You are here:

  Home >> Glossary

skip Copytext

Glossary

We've put together an array of definitions related to our daily work. We thought you might want to know.

A |  B |  C |  D |  E |  F |  G |  H |  I |  J |  K |  L |  M |  N |  O |  P |  Q |  R |  S |  T |  U |  V |  W |  X |  Y |  Z | 

Apache A popular Web server made to run on the UNIX OS platform.

Application Set of files that make up software. A complete, self-contained program that performs a specific function directly for the user. This is in contrast to system software such as the operating system kernel, server processes and libraries which exists to support application programs.

Adobe Software company which makes programs for designing print and Web content; main products include Illustrator, Acrobat and Photoshop.

Architecture Defined as the set of machine attributes that a programmer should understand in order to successfully program the specific computer (i.e., being able to reason about what the program will do when executed).

ASP Active Server Pages, Web documents which mix HTML and VBScript and run off of Microsoft Web servers.

 

B2B Business-to-business marketing in which the buyers and sellers are both companies selling other products or services.

B2C Business-to-consumer marketing in which the buyer is typically an individual who will use the item or service personally.

Backbone The system of high-speed Internet connections which route traffic to slower regional and local data paths.

BIOS Basic Input Output System. A chip within the PC that offers basic input and output services, and makes sure all the other chips, hard drives, ports and CPU function together.

Boot Record A file system table of the FAT and NTFS file systems, containing information about one partition.

Buffer Temporary data storage. Eg. an area used to make up for a difference in data transfer rates and/or data processing rates between sender and receiver. A printer buffer copies data from the computer and holds it until the printer is ready to print.

Browser A software application, technically a type of HTTP client, that enables a user to display and interact with HTML documents. The most commonly used kind of user agent. Popular browsers for PC include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Netscape, Apple Safari.

Bus The path that carries data between the computer (microprocessor) and peripheral devices. An IDE interface cable and a SCSI cable are both examples of a bus.

Byte The basic unit of computer storage and processing; 8 bits make 1 byte.

C2C Consumer-to-consumer markets in which products or services are exchanged between individuals (e.g. online auctions).

Caching The use of memory or disk storage to speed data processing. Frequently used data is temporarily stored where it can be quickly accessed later.

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research. Tim Berners-Lee invented the first web browser and server in 1990 at the CERN Lab.

Cluster Independent computers combined into a unified system through software and networking. A cluster is defined as an allocation unit.

Cold Fusion A commerical program which runs with a Web server to send out HTML files from a database.

Computer Virus A computer program with the characteristic feature of being able to generate copies of itself, and thereby spread. Additionally most computer viruses have a destructive payload that is activated under certain conditions. Example: The Chernobyl virus overwrites the beginning of the hard disk on certain dates.

cut-and-paste A function designed into both the Windows and Mac interface which allows users to copy content from one file or application, hold it in temporary storage, and then insert it into another file or application.
[It's a first step in the right direction of peace in the OS world this little function, isn't it?]

Database A collection of data with a structure or organisation that makes retrieval of data easy. A database has two basic elements, the record and the field. Examples: A record may be all information recoded about one person. The field may be his phone number.

Data type How a specific set of numbers or letters are supposed to be recognized and used in a script or program; example include integers, strings, Booleans, functions, and objects.

Degrade How well a Web page displays in older or less popular Web browsers. Designs made with simple HTML usually "degrade gracefully" but cutting edge designs don't.

DNS Domain name system, an Internet service that translates domain names (www.something.com) into IP addresses (207.46.138.11) which are used to find computers connected to the Internet.

Domain A part of the DNS name.

Driver (Software) Small, specialised program that typically handles the exchange of information with specific units/equipment like one type of printer (printer driver). (Hardware) Component, adapter, amplifier. Used about components working with high efficiencies, supplying power to motors etc.

DSL Digital subscriber lines, a broadband delivery method using standard copper telephone wires but many times faster than modem dial-up services.

Encryption Modifying data to prevent unauthorised access to information. The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys.

Expression Phrases which can be evaluted; for example,
x + 10 or x < 10, as opposed to x = 10, which is simply a statement.

Extranet A Web site for customers rather than the general public. It can provide access to research, current inventories and internal databases, virtually any information that is private and not published for everyone. An extranet uses the public Internet as its transmission system, but requires passwords to gain entrance. Access to the site may be free or require payment for some or all of the services offered.

File extentions Two- or three-character codes after a file name and a period that tell DOS/Windows computers what application to use to work with the file.

File system A system for organising and cataloguing files on a data storage media, comparable to the index in a book. Examples: FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, HPFS, S51K, ext2, AFS.

Fly height Distance between read/write head and the media surface whilst the motor is rotating (hard drive).

FTP File transfer protocol, a method of moving files from one computer to another via the Internet.

GIF Graphics Interchange Format, graphics formats supported by the Web. Unlike JPG, the GIF format is a lossless compression technique supporting only 256 colors. GIFs are best used for line drawings, black and white images and small text. GIF images can be put together for animated images. GIF also supports transparency. The compression algorithm used in the GIF format is owned by Unisys.

Gigabyte (GB) Expression used to describe storage capacity or amount of data. One gigabyte is about 1000 millions of bytes/characters (10243).

GUI Graphic user interface, any way of working with a program using icons or other images instead of just line-code commands; GUI is pronouced "gooey".

Hack Slang for any type of computer programing or, more specificially, attempting to bypass a security system.

Hacked When an unauthorized programmer gains access into a secure network or Web site, usually by breaking security systems or using a stolen login and password.

Hard disk (HD) The primary computer storage medium, made of one or more aluminum or glass platters, coated with a ferromagnetic material. Most hard disks are fixed disks, which are permanently sealed in the drive. Medium for permanent storage of data. Magnetic platters, electronics and mechanics make up a hard disk. The platters are fixed to a spindle. On each side of a platter there is a read/write head. Each platter is divided in to tracks, which again is divided into sectors. A characteristic with hard disks is that the platters and the mechanics are in an airtight enclosure, and that the read/write heads do not touch the platters as long as the platters are rotating.

Hard drive Primary storage device that computer uses to store data, generally not removed from the computer and can store large amounts of information; e.g. Windows default C drive, partitions.

Hard Error An error that is repeatable every time the same area on a disk is accessed.

Hardware The physical components that computer system is comprised of, like hard disk, screen, expansion cards etc.

Hexadecimal A number system using 16 unique symbols: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For example, F is equal to the decimal number 15.

Hosting provider A company which leases space on its Web servers and charges based on disk space used, Web visitor traffic, and various add-on services.

HTML Hypertext Markup Language, the code used to structure and present text and graphic content on a Web page.

Hypertext Data that provides links between key elements, allowing a user to move through information nonsequentially.

Interface Defined standard transition link (hardware or software). Rules for communicating with a unit. Example: SCSI. (User interface) The ‘face’ of the computer. The part of the operating system that the user communicates with directly.

Internet From four host computer systems in 1969 the Internet has grown to today's tens of millions. Nobody owns the Internet. It is the publicly accessible worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using a standardized Internet Protocol (IP) and others.

Internet Search Engines Websites designed to help people find information stored on the Internet. Early search engines held an index of a few hundred thousand pages and received maybe one or two thousand inquiries each day. Today, a top search engine will index hundreds of millions of pages, and respond to tens of millions of queries per day.

Intranet An inhouse Web site that serves the employees of an enterprise. Although intranet pages may link to the Internet, an intranet is not a site accessed by the general public.

IP address The number address of a computer or network connected to the Internet.

IT Information Technology, the department of a business which keeps the phone lines and computer network connected and working.

JAVA A programming language, normal letters and numbers which get turned into binary code by a compiler; Java was created by Sun Microsystems.

JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group file, a compressed graphics file format which compresses but also lowers the quality of an image, by taking out portions of pixels in order to make the end file size smaller.

Jumper [tiny little buggers...] A jumper is an electrically conductive component that you place over pairs of pins to connect them electronically. For example, a jumper is one way to designate a hard drive as master or slave.

Kilobyte (KB) Expression used to describe storage capacity or amount of data. One kilobyte is 1024 bytes/characters.

Kiosk Public terminals that offer electronic services such as Virtual Shop Fronts, Internet access, Travel information, or ATM services.

LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area; it is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating system and a communications link.

LINUX A popular variant of the UNIX computer operating system. The Linux kernel, created by Linus Torvalds, was made available to the world for free. Torvalds then invited others to add to the kernel provided that they keep their contributions free. Thousands of programmers began working to enhance Linux, and the operating system grew rapidly. Because it is free and runs on PC platforms, it gained a sizeable audience among hard-core developers very quickly.

Megabyte (MB) Expression used to describe storage capacity or amount of data. One megabyte is about one million of bytes/characters (10242).

Meta Information "Information about information;" in a Web document, keywords and dates used to categorize the document's content.

Meta Tag An HTML tag that identifies the contents of a Web page for the search engines. Meta tags contain a general description of the page, keywords and copyright information.

MP3 MPEG Audio Layer 3, an audio compression technology developed in Germany in 1991. The group of compression standards for video and audio includes MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3 (referred to as MP3) and MPEG-4, a standard for video telephony

Multi-media A simultaneous presentation of data in more than one form, such as sound or picture.

Open Source Software Free programs created through the collaborative efforts of programmers from around the world

Operating system The operating system is the most basic program in a computer. All computers have an operating system that among other things is used for starting the computer and running other programs (application programs). The operating system performs important tasks like receiving input from the keyboard and mouse, sending information to the screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, as well as controlling the various units such as disks printers etc-. An operating system also offers a user interface, giving the user the possibility to control the computer. Examples of operating systems are: Windows95/98, Windows NT/2000, Novell Netware, Mac OS, UNIX, Linux.

Partition Logical storage unit. Hard disks can be divided into one or more partitions. Each partition is regarded one logical storage unit, containing one file system. E.g in Windows 95/98/NT/2000 each partition is assigned one station letter (C:, D: etc), appearing as several hard disks.

PHP Open Source Software (PersonalHomePage). PHP is a server-side HTML embedded scripting language.

Platform Description for a framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. Typical platforms include a computer's architecture, operating system, or programming languages and their runtime libraries.

Plug-ins Software modules that add specific features or services to a larger program or system.

PNG Portable Network Graphics, developed as a patent-free answer to the GIF format. PNG builds on the idea of transparency in GIF images and allows the control of the degree of transparency. Saving, restoring and re-saving a PNG image will not degrade its quality. PNG does not support animation.

Port (1) Of a device or network, a point of access where signals may be inserted or extracted, or where the device or network variables may be observed or measured. (2) To convert software to run in a different computer environment.

pull media A system in which users request content on demand, and mostly only get what was asked for (for example, Web sites).

push media A system in which content is sent to the audience without the users requesting it (for example, broadcast TV).

Query To interrogate a database (count, sum and list selected records).

RAM Random Access Memory. Computer memory that allows any storage location to be accessed randomly, as opposed to sequential access devices like tape drives.

Router A computer system that decides which path Internet traffic should take to reach its destination.

Server High end computer used primarily to store data and providing access to shared resources. Usually it runs a network operating system.

Service provider A company that offers access to the Internet; same as Internet Service Provider, or ISP.

Social engineering A non-technical kind of intrusion that relies heavily on human interaction and tricking people to break normal security procedures. Prevention includes educating about the value of information, training to protect it, and increasing awareness of how social engineers operate.

Software A collection of instructions enabling a computer to solve one or several tasks.

SQL Structured Query Language, a language used to interrogate and process data in a relational database. Originally developed by IBM for its mainframes, all database systems designed for client/server environments support SQL.

spoofing Converting an IP address into a different one to avoid tracing Internet activity back to a connected computer.

Streaming Playing sound or video in real time as it is downloaded over the Internet as opposed to storing it in a local file first. A plug-in to a web browser decompresses and plays the data as it is transferred to your computer over the Net. Streaming audio or video avoids the delay entailed in downloading an entire file and then playing it with a helper application.

Super Block The first block of an UNIX-file system. It contains for instance the configuration of the file system.

Tags Bracketed text commands written into a document to specify how content should be formatted.

Traffic The number of visitor a Web site gets, as tracked by pageviews, visitors, impressions or hits.

Unicode A 16-bit code standard for uniform representation of all the characters systems of the world, digits, symbols and control sequences for use when storing data.

UNIX A multiuser, multitasking operating system that is widely used as the master control program in workstations and servers. The Open Group holds the trademark for the UNIX name. Unix is written in C. Both Unix and C were developed by AT&T and freely distributed to government and academic institutions, causing it to be ported to a wider variety of machine families than any other operating system. As a result, Unix became synonymous with "open systems."

Visit A series of page requests by a visitor without 30 minutes of inactivity.

VOIP Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol) is the routing of voice conversations over the Internet or any other IP-based network. The voice data flows over a general-purpose packet-switched network, instead of traditional dedicated, circuit-switched voice transmission lines. VOIP is a telephone service that uses the Internet as a global telephone network.

WAN (Wide Area Network) A communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as state or country. A LAN (local area network) is contained within a building or complex, and a MAN (metropolitan area network) generally covers a city or suburb.

WAP Wireless Application Protocol, an Internet communications protocol for portable devices such as cellular phones.

Web vertigo The result of bad user interface design when a user doesn't know what to do next on a Web page.

Web site A set of HTML documents or other files grouped under a domain name and delivered to users through the World Wide Web.

Web development Professional web design based on functionality along with web hosting, logo design, and custom applications.

Web server A server and/or computer program connected to the Internet to deliver Web sites on demand to user's Web browsers. Web servers are the foundation of the Internet. When a Web site address is typed in a browser, it is the server that does the work of getting the page of request.

Windows Microsoft's PC Operating System, available in DOS-enhancing versions (Windows95, 98) or as full network OS (WindowsNT, 2000).

Worm A program that can make copies of itself automatically across a network or the Internet; such a program wreaked havoc worldwide in late 1988.

XML Extensible Markup Language, a robust system using syntax tags to identify various types of data in a file.