Return to Vector DirectoryHome PageUse the links below to jump to the first letter of the word you wish to find, or simply scroll through each section:
Client/Server - Term that separates computers
and their users into two categories: clients or servers. When
you want information from a computer on the Internet, you are a
client. The computer that delivers the information is the
server. A server stores information and keeps it available to a
client who requests the information.
Cyberspace - A term used to explain the Internet
medium, as in, "He was browsing cyberspace for information on
home improvement."
Dial-in - Refers to a connection made between a
PC and another computer (or a PC and the Internet). PC users
generally have Windows-based software which performs the dial-in
to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The dial-in connection is
made through the use of either a modem to connect via a regular
phone line or a terminal adapter (TA) to connect via an ISDN
phone line. The modem software connects the user to the
provider, to establish a (TCP/IP) link to the Internet, which
enables you to access information.
Domain - An area under control of an agency or
government.
Domain Name - The plain language name substitute
for the Internet Address/Number (ex: abcdefg.com =
123.234.345.4).
DNS (Domain Name Server) - This service
translates the name of a machine into a numerical address and
vice versa.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) - A file that
contains frequently asked questions at Internet sites.
Firewall - A combination of hardware and software
that protects a local area network (LAN). A firewall separates
the network into two or more parts and restricts outsiders to the
area "outside" the firewall. Private information is kept
"inside" the firewall.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - A means for
transferring files from one computer to another over a network.
HTML - HyperText Markup Language is a way of adding various attributes to plain-text files that are placed on the World Wide Web. HTML lets you mix graphics with text, change the appearance of text, and create hypertext documents which interact with the user. HTML is based on the concept of beginning and ending tags, which causes the text inside the tag to take on a specific attribute. Proper HTML content allow documents to be understood no matter what sort of software or computer the user has.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) - A way to
transfer HTML documents between computers.
Host - A term for a computer that "hosts" an
outside computer user by providing its files, services or
resources.
Hypertext - An interactive documentation
technique (commonly called a tag) which allows the user to change
the way things are viewed on the Internet (such as changing the
characteristics of word to become bold or underlined).
Information Superhighway - Refers to integration
of existing communications services, including telephone, cable
television, and computer networks.
Internet - The largest worldwide computer
network.
IP (Internet Protocol) - The rules that govern
basic Internet functions (see TCP/IP).
IP Address or IP Number (Internet Protocol
address) - A unique numeric Internet address that consists of 4
parts separated by dots (ex: 123.234.345.4), and identifies a
specific machine on the Internet. Every Internet computer has an
IP number (see Domain Name).
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - A
set of communications standards that enable a single phone line
or optical cable to carry voice, digital network services and
video. ISDN is intended to eventually replace our standard
telephone system.
M - Prefix indicating 1 million binary or
1048576 decimal.
Modem - An electronic device that lets a
computer communicate electronically. The name is derived from
"modulator-demodulator" because of their function in processing
computer data over phone lines.
Security - Control mechanisms that prevent
unauthorized use of resources.
Server - A computer program or a machine which
provides a service to others over a network.
SLIP (Serial Line Internetworking Protocol) - A
method of establishing an Internet connection over a serial line.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) - A way
of delivering mail over a computer network.
Snail Mail - A term for the US Postal Service.
Shell Account - A software application that lets
you use someone else's Internet connection. It's not quite the
same as having your own, direct Internet connection. Instead, you
connect to a host computer and use the Internet through the host
computer's connection.
Signature file - An ASCII text file, maintained
within e-mail programs, that contains a few lines of text for
your signature. The programs automatically attach the file to
your messages so you don't have to repeatedly type a closing.
SLIP/PPP (Serial Line Internet Protocol and
Point-to-Point Protocol) - The basic rules that enable PCS to
connect, usually by dial-up modem, directly to other computers
that provide Internet services.
URL - Universal Resource Locator: A method for
specifying the location of a file over a computer network. It
contains three parts, the protocol followed by a colon then a
network pathname. In a network pathname, a machine name is
preceded by two slashes while files and directories are preceded
by one slash.
Usenet - A bulletin board system by which
messages are passed between computers organized by subject into
units called 'newsgroups'.
WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) - An
Internet public database system.
WAN (Wide Area Network) - Remote computer
communications system.
WWW (World Wide Web) - An information and
retrieval system based upon the HyperText transfer protocol
(http) that transfers HyperText documents across a variety of
computer systems, making information easily accessible and
completely independent of physical location.
