Absolute Path Name
	A detailed and explicit way of locating a file or device on a network by starting with the name of the computer on which the object or file resides, and then listing any intermediary folders or directories, thus ending with the name of the file or object. For example: .
Access Number
	The telephone number (usually local) the modem uses to access the Internet.
Address
	The location of a computer, file, or other object on a network (as in FTP address).
Address Book
	A Web browser feature that allows the storing of e-mail addresses.
Analog
	Information composed of continuous and varying levels of intensity, such as light and sound.
AOL
	Acronym for America Online, a commercial online service.
API
	Acronym for application programming interface, a way for one application program to make requests of another application program or operating system.
Applet
	A small program that can bee embedded in an HTML document.
ASCII
	Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a standard numeric code system used by computers to recognize text, symbols, and special characters.
Backbone
	Main communications trunk line which local lines connect to communicate with the rest of the world.
Background
	Web pages may have special patterns or colors "underneath" the text in the document.
Bandwidth
	The capacity of a computer channel or data transmission cable and measured in bits or bytes per second. A measure of the amount of information that can flow through a given point at any given time.
Banner Ad
	Banner ads are one of the primary methods of advertising on the Internet. They are usually small graphics with a very brief advertising message.
Baudrate
	A unit for measuring the speed of data transmission. The number of times the communications line changes states each second. Measurement is often confused with bits per second.
BBS
	Acronym for Bulletin Board System, a system offering information that can be accessed via computers, modems, and phone lines.
BIN
	Abbreviation for binary.
Bitmap
	A binary representation of a graphic object used to convert an image into pixels.
Blended Threat
	A software program that combines the characteristics of viruses, worms and Trojan horses.
Bookmark
	A URL that has been saved so that a user can return directly to that Web address. Also called "favorite."
Browser
	A software program that reads HTML documents and allows the user to navigate the World Wide Web. A person that casually explores the Web.
Byte
	A set of bits that represent a single character.
Cache
	A place that a Web browser stores Web documents that have been retrieved. The cache may be on the hard disk or in memory (or both). Documents you "return to" can be retrieved from the cache, saving transmission time.
Certificate of Authority
	An issurer of security certificates used in Secured Socket Layer (SSL) connections.
CGI
	Acronym for Common Gateway Interface, a standard interface between a Web server and an external "gateway" program such as a Web browser; a program that handles a request for information and returns information or performs a search or other routine.
CGI Scripts
	Programs that run on a Web server, in response to input from a browser. CGI scripts link the server and a program running on the system; for example, CGI scripts are used with interactive forms.
Client
	A computer that requests information from another. An early term for a Web browser.
Command Key
	A special function key found usually to the left of the spacebar on an Apple keyboard.
Cookie
	A piece of information sent by a Web server to a Web browser that expects the browser to save and send back to the server whenever the browser makes additional requests from the server. Cookies may contain information such as login or registration information, "shopping cart" information, user perferences, etc.
Data
	Information.
Database
	A collection of information, stored, and organized for easy searching.
Delete
	To remove information from electronic existence
Domain Name
	A textual alias for an IP address based on the domain name system. Components of a domain name are separated by a period (called "dot").
Domain Name Server
	A computer that keeps track of addresses in a given organization or domain and routes requests to specific addresses.
Domain Name Service
	A way of distributing information worldwide across the Internet so that no one computer, person, or organization has to keep track of everyone in the world. Computers are assigned standard types of names depending on their domain, and domain name servers share information about their specific area with other computers. Computers in educational institutions are given names ending with the suffix .edu, government offices have the .gov suffix, commercial sites end in .com, and so on.
Download
	To transfer information from a remote computer to a local computer.
Encoding
	A way of translating document files that enables them to be served from other computer platforms.
Ethernet
	A method to network computers together in a local area network (LAN).
Extrenal Image
	An image that is not an inline image and thus part of an HTML document, but that resides in a separate file and is accessed by means of a hypertext link
File
	Any amount of information that is grouped together as one unit.
Firewall
	A division bee-tween a computer system on the Internet and the Internet as a whole. Firewalls are used to limit access of the system's users to the outside world, and vice versa, for security and economic reasons.
Folder
	A group of files in a directory.
Form
	An interactive Web document. The document can contain fields into which readers can type information. This information could be used as part of a survey, to purchase an item, to search a database, and so on.
Forum
	An online place where users with similar interests may find information, exchange ideas, share files, and get help on a particual topic or are of interest.
Freeware
	Software created by independent programmers and made available to users free of charge by downloading from the Internet or local area networks (LANs).
FTP
	Acronym for File Transfer Protocol, a method for transferring files to and from remote computers on the Internet.
GIF
	Acronym for Graphics Interchange Format, a file format commonly used with graphics or photos displayed on Web documents. A bit mapped graphics file format. It supports 8-bit color (256 colors) and compresses the files well. This translates into faster load times GIFs include a color table that includes the most representative 256 colors used. For example, a picture of the forest would include mostly greens. This method provides excellent realism in an 8-bit image.
Gigabyte
	A unit of measure for data storage equal to 1,024 megabytes.
GUI
	Acronym for Graphical User Interface, such as the Macintosh Desktop, that provides a way for an individual user to graphically view the masses of information on the Internet, with inline or external images, sounds, buttons, icons, and other methods.
Hacker
	A computer wizard (often self-taught) who can discover the "guarded" secrets of a computer system (or network). The few hackers that have caused harm and damage to computer systems have given hackers a bad public image. However, "hacker" is still an exalted title.
Hexidecimal Color Code
	Combination of letters and numbers used by computer machine languge to describe and display colors. For example: Black is 000000 and white is ffffff.
HTML
	Acronym for HyperText Markup Language, the programming system used to create Web pages. Web pages are based on ASCII text files. Within those files sets of tags or "codes" define what each part of the document should contain. For instance, a tag might reference a picture file, so a browser reading the file will insert the appropriate picture at the defined position. A subset of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).
HTTP
	Acronym for HyperText Transfer Protocol, the protocol used by Web servers to communicate with Web clients.
Insertion Point
	The blinking vertical line in a document's window marking the place where information can be entered, edited, or deleted.
Internet
	An international network of networked computers that evolved from ARPANET
IP
	Acronym for Internet Protocol, the set of standards by which information is transmitted on the Internet.
IPN
	Acronym for Internet Protocol Number, a unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by periods ( . ) to identify node addresses on the Internet.
ISDN
	Acronym for Internet Protocol Number, a unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by periods ( . ) to identify node addresses on the Internet.
ISP
	Acronym for Internet Service Provider, a company or organization that provides access to the Internet in some form.
Java
	computer language developed by Sun Microsystems that enables the creation of "applets" or "live objects" that execute in response to mouse clicks to produce sound, video and other effects within a Web browser.
JPEG
	Acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group, a graphic image compression format. (There are also .JPG and .JPE extensions.)
Key
	A very sophisticated series of encrypted numbers that would take so long to decode that it is essentially unbreakable and allows a user to read encrypted messages that others cannot.
Keyboard Shortcut
	Usually a combination of simultaneous keystrokes to execute a command.
Kilobyte
	A unit of measure for data storage equal to 1,024 bytes.
LAN
	Acronym for Local Area Network, a network of computers usually located in an office, building or organization.
Line Noise
	Extraneous noise on telephone lines that causes clicking or static sounds.
Live Objects
	A clickable element in an HTML document that responds to a user's mouse clicks by producing animation, sound, or other "live" effects within a Web browser window.
Login
	Account name assigned in a computer system to allow access by a particular person; the act of accessing a computer system.
Megabyte
	A unit of measure for data storage equal to 1.024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes of data
Modem
	Abbreviation for MOdulator / DEModulator, a device that connects a computer to a phone line. Converts computer's digital signals to analog audio frequencies so they can be transmitted over phone lines.
Moderator
	Usually a host who facilitates a conference or chat room discussion and manages any protocols.
MPEG
	Acronym for Moving Pictures Experts Group, a movie-file format commonly used on the Web.
Netiquette
	Internet manners, a set of rules of acceptable behavior on the Internet that cautions users against using abusive or offensive language in electronic communications, invading privacy, sending out undesirable and unsolicited information, and more.
Netscape Navagator
	Web Browser
Network
	Two or more computers connected together to share resources. Two or more networks are an intranet.
NIC
	Acronym for Networked Information Center, an office that handles information for a network. Acronym for Network Interface Card that plugs into a computer and adapts the network interface to the appropriate standard
Offline
	Disconnected from the Internet.
Operating System
	The software that runs a computer and controls its functions.
Parser
	A module or routine within a program that reads or "parses" computer code and processes it to make it usable or readable.
Plug-In
	A piece of software that adds features to other software packages.
PostScript
	A page description / programming language developed by Adobe Systems that describes a page in a way that is device-independent so that the quality of output depends solely on the resolution of the output device.
Query
	To inquire into or ask about, way to gather data.
Quote
	A Web browser button that enables the user to import the contents of the current page into a text-entry field.
RAM
	Acronym for Random Access Memory.
Remote Staff
	Users who serve as hosts, guides, forum leaders, consultants, etc., from their homes or outside the structured organization.
Resolution
	The degree of sharpness of a displayed or printed character or image. On screen, resolution is expressed as a matrix of dots. For example, the VGA resolution of 640x480 means 640 dots (pixels) across each of the 480 lines. Sometimes the number of colors are added to the spec; for example, 640x480x16 or 640x480x256. The same resolution looks sharper on a small screen than a larger one.
Router
	A special-purpose computer or software package that handles the connection between two or more networks.
RTF
	A standard for specifying the formatting of documents. Some documents formatting languages using RTF include Hypertext Markup Language.
Screen Name
	A pseudonym or "handle" that is used in place of the user's real name.
Search
	Specific exploration of online information rather than a casual examination.
Server
	A computer running a special program that can send Web pages to browsers in response to requests.
SMTP
	Acronym for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a set of standard procedures for transferring mail.
Spam
	Unsolicited, commercial postings.
SQL
	Acronym for Structured Query Language, a specialized programming language for sending queries to databases.
SSL
	Acronym for Secured Socket Layer, a protocol designed to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet.
TCP/IP
	Acronym for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol, a packet-based communication protocol that forms the foundation of the Internet.
Terabyte
	A unit of measure for data storage equal to 1,024 gigabytes.
Terminal
	A device that allows you to send commands to a computer somewhere else.
Trojan Horse
	A software program that doesn't necessarily replicate itself, but like the legendary wooden horse in Greek mythology is much more than it appears. A Trojan horse program might look like a game, but instead it steals your personal information and sends it to others.
Typo
	Shorthand for typographical error
Uniform
	A prefix to a screen name designating title, role, or responsibility.
UNIX
	A multiuser / multitasking computer operating system created at AT&T and written in C programming language (also created at AT&T). Its TCP / IP protocols are integral to the Internet.
URL
	Acronym for Uniform Resource Locator, a Web "address." Every page on the Web can be referenced by a unique address, containing the Internet host address of the Web server, and, sometimes, the path through the directory structure on the Web server's hard drive to a particular file and the name of that file. Take for example the URL http://www.bton.com/tb17/webdefs.html. The http:// tells the browser to request a file via HyperText Transfer Protocol
User
	Any person operating a computer.
Virus
	A software program that has the ability to attach itself to other software or files, without permission or knowledge of the user, and is usually designed to propagate itself, obtain "secured" information, alter operating systems, or destroy data.
WAP
	Acronym for Wireless Application Protocol, a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones, and communicators.
Web Site
	A collection of Web pages residing on a Web server. Web sites are usually synonymous with a URL.
Windows
	A graphical extension of the DOS operating system
World Wide Web
	A subset of the Internet that enables hypertextual navigation and multimedia presentation of information globally. The World Wide Web is often known as the Web, WWW, and sometimes W3.
Worm
	A computer virus that replicates itself without human intervention.
XML
	(EXtensible Markup Language) An open standard for describing data from the W3C. It uses a similar tag structure as HTML; however, whereas HTML defines how elements are displayed, XML defines what those elements contain. HTML uses predefined tags, but XML allows tags to be defined by the developer of the page. Thus, virtually any data items, such as product, sales rep and amount due, can be identified, allowing Web pages to function like database records. It is expected to become the dominant format for electronic data interchange.
Yahoo!
	Web Directory
ZIP
	Filename extension for a file created by PKZip, the standard compression software used on DOS- and Windows-based computers.