Glossary
Blog
A Web site (or section of a Web site) where users can post a chronological, up-to-date entry of their thoughts. Each post usually contains a Web link.
Bookmarks or Favorites
Lists of frequently used Web locations and URLs. In Internet Explorer, bookmarks are called favorites.
Cable Modem
A modem that plugs into a cable network to provide Internet access, typically for homes or small businesses. It receives Internet data over the same type of cable that cable television uses.
Client/Server
A relationship in which one computer (the client) requests information from another computer program (the server). The term refers to the architecture on which the Web is built ? the client/server system.
Cookies
A Web script designed to retrieve information about you, the site visitor. Cookies build profiles of what users buy, where they are browsing from, etc. Browsers may be set up to either accept or reject cookies.
Cut-and-Paste
The process of moving a section of text from one place to another. First, you "cut it" (by highlighting the section of text you want to move). Then you "paste it" where you want it.
DSL
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a high speed data service offered by telephone companies that works over existing copper telephone lines.
Email
Mail that's electronically transmitted by your computer. Email is short for electronic mail.
Emoticons
A sequence of typed characters that create
a rough picture of something, such as a facial expression.
Google
Google is a hybrid search engine that ranks the popularity of results that match your keyword search. It has an index of over three billion Web pages.
Hard Drive
A data storage medium that houses all of the electronic information and software programs on your computer.
Homepage
The document displayed when you first open a Web browser. Browsers may be set up to open to the page of choice. Home page can also refer to the first document at a specific Web site.
HTML
An acronym for hypertext markup language, HTML is the formatting language used to tag various parts of a Web document so browsing software will display that document?s links, text, graphics, and attached media.
HTTP
The abbreviation for hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP is used to link and transfer hypertext documents.
Instant Messaging (IM)
A technology that gives users the ability to identify people online and to exchange messages with them. Examples include Yahoo Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.
Internet
A computerized network of networks used worldwide.
Modem
A hardware device you connect to your computer and to a phone line. It enables the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. Basically, modems do for computers what a telephone does for humans.
Mouse
A device connected to your computer, used to reposition the cursor or move the pointer on your screen. It is equipped with control buttons, and you move it around on your mouse pad, next to your keyboard. With a mouse, you can highlight text, open menu items, or launch programs, for example.
Pop-up
A new window that suddenly appears on your computer screen is referred to as a "pop-up window."
Search Engine
A software program that uses a keyword or directory structure to search for information in websites and databases.
Spam
An e-mail message sent to a large number of people without consent, also known as Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE) or junk e-mail. Spam is usually sent to promote a product or service.
World Wide Web
A collection of graphical pages on the Internet that can be read and interacted with.
Yahoo!
Yahoo! is a search directory edited by humans, giving users relevant results in a clear, consistent, categorical manner.