bitmapped graphic - pixel-based graphic, a PC image format (BMP)

Bluetooth - associated with mobile wireless comminications - wireless personal area network (PAN) technology, see www.bluetooth.com an open standard for short-range transmissions of digital voice and data between mobile devices (laptops, phones etc.)

Boolean Search - a keyword search that uses "Boolean Operators" - and, or,not,near.

Bps - Bits Per Second - measurement of speed with which data is moved from one location to another.

Bricks and Mortar - traditional trading company with a physical presence

Browser - Browser software (application/tool) provides users of the Internet access to view and interact with various types of information on the Internet.  Tools such as Web browsers make use of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to communicate with computer servers (WPP's - Web Presence Providers) on the Internet, allowing users to access and on-line services.

Browser side - application running on a user's Web Browser

Byte - set of bits (usually eight in number) that represent a single character.

C2B - Consumer to business Web-site or service

C2C - Consumer to Consumer web-site or service

Cascading Style Sheets - CSS - web-site pages can be created in style sheets that define elements such as headers, fonts and links are displayed. Not supported by older web-browsers.

CBT - Computer Based Training - user training with software application and interaction

ccTLD - country code (cc) Top Level Domain (TLD) - a standardised two character abbreviation for a country and a Top Level Domain.

CD Rom - disc which can store up to 650Mb of data (Floppy disc 1.44Mb).

CD Rom drive - plays both audio and data CD's, most software is now installed from the CD Rom drive

CGI - Common Gateway Interface - CGI acts as an interface between web pages and applications on the host computer.

CGI-bin - the directory on a Web Server where the CGI Scripts are stored.

CGI Script - small program that can, for example, take data from a Web server and produce the information in the form of E-mail (electronic mail).

Clicks and Mortar - traditional company with additional web presence/ web trading

Client - the Client, can be a Web Browser, requests information from a server and the responds with information back to the Client - a Client/Server inter-action or relationship.

Client/Server - best describes a process that allows most Internet functions. Day to day examples being E-mail software and E-mail servers, or Web Browsers and Web Servers.

Click Through - also Click Thru' - an Internet advertising term, generally associated with banner advertising and associated links. The user clicks on the banner or link and re-directs to the destination web page.

Compression - the squeezing of files to either save space or time for transmission of data 

Cookies - delivered and sits on web user's PC's hard drive and often used to save information about web-site visitors, data could be updated by every visit to the site.

Country Code - the standardised 2-character abbreviation for a country - such as uk for United Kingdom. The domain .co.uk is a Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

CPU - Central Processing Unit - the processing elements of a PC or computer

Cyberspace - the "metaphysical environment" that is the Internet.

Cybersquatter - an individual or corporate that has registered commercially viable Domain Names with no intent to use, and with a view to profit from their sale.

Decryption - process of converting data into a format that can only be understood by a user with the key to decipher it. process of deciphering E-mail information that has been encrypted by the sender.

DHTML - Dynamic HTML - Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language DHTML pages generally contain HTML, JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets.

Digital Cash - the currency of the Internet, also known as e-cash (electronic cash)

Digital Certificate - a computer file issued by a TTP (Trusted Third Party) containing the terms for opening and authenticating of an electronic message (download of program etc).

Digital Signature - mechanism for an electronic message that assures the recipient that the message is authentic, it checks that the message has been sent by the sender.

DNS Lookup - to enter a Domain Name in order to determine the IP Address that the Domain Name represents.

DNS - Domain Name System - the connection of Host Servers/Domain Name Servers to provide the ever-growing database for Domain Names

DNS Administrator - those that are responsible for creating, maintaining and updating zone file records on the Domain Name System.

DOM - Document Object Model -  specification for how web page objects (text, images etc) are displayed.

Domain Name - a unique alpha-numeric name which represents a particular IP Address of a computer on the Internet, for example www.e-exec.co.uk could be 123.254.523.32

Domain Name Server - responsible for storing and/or distributing zone file information on the Internet.  Connecting to a web-site on the Internet using your Browser involves name servers on the Internet communicating and translating Domain Names to the corresponding IP Address.

DOS - Disk Operating System - updated to Windows operating systems.

Dot Address - another term used to describe an IP Address, in which a numerical web address is delimited by four sets of numbers, each ranging between 0 and 255, separated by dots.

Dot Com or .com - more commonly used reference to Dot Com Companies, for example Amazon.com, Lastminute.com

Download - to copy a file from an Internet computer "down" to a user's PC, eg to buy software on the Internet. To send files to an Internet computer would be to "Upload", eg to publish your web-site.

dpi - Dots Per Inch - the measurement of scanned and printed images.

Driver - software that "drives" a peripheral such as a printer. Install the driver software and the operating system (eg windows 98) interacts with the peripheral via the river software.

DSL - Digital Subscriber Line - fast broadband (bandwidth) connection to Internet, faster than traditional modems and ISDN.

DVD - Digital Video Disc - ability to store large amounts of data on one disc, and has excellent sound and image (picture) quality.

e-exec - Trading style of Exec Express Ltd - IT and Management Consultancy to provide web site-design, e-commerce, training, data protection, security, insuranc-e.

e-engineering - Trading style of Exec Express Ltd - the bringing together of re-engineering and e-commerce. Business Solutions as either add-ons to current processes or as a revision of business processes and applications.

E-mail, Email, e-mail, email - electronic mail process of sending text messages and attached files from one Internet user to another Internet user. 

Electronic Mail Protocols - POP3 and SMTP are the common protocols used for sending and receiving electronic mail (E-mail, Email., e-mail, email).

Email Forwarding
Email forwarding is a service offered by most ISPs and E-mail services that allows E-mail sent to one E-mail address to be redirected to another E-mail address.

Encryption - process of converting data into a format that can only be understood by a user with the key to decipher it. The process of deciphering the information by the recipient is called decryption.

ETV - Enhanced Television - ETV users have the functionality to send and receive e-mails, and browse the Internet via their TV and associated keyboard.

Extranet - a private computer network, connecting communications with selected partners, eg large customers or suppliers.

FAQ - Web-site popular terminology for Frequently Asked Questions.

File Extension - the suffix after the dot, designates a file type - for example .doc is a Word Document, .xls for an Excel Spreadsheet.

Firewall - generally a software application and hardware configuration to provide a secure barrier to intrusive attempts to enter a network or a computer connected to the Internet. Used to prevent virus and hacker attack.

Form - a client side web page area that users can enter data. Data capture and action can be handled by HTML, CGI Scripts or Java Scripts.

Forward DNS lookup - process by which an Internet user queries a Domain Name to map it to the IP Address that it represents.

Freeware - software that is distributed free of charge, may have an expiry time or number of usages, watch out for privacy issues - Spyware may be included to relate information about your PC or your movements on the Internet back to the Freeware supplier.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - a standard Internet protocol that uses TCP/IP protocol to transfer files or programs from one computer on the Internet to another. Often used to upload or transfer web-site files and images.

Gateway - hardware or software configuration that translates one protocol to another.

Gb - Gigabyte - 1000 megabytes

gif - Graphic Interchange Format, file types for images often used for web-sites.

Gigabyte - 1Gb = 1000 megabytes

gTLD - generic (global) Top Level Domain. These TLDs are not country specific and can be registered internationally.

GUI - Graphical User Interface - front-end (user) software which is used to provide a more attractive / easy-to-use interface between a user and application via the use of graphics on screen.

Hard Disk - high capacity storage device within your PC - stores software applications, programs, and data files - normally measured in Gigabytes (Gb)

Hard Drive - see Hard Disk above

Hit or Hits - terminology used for each instance of an Internet user requesting a file from an Internet Web Server. To count your hits, for example, if a web page has three images, the accessing of that page by the Internet user will count as four hits (the Web Page HTML file + 3 image files).

Home Page - Web-site first page or often labeled the index page.

Host - term used for a computer connected to the Internet that has access to send and receive queries to and from other computers, eg a Web Server

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - a language used for creating web pages.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - protocol, or method, of transferring hypertext files.

Hyperlink - name for process of using HTML to provide a link to other HTML code or location eg from one place on a page to another place on another page - clicking on a link typically allows the user to access other relevant information.

Hypertext - web based document that contains links to other documents

ICANN - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Icon - small graphic image that represents a program or a pictorial prompt for a shortcut to a process.

Image Map - clickable graphic image on a web page that is divided into zones or regions, each zone may be linked to a different link/URL.

Impression - term used to describe a page view on a web-site. The hit describes a request for a file on a web page, an impression describes an instance of a visitor viewing the whole page. Information about impressions is used to determine the number of visitors that are coming to a particular web site.

Index Page - another name for the Home Page, particularly in Microsoft FrontPage.

Infrared - use of infrared beams to exchange data between two infrared ports, example being mobile phone to Laptop PC.

Internet - a worldwide network of computers, connected and communicating via telecommunications technology.

Internet Address - normally referred to as a Web Address or URL.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) - a provider of Internet access, often provides E-mail services and can provide web hosting services. However commonly mistaken as the two services being provided by the one provider. See also Web Presence Provider (WPP).

InterNIC - Internet Network Information Center (USA)

Intranet - a private computer network, within one company, for internal use.

IP - Internet Protocol, method, of transporting data from one computer to another over the Internet.

IP Address - IP (Internet Protocol) Address, or IP Number - a numerical web address is defined by four sets of numbers, each ranging between 0 and 255, separated by dots, for example www.e-exec.co.uk could be 123.254.523.32

IP Number - See IP Address above

IRC - Internet Relay Chat - live chat area of the Internet, real time communications can take place in "virtual rooms" or channels.

ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network - moves more data using existing infrastructure. Can achieve speeds of 128,000 bps, usually operated at 64,000 bps. Current standard modem speed 56,000 bps

ISP - Internet Service Provider (See above)

ITV - Interactive Television - combination of traditional TV and Internet technology, potentially allowing viewers to order products on-screen during an advert. 

Java - specialised, cross-platform object-oriented programming language, often used within web-sites.

Java Applet - small program that can be returned to a user via a Web Browser, designed to perform simple functions, without having to initiate a subsequent request to the web server.

JavaScript - program actions written using Java (See above) - scripting language that can be used to incorporate interactivity into a web page. Can also interact with HTML and user input.

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group, a compressed graphic format, images (.jpg is the file extension). Popular graphics format on the web because of file size/image quality.

jpg - see JPEG above.

Jumps or Jumps from the Backbone - number of connections to the main Super Highway of the Internet.

Kb - Kilobyte, a measure of application or file sizes, 1,000 bytes

Kilobyte - 1,000 bytes

LAN - Local Area Network, computers connected over an immediate area, ie same building.

Link - connection between an image or text on one web-site page and another page of that web-site or another web-site's page entirely.

LiveScript - refer to JScript or JavaScript (See Above)

Macro - a tool to set up a chain of mini-programmed commands/actions that executes from setting the macro to run.

Marquee Component - a web-site scrolling area

Mb - Megabyte - 1 million bytes

Megabyte - 1Mb = 1,000,000 bytes.

Memory - the PC's temporary storage area, se  also RAM (Random Access Memory)

META tag - HTML tag that can carry information about a web page, that is not seen by the end user through their Web Browser.

MHz - Megahertz - measure of a frequency of a timing signal that is equal to 1,000,000 cycles per second. PC Processor's are measured in MHz.

MIME - Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions - a standard for attaching non-text files to standard Internet mail messages.

Modem - MOdulator DEModulator - a hardware device connected to a PC or computer that uses the phone line to communicate with other computers.

Motherboard - the principle electronic circuit board in your PC.

MP3 - MPEG Layer 3 - compression of digital sound, reducing file sizes for sound, download and hard disc requirements. 

MPEG - a file format for graphics which creates an displays motion video clips.

Multi-engine Search -search engine function that uses the results from a collection of other search engine results.

Name Server - another name for a Domain Name Server. (See above)

Network - interconnected computers and/or other network devices that can all communicate with one another.

Newbies - New Internet Users - Internet beginners.

NNTP - Network News Transport protocol - protocol for newsgroups on a TCP/IP network.

Nominet - the National Registry for all Domain Names ending in UK.

Node - any single computer attached to a network.

Nslookup - or DNS lookup - to enter a Domain Name in order to determine the IP Address that the Domain Name represents.

On-Line - provision of "now" time activities on the Internet eg on-line shopping

Operating System - the software that is the control for the actions of the PC and peripheral hardware (screens, printers etc), Examples being Windows 95, 98 or 2000.

OpenSite - market leading on-line auction software application/solution

OS - operating System - software loaded into a computer's memory.

Packet - a small data package used in transmitting information on the Internet from the source to the destination.

Pentium - brand name for computer chip processor produced by Intel - for example designated as PIII  - a Pentium three processor.

Ping - a diagnostic utility used to determine that the computer at the IP Address or domain name being queried is active or functioning correctly.

Pixel - Formed from the words Picture Element. Image resolution is measured in the number of pixels vertically and horizontally.

PKI - Public Key Infrastructure - policies and procedures to support a secure method for exchanging information. This can include Digital Certification, Digital Signatures Firewalls etc.

Plug-in - additional software which enhances features on larger softwares.

POP - Post Office Protocol (E-mail)

POP3 - is the name of a method for retrieving E-mail (electronic mail) from the Internet. Email is stored on a mail server until a user connects to the mail server with an E-mail program to retrieve the E-mail.  SMTP is the protocol commonly used for sending mail, POP is the method commonly used for retrieving mail.  POP3 is the third version of Post Office Protocol.

Portal - a web site that acts as a directory, information point and/or collection of links. often derives revenues from advertising or click throughs.

Postmaster - the Postmaster is typically an individual responsible for administering electronic mail accounts on a mail server with the ability to establish user names and passwords and set account defaults and preferences.

Processor - processes the tasks or actions of your PC - the faster the better! Example being 450 MHz.

Propagation - the process of time required for some actions on the Internet, such as Domain Name or Web Space creation to propagate throughout the Internet's Root Servers

Protocol - set of standards or rules that state how data is to be communicated.

Query strings - provides a means of transmitting command-line arguments

QuickTime - Apple computers video format for AppleMac 

Ranking - search engine list of sites in order of relevance to the search. 

RAM - Random Access Memory - PC's temporary storage area, too little available can "choke" the PC or application - the more RAM the more your PC can cope with.

Real Time - Live inter-action on a system or the Internet.

Refresh rate - the image on your screen is constantly redrawn, from top to bottom. This process occurs many times per second and is measured in Hertz (Hz)

Registrant - the individual or organisation to whom a specific domain name is registered with a Registry Once the registrant has registered the domain name, paid the associated fees and met the required conditions, the individual or organisation holds the domain name for use for a specific period of time and can use the domain name for such purposes as web hosting and E-mail.

Registrar - an organisation or company that is either authorised by a registry authority or is authorised by its respective government to register Domain Names.  A registrar must also be authorised by the proper registry to act as an agent of the registry to process domain name registration. The registrar also has the responsibility to create and maintain a WHOIS database containing contact information associated with the domain name.

Registry - probably a regional organisation or entity that is responsible for assigning Domain Names and Internet Addresses and is generally under contract from its respective government to control the registration of Domain Names.

Reverse DNS Lookup -  process by which an Internet user queries an IP Address to map it to the Domain Name that is associated with it.  See also DNS Lookup.

Resolution - the measurement of the number of picture pixels that are displayed on your monitor screen. The higher the number of pixels, the sharper the image.

Root Domain - the top of the hierarchy of the Domain Name.

Root Server - a computer that is the top of the hierarchy for that network or application.

Scanner - peripheral device that converts photo images an text into an electronic digital format. PC software can then interpret the image.

Script Language - simple programming language with that enables the writing of scripts. For example: Perl Scripts  - run at the server, or JavaScript - run at the browser.

Search Engine - a web-site / program tool for finding words or phrases on the Internet.

Security Certificate - a digital identification sequence that allows for identity verification or web-sites security verification on the Internet. 

Server - a computer that provides resources to other computers.

Server Side - an application or process that runs on a server.

Shareware - software that can normally be used for a trial period of say 14 days , the software expires or full payment has to be made.

Simple Text - simple Apple Macintosh-based text editor.

SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a protocol that is used for sending E-mail on the Internet. More often used in conjunction with POP (Post Office Protocol), the method commonly used for retrieving electronic mail from a mail server on the Internet. Most email programs allow you to specify both an SMTP and POP server. Access to or the name of an SMTP server is typically provided by an ISP.

Splash page - initial introductory page to a web-site, can be the Home Page.

SSL - SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is an Internet protocol that provides users using HTTP with the ability to secure the transmission of information on the Internet between the client (Internet User using a Web Browser) and the server - for example credit card transactions - look out for the "padlock" in the bottom right hand corner of your screen.

Streaming Media - data transfer technique, that processes information in a controlled, continuous stream.

Subdomain - a level of division of the Domain Name space.

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is the name of the language, or protocol, used for Internet communications.  This protocol establishes the way that data is transported over the Internet in the form of packets.

Telnet - command/program used to login from one Internet site to another.

Terabyte - 1,000 Gigabytes

TLD - Top Level Domain - See below

Top Level Domain (TLD) - the highest-level category of Internet names.  Domain names are normally registered within a Top Level Domain (TLD). Look out for Virtual Domain Names ( low price or free), - often remain the property of the registering organisation.

TTP - Trusted Third Party - an organisation that issues digital certificates, eg Verisign.

Twain - Technology Without An Important Name - a standard for communication between your PC and a Scanner.

UNIX - operating system for computers, which has TCP/IP built in.

URL - Uniform Resource Locator - an address that locates a file on the Internet.

URL Forwarding - allows users to link or redirect their registered Domain Name to an existing web-site that has another URL address.

USB - Universal Serial Bus - USB ports are a standard connection for peripherals, such as scanners, printers etc.

USENET - world wide connection/system of discussion groups/newsgroups

Verisign - an organisation based in USA, that provides authentication certificates for software and applications delivered by on-line downloads from the Internet

Video Communications - applications and solutions using the Internet to provide visual means of communication for speech and viewing. Can be used for meetings, cutting traveling time and remote inspections of processes or products.

Video Compression - reduction of video file sizes, saving hard disk space, and enabling faster transmission of the file for downloads etc.

Virus - generally a program that runs to corrupt or destroy data on a user's PC.

Vortal - a portal style site with vertical trading/transaction links.

W3 - World Wide Web (see below)

WAN - Wide Area Network - geographically spread computers all part of the same system.

WAP - Wireless Application Protocol - standard for providing cellular phones an pagers with access to the Internet eg text based web pages and e-mails.

Wav - sound files for Windows operating system

Web Browser- software program used to view, search and send/receive files on the world wide web /Internet. Commonly used web browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. For more information and tools click here.

Web Presence Provider - provider of computer space (web server) that hosts a web-site. does not need to be an ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Web Server - computer that hosts a web-sites and applications, operated by a WPP (Web Presence Provider) or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Web Site - pages or files hosted on a web server, or a directory of a web server. Can be portray a corporate image, provide information, provide links, add value to a business process, an additional revenue stream or primary revenue generator.

Webmaster - the individual or organisation responsible for creating and/or maintaining a web-site. Some say there are no Webmasters - only Webslaves!!!!!

Webminder - See above - Webmaster.

Web Space - amount of computer disk space allocated to your web-site

Wizard - a step by step help guide to a process or task.

WML - Wireless Markup Language - WAP technology version of HTML.

World Wide Web - generally considered to be the group of users and web servers that use hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to send and receive information over the Internet.

WPP - Web Presence Provider - See above.

www - World Wide Web - See above.

WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get - a name for a software application that is capable of producing on your screen the appearance of how it was created.

XML - Extensible Markup Language, an emerging program language for the Internet and e-commerce applications.

xUser - a Unix account name.

xGroup - a Unix group name.

Yahoo - a leading search engine and emerging as a portal for information

Yahoo.com - See above

Yahooligans - younger persons who use a Yahoo web-site!!

Zero margins - recognised by Internet Explorer 4.0+ (Netscape 4.0 sets own defaults)

ZIP Files - compressed file format used on PC's.

Zone - a piece of the total Domain Name space that is represented by a primary and secondary Domain Name Server (DNS).

Go to Top of Page

 Telephone: +44 (0)20 8845 5962   e-mail: info@e-exec.co.uk 

[ Home ] [ About Us ] [ Consultancy ] [ eBusiness ] [ Training ] [ Contact Us ] 

[ Site Search ] [ Web Site Guide ] [ Tips and Tools ] [ Legal Notices ] [ Terms of Use ] [ Privacy Policy ]