.org: organizations that do not fit in any of the other categories. These are usually non-profit organizations.
DOMAIN NAME SERVER: The computer that actually "remembers" all the names of the other machines and their IP Addresses. These are remembered as numbers.
DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM: (DNS) These are servers that are located at many strategic places on the Internet they resolve the routing of email and Internet connections. This is also known as the system of converting IP Addresses to names and back again.
DOWNLOAD: The copying of a file from another computer or the Internet to your own computer.
DSL: (Digital Subscriber Line) This is known as the method of moving data over regular phone lines. A DSL circuit must be configured to connect two specific locations, similar to a leased line.
EMAIL: (Electronic mail) Messages that are usually in a text format that are sent from one person to another via computer.
EMOTIONS: This is a way of using font combinations as email shortcuts to convey emotions and expressions. For example: Happy: :-), Wink: (This is sarcasm) ;->, and Surprised: -0. Also be aware that when typing in all capital letters the person receiving the email feels that you are screaming at them.
ENCRYPTION: Encryption is the process of converting data into code for security purposes. Encryption is often necessary when valuable and sensitive information is sent over the Internet.
EXTRANET: A network that supplements a closed Intranet by providing access to entities outside the Intranet, such as customers and suppliers, who need access to selective information from the organization. It is not accessible to the Internet at large.
FIREWALL: This is a piece of network security equipment that connects between your network and the Internet. It blocks certain data from being transferred between the two.
FRAMES: An HTML program. A frame is a stationary part of a web page that stays put while you scroll through another part of the web page. (That other part is also a frame). Each frame is actually a separate web page. When you see a page with two or three frames, you are actually looking at two or three web pages.
FTP: (File Transfer Protocol) "Uploading Files" This is the method of moving files between two Internet sites. FTP is a special way to login to another Internet site for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files.
GATEWAY: The technical meaning is a hardware or software setup that translates between two dissimilar protocols. In easier terms it is a machine that is connected to two networks at the same time and acts as a transfer point.
GIF: (Graphic Interchange Format) A file format for image files, such as pictures and graphics used on the Web and elsewhere. GIF format files of simple images are often smaller than the same file would be if stored in a JPEG format that is frequently used on the Web JPEG offers a slightly better image quality. GIF format does not store photographic images as well as a JPEG file.
GOPHER: A software program created in 1991 at the University of Minnesota that relies on menus to retrieve text files. It was the first easy-to-use Internet search and browser system. Also known as a pre-Web menu driven document delivery system that organizes and helps the Internet users find information.
GRAPHIC: A picture or non-text item within a document. Most Web pages will contain a number of graphics, usually in GIF or JPEG formats.
GUEST BOOK: This is a form on your Website that allows a visitor to enter information such as their name, address, and email address along with a comment field; once the form is completed it is sent directly to your email address.
HEADER: This is the top half of the email or newsgroup message that shows where the message came from and when it was posted.
HITS: This is the act of retrieving a file from a Web server. For example, each time a browser asks for a piece of information or a file from a server it registers as a hit. Most Web pages contain several files including individual graphic images, audio clips, text and HTML documents. Since one or many visitors can cause multiple hits, hits can be a misleading way to measure the effectiveness of a Website or Web page.
HOME PAGE: This is the introductory or first page of a Website. Also acts as your table of contents.
HOST: This is your ISP's computer that you use to connect to and access the Internet.
HTML: (Hyper Text Markup Language) The programming language read by your browser and used to store, interpret and present information on the Web. You do not need to know HTML to surf the Web. Your browser software will interpret the code for you.
HTTP: (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) The most commonly used method of transferring data on the Web. It enables you to link to other Websites. Addressing to other Web pages begins with "http://" and is followed by the domain name or IP address.
HYPERLINK: A feature of HTML that enables one location or document to be linked to related locations or documents with a click of a mouse. Graphics, sound and video may be linked as well as text.
HYPERTEXT: any text that contains links to other documents - words or phrases in the document that can be chosen the visitor and which cause another document to be retrieved and displayed.
IMAGE MAP: A graphic on a Web page used for navigation. Also known as a "click able graphic" that performs different actions depending on where in the graphic you click.
IMPRESSION: Known as the delivery of a company hallmark, advertisement, or sponsorship to a consumer through a Web page.
INTERNET: A vast collection of computers all over the world that store information and send it out. When you connect your computer to the Internet, you are establishing a line that will reach out and jump on the "freeway" (network).
INTERNET MARKETING: Strategies and techniques applied on the Internet to support the organization's overall online marketing objectives. Goals may include driving targeted traffic to a Website and features on the Website to create a desired call to action. Internet marketing may include keyword and meta tag strategies, newsgroup and mailing list postings, banner advertising, reciprocal links, online promotions, content positioning, online image development, email strategies and other interactive features.
INTERNET RELAY CHAT: (IRC) A protocol that allows users to converse with others in real time. IRC is structured as a network of servers, each of which accepts connections from client programs.
INTER NIC: (Internet Network Information Center) Inter NIC is made up of three parts: The first is known as the Information Services, which is run by General Atomics in CA; The second is the Directory Services, which is run by AT&T in NJ; and the third is the Domain Name Registration Services, which are run by Network Solutions in VA.
INTRANET: A network of networks that interconnects within a single organization. The sites within an Intranet are generally closed to the Internet and are accessible only from within the organization.
IP ADDRESS: The unique numerical series assigned to each individual computer, which are linked to the Internet. This allows the computers to talk to each other and packets of information to be delivered to the appropriate computer. If you dial in via modem to connect to the Internet, your ISP assigns you an IP address for the duration of your session.
ISDN: (Integrated Services Digital Network) A service that is often used to connect to the Internet because it is faster that a typical phone modem. The data is sent over the regular phone lines and it can provide speeds of roughly 128,000 bits-per second.
ISP: (Internet Service Provider) Internet access provider. These are companies that provide individuals and businesses with Internet access.
JAVA: This is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems based on C++. Java is a network-oriented programming language that is specifically designed for writing programs that are safe to download from the Internet and run immediately without fear of viruses. Also, small java programs also called "Applets". Web pages can include functions such as animations, calculators, and other fancy tricks.
JPEG: (Joint Photographic Experts Group) Format for image files. Also known as the graphical format that is particularly well suited for photographs and 3-D images where there is a continuous range of colors or shades.
LAN: (Local Area Network) A computer network that is limited to the immediate area, two or more computers that are connected with cables. Usually the same building and/or floor.
LINK: A hyperlink from one Web page jumps the viewer, when clicked, to another page anywhere on the Web. Links are an effective marketing method for generating more traffic to your site by trading and or buying hyperlinks from other Websites. Links also provide a valuable service to your visitors by pointing them to other relevant online resources.
LISTSERV: An automated mailing list distribution system. The way it works is that once you join a mailing list, any e-mail message sent by anyone on the list goes automatically goes to everyone else on the whole list, this can mean you will be receiving lots of e-mail.
MAILING LISTS: An electronic group discussion, which has a specific topic or an interest that is carried out with email messages. All subscribers to a mailing list receive all copies of all messages sent to that list. This invites participation from subscribers but will usually have guidelines that have to be followed for posting.
META TAGS: The most useful ones are your "description" and "keywords" This is the HTML code that contains information about the content of a Web page and Website. Meta Tags are frequently used to enhance the display and effectiveness of search engine listings.
MODERATOR: A person, or small group of people who review submissions before the information is posted to a newsgroup or mailing list.
MP3: This is an increasingly popular way to store audio in an electronic format. The MP3 format compresses audio files in such a way that the file size is relatively small, but the song sounds near perfect. You can identify MP3 files because they end in the ". Mp3" extension. Typically 1 MB is equal to one minute of music or several minutes for spoken word/audio books. MP3 is big news and a controversial technology within the music industry because it allows musicians to distribute their music directly over the Internet, bypassing record companies.
MPEG: (Moving Picture Experts Group) this is a format that is used on the Web for video and audio files. Compression techniques are used which enables the files to be transmitted across the Internet significantly quicker than most other audio and video files.
NETIQUETTE: These are the informal rules of conduct for Internet users. Also known as the "etiquette" on the Internet.
NETWORK: A group of computers that communicate together. This term is also used to describe the physical medium and equipment used to facilitate that communication.
NEWSGROUPS: These are usually known as forums where users through the posting and reading of articles exchange related information on any given subject. Whatever your interests may be, from Star Wars to international relations, you will most likely find a newsgroup with like-minded people. Newsgroups are not delivered via email but are accessed through a newsreader included with most browser software packages.
NNT: (Network News Transfer Protocol) a protocol used to transfer Internet newsgroups from the Internet to individual computers.
ONLINE BUYING MEDIA: to buy space or to be visible on the Web as well as sponsoring a newsgroup. Placing banner ads on Websites are one of the most common forms of online media buying.
PACKET: A single block of data, packaged and passed over a network. For example, small amounts of data from one computer are placed in a packet, addressed to another computer, and sent to that computer over a network.
PAGE VIEWS: Same as Impressions.
PDF: (Page Description Format) It is often used as a format, which allows much more complete, controlled layout of a page and its graphics and text than conventional HTML. It requires a browser plug-in (such as Adobe Acrobat) to see a Web page in PDF format.
PING: This is known as a command that sends out a small packet of information to networked computers. The computer that is being pinged quickly replies by sending another packet back to the sender. The command is used to determine whether a distant computer is successfully networked, or to determine the relative distance from site to site based on the time it takes for the packet to travel round trip. Used to test the connection's performance. If the other site is down, the ping fails, and if the site is up, the packet bounces back.
PIXEL: One dot on a computer screen. Most computer monitors typically range from either 640 (pixels wide) by 480 (pixels high) to 1600 by 1200.
PLUG-INS: Special software program that make special things happen.
PRIMARY STORAGE: (RAM - Random Access Memory) the memory area in which all programs and data must reside before programs can be executed or the data can be manipulated.
POSTSCRIPT: A page description language used to define text and graphics on a page. (On-screen and printed pages)
PROFILE DRIVEN MARKETING: This is a marketing approach that stores market research data for each visitor. For example, when a visitor returns to the Web site, it can respond in a personalized manner.
PROTOCOL: Rules established to govern the way data in a computer network is transmitted. Different computers and operating systems and software are able to communicate with each other on the Internet because of the adoption of protocols.
PPP: (Point to Point Protocol) This is a direct connection from your computer to the Internet, via modem and phone line.
RICH MEDIA: This generally refers to Internet advertising or content that can include video, audio, fill-in forms, pull-down menus, and other files that are larger than traditional HTML-and-graphic
banners. Rich media has been a growing category of Web advertising content, but it's use has been hampered by bandwidth constraints. Most rich media advertising, particularly audio and video, require greater bandwidth to be effective.
ROOT DIRECTORY: The directory at the highest level of a hierarchy of directories. The "top" directory of a collection of files and/or folders.
SEARCH ENGINE: A automatic software "robots" or "spiders" that search through the web, newsgroups, or other sources, and look for keywords that the user has asked for in their search that are stored in a huge database.
SERVER: A central computer that offers (serves) information to other (client) computers.
SIGNATURE: The three or four line message you can automatically append to the bottom of an email message or Usenet news article that identifies the sender.
SITE LET: is a small--and often temporary--section of a Web site, usually focused on a particular topic or purpose. Most. Site let addresses are often used as an alternative to domain names in magazine and direct mail advertisements.
SITE MAP: A section of page within a Web site, which maps out the layout of the complete Web site.
SNAIL MAIL: A term that email users use to describe the traditional mail or post office service.
SPAM: Unsolicited e-mail and news postings.
SPIDER: Also known as a "robot" which is an automatic software program that serves a search engine by exploring the Web and collects Web page addresses and stores them in a huge database.
SSL: (Secure Socket Layer) A programming method for encrypting all data sent in and out of a network connection on a computer system. Designed by Netscape. SSL is used mostly in communications between web browsers and web servers. SSL provides three important things, Privacy, Authentication and Message Integrity.
STANDARD: A protocol or a set of procedures that people agree upon.
STICKINESS: Refers to a site's ability to engage a visitor by providing interesting, useful and informative content. Stickiness is often measured in terms of the average number of hours that a user spends on a site in a given month. Know as tracking individual users. This type of measurement requires some type of registration/login mechanism or cookies placed on users' PCs, both of which have their own drawbacks. (Ex: Ebay - with a typical user spending around 2 hours per month on the auction site). Yahoo! Excite and MSN, are battling for stickiness bragging rights by adding more user-oriented features and customization, such as free email, personalized pages and auctions, in an effort to keep visitors coming back and staying longer.
STREAMING: This is a technology that permits continuous audio and video delivered to you computer from a remote Web site. It requires a high degree of compression to transfer audio or video.
SURFING: A term used for exploring the Internet, as in "surfing the net". Most often used in reference to accessing sites on the World Wide Web.
SUBMISSION PAGE: A page that contains a form so that Web users can send information via a Web browser to a Web server.
T1, T3: These are high-speed network connections. A T1 carries 1.54 megabits of data per second, and a T3 carries 45 megabits per second.
TAGS: The name given to any element of an HTML document that is used as instructions to format the document. For example, tags can be used to make certain text show up bold or underlined, and are used to create a link between two HTML documents.
TCP/IP: (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) the name used to define the complete set of protocols that moves data across the Internet.
THIRD-PARTYAUTHENTICATION: An authentication method that requires an impartial third party to validate the identity of two computers or two users.
TWEENING: The process of generating intermediate frames between two images to give the appearance that the first image evolves smoothly into the second image. Also, tweening is a key process in all types of animation, including computer animation. Sophisticated animation software enables you to identify specific objects in an image and define how they should move and change during the tweening process. Short for in-betweening.
TRAFFIC: This term is used to describe how many people visit your Web page. It can be measured in many different ways, such as hits and impressions.
URL: (Universal Resource Locator) An address used to specify the exact location of a machine, file, or piece of data on the Internet. This is also known as the standardized format for Internet addresses.
USENET: A large collection of newsgroups and discussion groups on the Internet.
VAN: (Value-added Network) a specialized common carrier that "adds value" over and above the standard services of common carriers.
VAR: (Value-added Reseller) a company that integrates the hardware and software of several vendors with its own software, then resells the entire package.
VIRAL MARKETING: This is known as advertising and/or marketing technique that spreads like a virus by getting passed on from consumer to consumer and market to market. (Examples: Hot Mail and Yahoo). Viral marketing techniques have the potential to start very small and grow to enormous proportions. This is an effective online marketing technique because of the speed and efficiency of Internet communication.
VIRTUAL MEMORY: The use of secondary storage devices and primary storage to expand effectively a computer system's primary storage.
VIRUS: A destructive program that has the ability to reproduce itself and infect other programs or disks on your computer. If infected by an virus unwanted events will occur, for example, re-formatting of the hard drive, data corruption and/or complete loss of data, and a system that becomes no longer re-bootable.
VOICE RESPONSE UNIT: A device that enables output from a computer system in the form of user-recorder words, phrases, music, or anything that might be recorded on tape.
VRML: (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) A programming language that has been designed to build 3-D applications on the Web.
WAN: (Wide Area Network) any Internet or network that covers an area larger than a single building. Two or more LANs are connected.
WEB BROWSER: Software that enables the user to navigate the Web, retrieve documents, and follow links to other sites and documents.
WEB CODE: The text and tags that describe a Web document to a Web browser.
WEB CONSULTANT: A person who advises businesses on HTML, Web server configuration, and Marketing.
WEB INDEX: A Web page or site that provides a list of other Web pages or sites. Usually categorized by topic and is searchable.
WEB MASTER: The person responsible for the design and text of a Web site.
WEB PAGE: Pages of text with coded messages telling a browser what to do.
WEB PRESENCE PROVIDER: This is a person or a company that establishes Web sites for other individuals, companies, or organizations. They often host the Web site on their own server.
WEBSITE: A unified collection of pages that are designed and are related for a business, products, and service.
WRAPPER: A program that is installed on a computer system to limit access to certain programs and to log every request that is made to run those programs.
WWW: (The World Wide Web) is the graphical, point and click part of the Internet. Software called browsers allows you to hyperlink from one site to the next with a click of a mouse. The Web is the fastest growing portion of the Internet and the most familiar part to most people.
XML: (Extensible Markup Language) A richer and more dynamic successor to HTML.
ZIP: A method of file compression. Zip files contain vast amounts of information that has undergone compression to reduce the amount of space that the data take up.
ZOOM: An integrated software command that expands a window to fill the entire screen.
