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Web Glossary S-Z
S
Search Engine
This term refers to a program that helps users find information in text-oriented databases such as Google. They send web-crawlers through the many sites and collect information and then rank the sites according to various methods. Yahoo is a "Directory" and uses people to compile information, not crawlers. Due to the manpower required, "Directories, usually require commercial websites to pay to be listed.
Server
A computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
SGML-Standard Generalized Markup Language
SGML is an international standard for the publication and delivery of electronic information.
Shareware
This term refers to software that is available on public networks and BBSs. Users are asked to remit a small amount to the software developer, but it's on the honor system.
Shell account
An computer service account that gives access to a UNIX based host computer. The user can enter UNIX commands to operate this computer.
Shouting
Typing in all capital letters. This is greatly frowned upon :-( in the Internet community, and you will be flamed. (See Flame.)
Signature
An optional portion of an email message consisting of information about the sender such as her full name, mailing address, phone number, etc. The signature is stored in a file and it’s automatically included with each message. This is easily set up in most email accounts and adds a professional touch to the email message.
SLIP-Serial Line Internet Protocol
SLIP refers to a method of Internet connection that enables computers to use phone lines and a modem to connect to the Internet without having to connect through a host.
SMTP- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
The Internet standard protocol used to transfer electronic mail from one computer system to another. (See POP-Post Office Protocol)
Socket
This is a communication mechanism originally implemented on the BSD version of the UNIX operating system. Sockets are used as endpoints for sending and receiving data between computers.
Spam
Unwanted and unsolicited email which is the electronic equivalent of paper junk mail.
Spider
A computer program that travels or "crawls" the Internet to locate such resources as Web documents. It indexes the documents in a database, which is then searched using a search engine (such as AltaVista or Excite). A spider can also be referred to as a robot or wanderer. Each search engine uses a spider to build its database.
SQL - Structured Query Language
Method to access a database.
Status Bar
The area at the bottom of an Internet browser used to show the status of information regarding a web document. When the mouse is moved over a hyperlink it shows the URL for the hyperlink, when a Web page is requested it gives information about contacting and receiving information from a server, during transmission it tells, in terms of a percentage, how much of the document has been transferred, and indicates whether transmissions are being carried on in a secure manner
Streaming audio/video
Technology that allows to play audio or video while it is still downloading
Synchronous Connection
An analog to analog or digital to digital connection that is able to perform two or more processes at the same time by means of a mutual timing signal or clock.
T
T-1
High-speed, high bandwidth data line connection. T-1 operates at 1.45 Mbps.
T-3
High speed, high bandwidth leased line connection to the Internet.
A T-3 line can deliver information at 44.736 Mbps (the equivalent of 28 T-1 lines). Quick as a bunny.
Tags
These are formatting codes used in HTML documents. Tags indicate how parts of a document will appear when displayed by browsing software. <img src="nicephoto.jpg"/> <center> <blink> are all examples of simple HTML tags. You may fire any web designer that uses the <blink> tag!
TCP-Transmission Control Protocol
A protocol used as the basis of most Internet services. It is a set of rules designed to ensure that the streams of data coming from your computer are broken down into small packets. These packets then flood across the Internet, each seeking its own path, until they are reassembled, in order, at their destination. Data packets have no predetermined path and are free to find the best and fastest route to its destination. It is used in conjunction with (actually on top of) the Internet Protocol (see IP).
TCP-IP
The basic protocols controlling applications on the Internet; it stands for "transmission control protocol/Internet protocol." (see above)
Telnet
Allows for remote log-in on the Internet. A user on one computer on the Internet can access and log-in to another computer.
Text editor
A program that's used to create or modify a file that contains only plain text, for Windows a text editor can be either "Notepad" or "NoteTab Light" and for Apple either "Simple Text" or "Text Edit." This may be used to create or modify the source file for a Web page. Microsoft Word should not be used as a source file for a Web page as it adds hidden symbols and code which are in conflict with the HTML code.
TIFF-Tagged Image File Format
A graphic file format developed by Aldus and Microsoft. Mosaic supports the viewing of TIFF images.
Top-Level Category
One of several main subjects that occurs in the top of a hierarchy in a directory’s list of subjects.
Trojan horse
A program that appears to be legitimate but contains in its code instructions that cause damage to the systems on which it runs.
Trumpet Winsock
A popular TCP/IP protocol stack.
TWAIN
Software developed by the Twain Working Group (scanner manufacturers and scanning software developers) in order to facilitate scanning of pictures. The TWAIN driver runs between the scanner hardware and the program (Photoshop, PhotoPaint, etc.). According to the Twain Working Group, "TWAIN" is not intended to be an acronym (though there are many "definitions" like "technology without an important name" or "tool without an interesting name").
U
Unix
Multi-user computer operating system. The Internet and the World Wide Web grew up on Unix, and these days Unix is still the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.
Upload
Sending files from your computer to another computer through the Internet. For example, sending email is uploading a file to the SMTP server of your ISP. When you have a personal home page, you must upload your HTML files to the Web server that hosts your Web site.
URL-Uniform Resource Locator
The addressing system used in the World Wide Web and other Internet resources. The URL contains information about the method of access, the server to be accessed and the path of any file to be accessed. http://www.acmedigitaldesign.com is the full URL, whereas acmedigitaldesign.com is the domain name.
Usenet
World-wide decentralized distribution system of newsgroups. Newsgroups (discussion groups would be a more accurate name) cover almost every human interest. No one can really count the number of newsgroups because not all Usenet machines are connected to the Internet, however, there are at least 15,000 newsgroups available through the Internet.
V
Veronica
This is a search utility that helps find information on gopher servers. Veronica allows users to enter keywords to locate the gopher site holding the desired information. The name is an acronym for "very easy rodent oriented net-wide index of computerized archives." Honest!
Virus
A program or executable code that must be part of another executing program. Usually viruses change the configuration or cause havoc with a computer system. The viruses are hidden within some useful or standard program. (see Worm)
VRML - Virtual Reality Modeling Language
Method for creating 3D environments on the Web. On a VRML page, it is possible to move around through a virtual room, pick up things, open a door etc. To see VRML pages your need a VRML plug-in for your browser.
W
WAIS-Wide Area Information Service
WAIS is a Net-wide system for looking up specific information in Internet databases.
WAIS gateway
This term refers to a computer that is used to translate WAIS data so it can be made available to an otherwise incompatible network or application. Mosaic must use a WAIS gateway.
WAN - Wide Area Network
Any internet or network that covers more than one single building. (See LAN.)
Web Browser
This is the software that allows a user to access and view HTML documents. Examples of Web browsers include Netscape, Mosaic, Cello and Lynx.
Web Document
An HTML document that is browsable on the Web.
Webmaster
This term refers to the person in charge of administrating a World Wide Web site.
Web page
The information available and displayed by a Web browser as the result of opening a local file or opening a location (URL). The contents and format of the Web page are specified using HTML.
Web Node
This term is synonymous with Web site or Web server.
Webspace
This term refers to the space created by the World Wide Web.
World Wide Web
Also known as WWW or W3, the World Wide Web is a hypertext- based Internet service used for browsing Internet resources.
Worm
A specific type of virus that situates itself in a place in a computer where it can do harm. Viruses by definition are not necessarily harmful but worms are always harmful. As your I.S. guy or gal, or teenager keeps reminding you, never open an email attachment unless you know who sent it and what its REAL purpose is. Bad Virus's or Worms can be hidden in attachments and when opened, vomit nasty things into your hard drive causing havoc, and often times using your address book to email itself to other innocents. Not pretty, not pretty at all.(See virus)
X
X Window System, 'X' or 'X11
Is an open source, collaborative technology. It is the standard graphical engine for the UNIX* and Linux* operating systems and provides the only common windowing environment bridging the heterogeneous platforms in today's enterprise computing. The worldwide community of users of the X Window System currently exceeds 30 million. Who knew? (*UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the US and other countries. LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. All company names are trademarks of the registered owners.)
Y
Yahoo!
Search engine at http://www.yahoo.com
Z (none)
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