A Glossary of Network Terms

Anchor

A hyperlink in a Web document. You click on this highlighted text or image to connect to another Web page or resource.

Annotations

Notes that you can add to Web documents. These notes are stored on your local disk and are available each time that you access a document. This feature is found in NCSA Mosaic, but not Netscape.

Archie

An Internet based search engine for locating files archived on the network. You can search for files by subject and keyword and then download them using FTP.

ASCII

An acronym for American Standard Code for Information Exchange, ASCII is an international standard in which numbers, letters, punctuation marks, symbols and control codes are assigned numbers from O to 27. ASCII text is a plain text without formatting or font specifications. It is the format in which most files on the Internet are stored.

Asynchronous Connection

A standard phone/modem connection. This connection is not synchronizedline, this connection is not synchronized by a mutual timing signal or clock.

AU Sounds

This is an audio format used in Mosaic.

Bandwidth

The range of transmission frequencies that a network can use. The greater the bandwidth the more information that can be transferred over that network at one time.

Baseband

A transmission method in which a network uses its entire transmission range to send a single signal.

Baud

A unit of speed in data transmission, as one bit per second for binary signals. [After J. M. E. Baudot (died 1903).]

BBS

This is an acronym for Bulletin Board System, a computer equipped with software and telecommunications links that allow it to act as an information host for remote computer systems.

BinHex

A file conversion format that converts binary files to ASCII text files. This allows one to send formatted word-processing files over the network.

Bit

A contraction meaning binary digit, a bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer can hold. The speed at which bits are transmitted or bit rate is usually expressed as bits per second or bps.

Broadband

A transmission method in which the networks range of transmission frequencies is divided into separate channels and each channel is used to send a different signal. Broadband is often used to send different types of signals simultaneously.

Byte

Eight bits is equivalent to a byte.

Client

A computer that has access to services over a computer network. The computer providing the services is a server.

Client-Server Architecture

An information-passing scheme that works as follows a client program,such as Mosaic, sends a request to a server. The server takes the request, disconnects from the client and processes the request. When the request is processed, the server reconnects to the client program and the information is transferred to the client. This architecture differs from traditional Internet databases where the client connects to the server and runs the program from the remote site.

Cyberspace

This term first appeared in the book Neuromancer by science fiction writer William Gibson. Gibson envisioned cyberspace as a computer network in which users travelled mentally through matrices of data. The term is now used to describe the Internet and the other computer networks.

Dial-up Connection

The most popular form of Net connection for the home user, this is a connection from your computer to a host computer over standard telephone lines.

Direct Connection

A permanent connection between your computer system and the Internet. This is sometimes referred to as a leased-line connection because the line is leased from the telephone company.

DNS

An acronym for Domain Name Server, DNS refers to a database of Internet names and addresses which translates the names to the official Internet Protocol numbers and vice versa.

Document

When used in reference to the World Wide Web, a document is any file containing text,media or hyperlinks that can be transferred from an HTTP server to a client program.

Download

To transfer to your computer a copy of a file that resides on another computer.

External Viewer

This is the program used for presenting graphics, audio and video in Mosaic. Programs that allow the viewing of GIF and JPEG files and the playing of AU files falls into this category.

FAQ

This is the acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. A common feature on the Internet, FAQs are files of answers to commonly asked questions. Read FAQs before wasting electrons asking obvious questions. Saves you from receiving flames.

Firewall

This term refers to security measures designed to protect a networked system from unauthorized or unwelcome access.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol is a protocol that allows the transfer of files from one computer to another.

FTP is also the verb used to describe the actual transferring of files from one computer to another.

GIF

Pronounced "jiff" - as in the peanut butter, this acronym stands for Graphic Interchange Format, a commonly used file compression format developed by CompuServe for transferring graphics files to and from online services.

Gopher

A menu-oriented tool used to locate online resources.

Gopher space

A term used to describe the entire gopher network.

GUI

An acronym for Graphical User Interface, this term refers to a software front-end meant to providean attractive and easy to use interface between a computer user and application.

Home Page

The document displayed when you first open Mosaic or some other net browser. Home Page also refers to the first document you come to at a Web site.

Hotlists

Lists of frequently used Web locations and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators).

Host

A computer acting as an information or communications server.

HTML

An acronym for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is the language used to tag various parts of a Web document so browsing software will know how to display that document's links, text, graphics and attached media.

Here are some networked based resources to get you started with HTML

The HTML Primer
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.html
HCC Collection of HTML Documents
http://kawika. hcc. hawaii. edu/htmlstart. html
Introduction to HTML
http ://www.utirc.utoronto.ca/HTMLdocs/NewHTML/intro. html
Beginner's Guide to HTML
http ://www. ncsa. uiuc.edu/demoweb/html-primer.html
HTML Style Guide
http://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/Provider/Style/Overview.html

HTML Document

A document written in HyperText Markup Language.

HTTP

The abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP is used to link and transfer hypertext documents.

Hypermedia

The hypertext concept extended to include linked multiple media.

Hypertext

This term describes the system that allows documents to be cross-linked in such a way that thereader can explore related documents by clicking on a highlighted word or symbol.

Inline Images

These are the graphics contained within a Web document.

IP

The abbreviation for Internet Protocol, IP refers to the set of communication standards that controlcommunications activity on the Internet. An IP address is the number assigned to any Internet-connectedcomputer.

ISDN

The abbreviation for Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN is a telecommunications standard that uses digital transmission technology to support voice, video and data communications applications over regular telephone lines.

JPEG

The acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group, JPEG is an image compression format used totransfer color photographs and images over computer networks. Along with GIF, is the most common way photos are moved over the Web.

Links

These are the hypertext connections between Web pages. This is a synonym for hotlinks orhyperlinks.

Live

When used in reference to a World Wide Web file, this term designates an object linked to anotherlayer of information.

Metaverse

From the book Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, this term describes a virtual onlin erepresentation of reality.

MIME

An acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, MIME is a messaging standard that allows Internet users to exchange e-mail messages enhanced with graphics, video and voice. IME file types are also used in Mosaic and other web browsers.

Mosaic

This is the common name of a World Wide Web multimedia browser program developed at theNational Center for Supercomputing Applications in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. The official, copyrightedname of the program is NCSA MosiacQ.

MPEG

The acronym for Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG is an international standard for video compression and desktop movie presentation. A special viewing application is needed to run MPEG files on your computer.

NCSA

This is the abbreviation for National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University ofIllinois in Urbana-Champaign.

NFS

The abbreviation for Network File System, NFS is a protocol suite developed and licensed by Sun Microsystems that allows different makes of computers running different operating systems to share files and disk storage.

NIC

The abbreviation for Network Information Center, NIC is an organization responsible for supplying information for component networks that comprise the Internet.

NOC

The abbreviation for Network Operations Center, NOC is the organization responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Internet's component networks.

Node

A device attached to a network. A node uses the network as a means of communication and has anaddress on the network.

NREN

The abbreviation for National Research and Education Network, NREN is an effort to combinethe networks operated by the U.S. government into a single high-speed network.

OSI Model

The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model for describing network protocolswas devised by the Internet Standards Organization. It divides protocols into seven layers to standardize and simplify definitions.

POP

An acronym for Point of Presence, POP is a service provider's location for connecting to users. Generally, POPs refer to the location where people can dial into the provider's host computer. Most providers have several POPs to allow low-cost access via telephone lines.

POTS

This is an acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service.

PPP

The abbreviation for Point-to-Point Protocol, PPP is an Internet connection where phone lines and a modem can be used to connect a computer to the Internet.

Protocol

A set of standards that define how traffic and communications are handled by a computer ornetwork routers.

QuickTime

This is a digital video standard developed for Apple Macintosh computers. Special viewing applications are needed to run QuickTime movies.

Router

A communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient route possible.

Search Engine

This term refers to a program that helps users find information in text-oriented databases.

Server

A computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers.

SGML

The abbreviation for 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.

SLIP

The acronym for 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 to a host.

Socket

This is a communication mechanism originally implemented on the BSD version of the UNIXoperating system. Sockets are used as endpoints for sending and receiving data between computers.

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-l

High-speed data line connection. T-l operates at 1.45 Mbps.

Tags

These are formatting codes used in HTML documents. Tags indicate how parts of a document willappear when displayed by browsing software.

TCP-IP

The basic protocols controlling applications on the Internet.

TIFF

This is the acronym for Tagged Image File Format, a graphic file format developed by Aldus andMicrosoft. Mosaic supports the viewing of TIFF images.

Trumpet Winsock

A popular, cheerier TCP/IP protocol stack.

URL

This is the abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, The addressing system used in the WorldWide 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.

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.

WAIS

The abbreviation for 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.

Web Browser

This is the software that allows a user to access and view HTML documents. Examples of Web browsers include 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 Node

This term is synonymous with Web site or Web server.

Web Page

An HTML document that is accessible on the Web.

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.

This glossary was compiled from WEBster, The Cyberspace Surfer, October 11, 1994 and October 25,1994.