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Are you rattled with all technical terms when surfing the net? Feeling at sea while using the computer? Don’t get thrown off the tracks by the range and complexity of the words or acronyms. Just you need to catch up with the netizens and participate with confidence in the netiquette. Here is your web-lexicon that puts you on par with netizens by informing and guiding you through those unsure moments.
Application - Commonly denotes software application. It is a program that performs a function directly for a user. Microsoft Excel and Word are software applications. FTP and Telnet clients are examples of network applications.
Authentication - In network security, the verification of the identity of a person or process.
Backbone - The structural core of the network, which connects all the components of the network so that communication can occur.
Bandwidth - The rated throughput capacity of a given network medium or protocol.
Binary - A numbering system characterized by ones and zeros (1=on; 0=off)
Bit - A binary digit used in the binary numbering system. Can be zero or one.
Bits per second – A rate of speed to measure the transfer rate during data transmission.
Byte - A series of consecutive binary digits that are operated on as a unit. For example, 8 bits make one byte.
Client - A node or software program (front-end device) that requests services from a server.
Client/Server - The architecture of the relationship between a workstation and a server in a network.
Client/Server Application - An application that is stored centrally on a server and accessed by workstations, thus making it easy to maintain and protect.
Client/Server Computing - Distributed computing (processing) network systems in which transaction responsibilities are divided into two parts: Client (front end) and server (back end). Both terms (client and server) can be applied to software programs or actual computing devices.
Cyberspace - The virtual world created when people exchange or organize information electronically. To communicate with someone via cyberspace, I could send e-mail, post to a newsgroup, or set up a homepage.
Cyber squatter - A type of hacker who squats in a website without authorization and holds up normal operations.
Download - Transferring of information or files from a website to your computer.
E-mail - Electronic mail is done via computers. It’s a fast way to communicate on the internet. If you know someone’s email address, you can get a message to them in minutes no matter if they are across the country or across the world.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
It lists out most asked questions and their answers about a particular topic aiming to clear doubts and inform people.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol
The most popular protocol for transferring files on the Internet. On UNIX systems, the program that does this is named ‘ftp’. Zip files used on PCs require binary mode transfers; just type ‘bin’ at the ftp prompt once you are connected.
Firewall - A router or an access server designated as a buffer between any connected public networks and a private network. It protects from virus or hackers that may be detrimental to the network and data security.
Gopher - A menu-based information retrieval system that allows you to locate and retrieve information on the internet.
GUI - Graphic User Interface
It is a user environment that uses pictorial as well as textual representation of the input and output of applications. Conventions such as buttons, icons, and windows are typical, and many actions are performed using a pointing device such as a mouse. GUI is easy to learn and use. Microsoft Windows is an example of platform utilizing GUI.
Hacker - An evil genius of a computer professional who wantonly breaks into computer networks or defaces websites either for showing his prowess or for fun or works for someone inimical to your organisation so as to result in detrimental effects.
HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol
The protocol used by Web browsers and Web servers to transfer files, such as text and graphics files.
Home Page/ Web Page - The World Wide Web consists of millions of web pages. A home page is the starting page or the first page you come across when you access a website. A website is made up of one or more web pages.
HTML - Hypertext Markup Language.
The computer code that creates and displays documents on the World Wide Web. Web browsers interpret the underlying HTML code to show you text, images and sound. To check out a HTML code, click View menu in your Internet Explorer and click Source. A separate window will open up to show you the HTML code.
Hypertext/Hyperlinks - The internet lets you to navigate the World Wide Web without having to know any specific addresses. Hypertext is highlighted text often underlined in blue color or some image that links to another place on the internet. Clicking on it takes you to the web page it is linked to.
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network
A communication protocol offered by telephone companies, that permits telephone networks to carry data, voice, and other source traffic.
Internet - The largest global internetwork, connecting tens of thousands of networks worldwide. The network of computer networks interlinked globally.
Intranet - An internal network that is to be accessed by users who have access to an organisation’s internal LAN.
ISO - International Organisation for Standardization
An international organisation that is responsible for a wide range of standards including computers.
ISP - Internet Service Provider
It is a service that makes internet access available to people. Commercial services charge people either a flat fee or an hourly rate.
LAN – Local Area Network
A high-speed, low-error data network covering a relatively small geographic area up to a few thousand meters. LANs connect workstations, peripherals, terminals and other devices in a single building or within a short radius.
Leased Line - A transmission line reserved by a communications carrier for the private use of a customer. A leased line is a type of dedicated line.
Load - The amount of activity on a network resource, such as a router or link.
Mailing List - It is an email discussion group. There are lakhs of mailing lists to which you can subscribe to participate in online discussions that arrive in your email every day.
MAN - Metropolitan Area Network
A network that spans a metropolitan area. A MAN spans a larger geographic area than a LAN, but a smaller geographic area than a WAN.
Mosaic - A popular graphical interface for accessing the World Wide Web and other services.
MODEM – Modulator-DEModulator
A device that converts digital and analog signals. At the source, a modem converts digital signals to a form suitable for transmission over analog communication facilities. At the destination, the analog signals are returned to their digital form. Modems allow data to be transmitted over voice-grade telephone lines.
Network - A collection of computers, printers, routers, switches and other devices that are able to communicate with each other over some transmission medium.
Networking - The interconnection of workstations, peripherals such as printers, hard drives, scanners, CD-ROMS and other devices.
Network Administrator - A person responsible for the operation, maintenance, and management of a network.
Netiquette - The unwritten rules of conduct and protocols to be observed while on the internet.
Newsgroups - A forum which discusses online many topics open to anyone on the net sometimes only to subscribers.
Protocol - A formal description of a set of rules and conventions that govern how devices on a network exchange information.
Proxy - An entity that, in the interest of efficiency or security, stands in for another entity.
RAM – Random Access Memory. Volatile memory that can be read and written by a microprocessor.
Reply All - An option available in your email inbox which enables you to reply to all the people mentioned in the address bar.
System Administrator - The person responsible for the smooth operation, maintenance of computers in an organisation.
Source Code - The program that enables software to run.
Server - A node or software program that provides services to clients.
SOHO – Small Office/Home Office
A small office or home office consisting of a few users requiring a connection that provides faster, more reliable connectivity than an analog dialup connection.
Search Engine - A very useful tool, usually organized on a Web page that allows you to search the internet. Enter some key words to search and you will be astonished to see, literally, thousands of ‘matches’. Click on the hyperlink which matches closely to your expectation and you will be taken to the home page.
Smiley - Smiley are icons which express our emotions supplementing words. Known as emoticons they are formed with the use of one or more characters. Ex :) = ?, :( = ?
Snail Mail - For those used to the fast delivery of email, the term used to refer ordinary postal mail because of their slow pace.
TCP/IP – Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol
A common name for the suite of protocols developed by the US Department of Defense (DoD) in the 1970s to support the construction of worldwide internetworks.
Telnet - A standard terminal emulation protocol in the TCP/IP protocol stack. Telnet is used for remote terminal connection, enabling users to log in to remote systems and use resources as if they were connected to a local system.
UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply
A backup device designed to provide an uninterrupted power source to PCs in the event of a power failure.
URL - Universal Resource Locator
It is the address you use to reach a specific place on the internet. Akin to your address, it is the combination of letters or numbers people need to reach a page on the internet.
Upload - Transferring of files from your computer to a website. WAN – Wide Area Network. A data communications network that serves users across a broad geographic area and often uses transmission devices provided by common carriers.
Website - A collection of web pages is a website. A virtual site with a distinct address where you put up information for surfers to see.
WAIS - Wide Area Information Service. A distributed database protocol for sophisticated searches over the internet.
WWW - World Wide Web
The internet service that provides hypertext access to information on the internet.
Web Browser - Commonly known as browser is web client software that allows you to view or ‘browse’ the World Wide Web. Netscape and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are popular web browsers.
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