Tips & Tricks
An Internet Glossary

~ Alphabetical Index ~ ~ 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 ~
A	Anonymous FTP An Internet service provided to make files available to the general Internet community. Users can log into tens of thousands of anonymous FTP servers throughout the world using the login name "anonymous" and their E-mail address password. This is one of the primary ways the latest Internet and shareware applications and files are distributed. Archie An indexed database of filenames from all anonymous FTP archives on the Internet. Archie servers routinely contact public computers on the Internet, retrieve a list of their directories and files, and build indexes of servers and their contents. ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) Now called DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), this government agency was formed in 1957 under the Eisenhower administration in response to the Russian launching of Sputnik. This government agency funded ARPANet and later the DARPA Internet, the two networks that evolved into what is now the Internet. ARPAnet A pioneering network funded by ARPA. It was the basis for early networking research as well as a central backbone during the development of the Internet. The ARPAnet, which began in 1969, consisted of individual packet switching computers interconnected by leased lines. The ARPAnet no longer exists as a singular entity. ASCII File Also called a text file, a text-only file or an ASCII text file. A document file in the universally recognized text format called ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). An ASCII file contains characters, spaces, punctuation, carriage returns, and sometimes tabs and an end-of-file marker, but it contains no formatting information. This generic format is useful for transferring unadorned but readable files between programs that could not otherwise understand each other's documents.
B	Backbone A high-speed connection within a network that connects shorter, usually slower, circuits. Also used in reference to a system that acts as a "hub" for activity (although those are becoming less prevalent now than they were ten years ago). A common misconception regarding the Internet is that there is a single "backbone;" in reality, there are several. Organizations maintaining backbones on the Internet include the National Science Foundation, Advanced Network Services (ANS), UUNet Technologies, and Performance Systems International (PSI). Bandwidth In computer networks, this term refers to the speed of a connection between two computers connected on a network. Concerning the Internet specifically, bandwidth is extremely variable and in no way constant. The super-dynamic nature of the Internet causes bandwidth fluctuations sometimes second-to-second. It is important to understand that the Internet is not a single network, but rather a "network of networks;" many disparate areas of the Internet may coincidentally experience bandwidth shortages, while others experience no problems whatsoever. Baud rate Commonly, a reference to the speed at which a modem can transmit data. Often incorrectly assumed to indicate the number of bits per second (bps) transmitted, baud rate actually measures the number of events, or signal changes, that occur in a second. Because one event can actually encode more than one bit in high-speed digital communications, baud rate and bits per second are not always synonymous, and the latter is the more accurate term to apply to modems. For example, a so-called 9600-baud modem that encodes four bits per event actually operates at 2400 baud but transmits 9600 bits-per-second (2400 events, times four bits per event) and thus should be called a 9600-bps modem. Baud A measure of data transmission speed named after the French engineer and telegrapher Jean-Maurice-Emile Baudot. Originally used to measure the transmission speed of telegraph equipment, the term now commonly refers to the data transmission speed of a modem. BBS Acronym for bulletin board system, a computer system equipped with one or more modems that serves as an information and message passing center for dial-up users. Bookmark Sometimes called a "hotlist," a bookmark is a group of items from a menu that is added to a bookmark list for easy access at a later point in time. Bookmarks prevent having to remember where favorite or interesting Internet resources are on the Internet. Bounce The return of a piece of mail because of an error in its delivery. BPS Bits per second; a measure of the speed of a modem, network connection, or Internet connection. Bits per second is the most accurate way to measure the speed of a modem or network and is the accepted standard replacement to the often incorrectly cited "baud" rate. BTW An abbreviation for "by the way," typically used in an E-mail message, mailing list posting, or news group posting.
C	CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) The CERT was formed by DARPA in November 1988 in response to security needs exhibited during the Internet Worm incident. The CERT charter is to work with the Internet community to facilitate its response to computer security events involving Internet hosts, to take steps to raise the community's awareness of computer security issues, and to conduct research targeted at improving the security of existing systems. CERT products and services include 24-hour technical assistance for responding to computer security incidents, product vulnerability assistance, technical documents, and tutorials. The team also maintains a number of mailing lists (including one for CERT Advisories), and provides an anonymous FTP server, at cert.org, where security-related documents and tools are archived. The CERT may be reached by email at cert@cert.org and by telephone at 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline). CARL (Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries) A database that contains abstracts of articles from 10,000 journals made available by the seven member libraries of the alliance. The table of contents can be accessed free of charge at CARL For more information about CARL, send E-mail to help@carl.org. Character-based Interface A type of display format that enables the user to choose commands, start programs, and see lists of files and other options in a non-graphical environment. This kind of interface is usually associated with Telnet. Chatting An activity on a bulletin board system in which people type messages to each other. Usually, chatting is popular on systems with eight or more lines. Chatting simulates talking on a party line. Client A computer system or process that requests a service of another computer system or process. A workstation requesting the contents of a file from a file server is a client of the file server. Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) In the past, commercial traffic was not allowed on the Internet because of NSFnet’s Acceptable Use Policy. Recently, however, many network companies have begun to support commercial use. The Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) coordinates these providers. For more information on the CIX, send E-mail to: info@cix.org CompuServe Information Service (CIS) One of the first and still one of the most extensive commercial online services. CompuServe Information Service has also been a pioneer in the data communications filed, authoring the QuickB communications protocol, and the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) graphics standard, among others. CompuServe offers an incredible array of services, from online airline reservations to trademark and patent searches. Through the CompuServe Information Manager (CIM), many of these services are available via a graphical user interface. Cyberspace A term coined by science fiction author William Gibson in his 1984 novel Neuromancer, it describes the virtual electronic realm of interconnected computers and the society that gathers around them. It could be said that one is in cyberspace when logging into the Internet or any online service such as America Online or CompuServe.
D	Delphi This service was begun as the Kussmaul Online Encyclopedia, but has since grown into a general-purpose online service. While other commercial services talk about the Internet, but only offer gateways, Delphi is a genuine Internet service, offering FTP, Telnet, Gopher, Archie, WWW, WAIS, and more. A graphical navigator program called Messenger-Lite is now available, with a full graphical interface in development. DNS (Domain Name System) The method used to convert Internet names to their corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) numbers. The DNS consists of a hierarchical sequence of names, from the most specific to the most general (left to right), separated by periods; for example: user@somewhere.com. Domain Name A part of the Domain Name System naming hierarchy. A domain name consists of a sequence of names or other words separated by periods. Dotted Quad A set of four numbers connected with periods that make up an Internet address (for example: 147.31.254.130).
E	E-mail (Electronic Mail) A system for computer users to exchange messages via a communications network. E-mail Address The domain-based address that is the English language equivalent of a user's IP number (see IP Number) through which a user is defined. For example: springweb@aol.com. A user's e-mail address is also referred to as an "Internet address." Electronic Commerce A term used to describe the emerging development of new systems designed to permit virtual commercial transactions directly over electronic networks such as the Internet, rather than through traditional business and communications channels. Emoticon :) Symbols that provide a way for a person to portray a "mood" in the very flat medium of computer E-mail and other text communications. More commonly known as "smilies," there are literally hundreds of emoticons, from the obvious to the obscure. This particular example :) expresses "happiness." If you don't see it, tilt your head to the left 90 degrees. And then see our Cyber-Language matrix. Eudora The popular E-mail package for both Windows and Macintosh from Quaicomm, Inc. Eudora offers a user-friendly interface and allows attachments to E-mail, multiple mailboxes for storing mail, and off-line reading and composing of mail messages. Both shareware and commercial versions are available.
F	FAQ Frequently asked question. Usually more than one at one site, sets of questions are posted on the Internet at Gopher sites, WWW sites, and within news groups. These questions usually address popular topics and provide answers to those topics. Fetch If you double-click on the text next to the icon, gopher attempts to get that item for you. This is called a fetch. The item may be another menu, or a file that you can display, given the proper configuration of special companion software. Finger A command used in Telnet to find information about a person by viewing their plan file. Firewall A means by which to isolate an internal network from the Internet. Flame A piece of E-mail or a Usenet posting which is argumentative and indicates a strong opinion and/or criticism of something. It is common to precede a flame with an indication of pending fire (such as FLAME ON!). Freeware Software that is distributed free of charge. Freeware is often made available on bulletin boards and through user groups. An independent program developer might offer a product as freeware either for personal satisfaction or to assess its reception among interested users. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) The system for transferring files between computers on the Internet. This is the system most commonly used for downloading software, including the latest shareware releases of popular Internet applications like Mosaic, Netscape, and Eudora. FYI Acronym for "for your information," a common abbreviation used to denote information useful to new users and other valuable information contained in an E-mail message, mailing list posting, or news group posting.
G	Gateway The term "router" is now used in place of the original definition of gateway. Currently, a gateway is a communications device or program which passes data between networks having similar functions but dissimilar protocols. GEnie A general-purpose online service that has a large number of support forums. GEnie offers a gateway to other services such as Dow Jones News Retrieval. GEnie also provides E-mail forums, weather reports, software downloading, limited access to the Internet, and other services. Gopher A distributed information service that makes hierarchical collections of information available across the Internet. Gopher uses a simple protocol that allows a single gopher client to access information from any accessible gopher server on the entire Internet, providing the user with a single "gopherspace" of information. Shareware versions of the client and server are available. Gopherspace The collection of all gopher servers in the world.
H	Hacker A person who delights in having an intimate understanding of the internal workings of a system, computers and computer networks in particular. Header The portion of a packet, preceding the actual data, containing source and destination addresses and error-checking fields. Also the top of an E-mail message that contains the TO, FROM, SUBJECT, etc. sections of the message. Headers should not be confused with word processing headers and footers. Home The term home is used when describing a starting point for Internet exploration. It refers to the first menu a user sees when a gopher client is started or the first page a users sees when WWW browser is started. Host A computer that allows users to communicate with other host computers on a network. HTML (See Hypertext Markup Language) HTTP (See Hypertext Transfer Protocol) Hypertext A term coined by computer author Ted Nelson around 1965. Unlike sequential text (that found in a typical book or newspaper article), hypertext contains links to other text, sound, video, animation, and graphic images. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) The code used to create a page of information seen by a WWW browser. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) The protocol used to transfer HTML pages across the Internet.
I	IP Address Every computer on the Internet has an address that can be viewed in two ways: by the domain name, or text version of the name, and the IP address, or "dotted quad." It is unlikely that you will ever need to know the IP address of a computer; since it can change, you may end up using the wrong one. IMHO Acronym for "in my humble opinion," it usually accompanies a statement that may bring about personal offense or strong disagreement within an E-mail message, mailing list posting, or news group posting. Information Superhighway A term generally used to describe a future, seamless web of communications networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics that will place vast amounts of information at the fingertips of residential and business consumers. Often erroneously used as a synonym to describe the Internet. Internet The world's largest computer network, connecting many campus, state, regional and national networks together. The Internet is sometimes referred to as a "network of networks." Internet Number The dotted-quad (see Dotted Quad) address used to specify a certain computer system. Each computer on the Internet is assigned a unique IP number. A resolver is used to translate between host names and Internet addresses. Internet Protocol (IP) A system used to connect the various computers within the Internet. Every computer connected to the Internet has its own IP number. An IP number is actually four different numbers, all separated by periods, similar to: Internet Service Provider (ISP) Sometimes also referred to as an Internet "Access" Provider, an ISP is to the emerging Internet industry as local cable television providers are to home television access. ISPs are your "launchpad" or "front door" to the Internet. ISP accounts are generally paid for on a monthly basis, but can also be purchased quarterly or annually (individual companies have very different policies.) Average cost for an ISP is between $20 and $60 per month. When seeking an ISP, should ask: What is the average number of users per modem? Does the standard account include news groups? How many technical support personnel do they employ? What is the maximum speed of a dialup (modem) or direct connection to that particular ISP? Internet Society The Internet Society (ISOC) is a non-governmental, international organization for global cooperation and coordination for the Internet. The Society's individual and organizational members have a common goal of maintaining the viability and global scaling of the Internet. ISOC members are the companies, government agencies, and foundations that created the Internet, as well as new entrepreneurial organizations which make ongoing contributions. InterNIC The Internet Network Information Center, based in Virginia. The InterNIC is responsible for approving and granting Internet domain names to organizations. ISDN Integrated Systems Digital Network. A type of direct connection to the Internet through a high speed telephone line. ISDN speeds range from 64kbps to l28kbps.
J	JAVA An object oriented language for writing all sorts of programs that can be downloaded over the web. From animations to spreadsheets to full blown Java applications. Java Script A small program written in the Java language that performs some type of data or object manipulation. Most often runs on the client side in a users browser. Java Servlet A program written in the Java language that performs more complex data or object manipulation. Most often runs on the server side.
L	LAN (Local Area Network) Any physical network technology that operates at high speed over short distances (up to a few thousand meters). Listserv A UNIX program that is used to subscribe and un-subscribe people from mailing lists. Listserv can also search through old messages for specific information, send out updates of standard files to those who want them, and give you information about who else is subscribed to a particular mailing list. Lurking A term used to describe browsing a news group for the purpose of tracking its discussions. It is advisable to lurk through a news group before posting to it. Lynx A character-based World Wide Web browser program usable through a Telnet connection to almost all UNIX servers on the Internet. Because Lynx is run on the UNIX server to which you connect your Windows or Macintosh client computer, you don't have to install it on your client system. In fact, this is impossible because Lynx is a UNIX-based program and can't be in a Windows or Mac environment.
M	Mailbox A folder or directory into which E-mail is downloaded or transferred when it is sent from a server to a client. Mailing List Any of the tens of thousands of discussion groups pertaining to all imaginable subjects that involve the distribution of E-mail from a central computer (see Listserv). Anyone with E-mail capabilities on their computer, including those not really on the Internet who are members of online services like America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy, can subscribe to mailing lists. Modem Short for modulator/demodulator, a communications device that enables a computer to transmit information over a standard telephone line. Mosaic A World Wide Web browser application available for the Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX (XWindows) platforms, Mosaic was originally developed in 1992 at the National Center for Super computing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
N	National Information Infrastructure (NII) The National Information Infrastructure (NII) is the communications network of computers, databases, and consumer electronics that will put vast amounts of information at users fingertips in the future. It may either evolve from the Internet or replace it. National Research and Education Network (NREN) The High-Performance Computing Act established the National Research and Education Network (NREN). This major federal initiative, designed to give students access to networked information, is bringing thousands of public schools and other K-12 institutions onto the Internet. Netiquette A pun on "etiquette;" proper behavior on the Internet, especially in the use of E-mail. Netfind A type of server that is used to help locate the E-mail address of a person or organization using the Internet. Netscape The popular World Wide Web browser application from Netscape Communications Corporation. Netscape is one of the most stable and fastest Web browsers on the market and provides data encryption and security functions. Network A group of machines connected so they can transmit information to one another. There are two kinds of networks: local networks and remote networks.
P	Point of Presence A point of presence is a location providing a collection of telecommunications equipment including multi-protocol routers, digital leased lines, or modems and telephone lines. The point of presence is then, in turn, connected to the Internet. Internet service providers contract the use of this equipment to individual users and corporations to allow them to connect to the Internet. Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) The Point-to-Point Protocol provides a method for transmitting packets over modem connections to the Internet. It is similar to SLIP but is slightly faster and more stable. Post Office Protocol (POP) A UNIX program that resides on the server where your mail account is located. It sends and receives mail and may transfer mail between the server and your computer. There are different versions of POP, not all of which are compatible. Post To send a message to a mailing list or news group. Protocol The rules that computers must follow to exchange information between each other.
R	Resolver A computer used to translate between host names and Internet addresses.
S	Server A computer that shares its resources, such as printers and files, with other computers on a network. When a user of the Internet connects to a computer offering Gopher, FTP, World Wide Web, or e-mail services, the computer offering these serves is in the role of a server. Shareware Copyrighted software that is distributed free of charge on a trial basis and requires a small payment to cover costs and registration for documentation and program updates. Shareware should not be confused with freeware, the only category of software on the market that can be used with no financial obligation to the author(s). Shell Account The most basic kind of Internet account offered by a ISP. A shell account does not require the use of TCP/IP and does not allow the use of any kind of graphical user interface to the Internet. Signature The three- or four-line message at the bottom of a piece of E-mail or a news group (Usenet) posting that identifies and provides pertinent information about the sender. Long signatures (over five lines) are discouraged. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, or SMTP, is the protocol on the Internet for transporting messages from one E-mail system to another. SMTP helps ensure that mail arrives at its destination, regardless of the distance or path it must travel. The SMTP protocol, although widely used, is gradually being replaced by the newer Post Office Protocol, or POP. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Simple Network Management Protocol or SNMP, is a common communication protocol for collecting management information from devices on a network. SLIP/PPP Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) are two methods for connecting to the Internet over a modem. Internet Service Providers offer SLIP and PPP access at up to 28,800 bits per second. Spamming The mass distribution of unsolicited E-mail messages or inappropriate news group postings. Spamming sometimes involves sending a single E-mail message to tens of thousands of recipients both individuals and those subscribing to news groups. Subscribe To add your name to a mailing list or news group. Summarize To encapsulate a number of responses into one coherent, usable message. Often done on controlled mailing lists or active news groups, to help reduce bandwidth. SYSOP Slang acronym for system operator, "system" in this use being understood as a bulletin board system (IBBS) and "operator" being the owner, curator, or manager of the BBS.
T	TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) A set of protocols, resulting from ARPA (see ARPA) efforts, used by the Internet to support services such as remote login (Telnet), file transfer (FTP) and mail (SMTP). If your computer doesn't have TCP/IP, it isn't truly connected to the Internet. Telnet The Internet standard protocol for remote terminal connection service. Telnet allows a user at one site to interact with a remote system as if the user's terminal were directly connected to it. Telnet is one method of using all of the services available through the Internet, including Gopher, FTP, E-mail, and the World Wide Web. Thread A group of replies or replies to replies; a string of messages regarding the same idea or topic. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) An Internet standard data transport protocol. Tunneling Tunneling is the term used to describe traversing gopher menus, some of which connect you to menu items on other gopher servers.
U	Un-subscribe To remove your name from a mailing list or news group. URL (Uniform Resource Locator) The technical name of a World Wide Web page address. URL addresses include both the address of the Web server and the specific directory structure that leads to an individual Web page on a Web server. For example: http://member.aol.com/springweb Usenet A virtual collection of thousands of topically-named news groups, the computers which run the protocols, and the people who read and submit Usenet news. Not all Internet hosts subscribe to Usenet, and not all Usenet hosts are on the Internet. Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) charge more to provide news group services.
V	Veronica Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Index to Computer Architecture. A database query system providing access to information resources held on most of the world's gopher servers. In addition to native gopher data, Veronica includes references to many resources provided by other types of information servers. Virtual There are several usages, Virtual Host, Vitural Servers, Virtual Documents and Virtual Reality. In these cases, Virtual is an event or service that is effect without physically being there. An example would be virtual reality, which is a computer simulation of 3-d images with which one might physically interact with through electronic devices. In other words, it's there, but it's not really there. Virus A program that replicates itself on computer systems by incorporating itself into executable software. Some viruses are intended to cause irreparable damage.
W	WAIS (Wide Area Information System) A database retrieval system on the Internet that supports full-text searches, which are not supported by Veronica in Gopherspace. WAIS gives users the ability to search existing databases of articles, books, references, abstracts, and special information (such as news group archives and FTP site listings). WAN (Wide Area Network) A network spanning hundreds or thousands of miles. Web Browser Any of the collection of shareware and commercial applications available for the Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX platforms that enable an Internet user to browse through the information provided by the World Wide Web as hypertext linked documents. Most Web browsers allow a user to record the Web sites they have visited for access. Webmaster / Webmistress Person responsible for administration and content of a website. Whois A whois database lists information about people and organizations. The whois command allows you to search this database. This command helps to determine if an individual or organization has a registered address or domain on the Internet. You should specify two things in a whois command: the name of the server which has the database you want to search; and the user name, organization, or domain name of the organization for which you want to search. The largest and most frequently used whois database is the InterNIC Registration Services Host (rs.internic.net) maintained by the InterNIC Information Center. For MILNET Information, specify nic.ddn.mil as the name of the server. Other businesses and institutions also have whois servers. The name of the server is not required in the whois command. World Wide Web ("WWW" or "W3," or simply "the Web") A hypertext-based, distributed information system created by researchers at the Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) in Switzerland. Users may create, edit, or browse hypertext documents. The most popular browsers for the Web are Netscape (see Netscape) and NCSA Mosaic (see Mosaic). Worm A computer program that replicates itself. The Internet worm put in place by Robert Morris, Jr. was perhaps the most famous. The worm successfully (and accidentally) duplicated itself on systems across the Internet. WRT Acronym for "with respect to," typically used in an E-mail message, mailing list posting, or news group posting.
X	X.500 There are many phone books and X.500 servers on the Internet, each containing information on different groups of users. Phone books are used primarily by universities and other institutions, while X.500 servers are used primarily by businesses. The services appear on gopher servers letting you access information on the Internet via menus.
Y	Y2K / Y2000 The Year 2000 ("y2k") software problem or "Millennium Bug" arises from the use of a two-digit field to identify years in computer programs (for example 85 = 1985), and the assumption of a single century -- the 1900s. Any software programs or applications created will read (or attempt to read) "00" as the year 1900. Programs that use dates (including programs within machinery such as building security systems or HVAC systems) will fail or malfunction if these errors are not corrected. You can up to date on the latest Y2k news at www.y2k.com.
Z	Z Well if you find a 'z' word concerning the internet. Let me know and I'll it here.
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