A	Applet - A small Java program incorporated into the design of a web page which adds functionality by running applications that are not normally possible with ordinary HTML scripting. The applet is downloaded and run on your computer when a web page is accessed.
	Animated GIF - A file containing a series of GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) graphics that are displayed in rapid sequence in a Web browser, giving the appearance of a moving picture. Also see GIF

 

B	Bandwidth - A measure of how much information can be pushed through a transmission medium such as a phone line or network cable. ie a data pipeline, if you increase the bandwidth more information can flow.
	Browser - Program which interprets HTML files displaying them as Web pages to the user on the Internet. Two of the best known are Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape Navigator.

 

C	CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A standard method of extending Web server functionality by executing programs or scripts on a Web server in response to Web browser requests. A common use of CGI is in the handling of form data. They can also make a Web page much more dynamic and add interactivity for the user.
	Cookie - Refers to a small piece of information sent to your computer when you access a certain website, when you re-enter a website it helps remember any passwords or user names. They are safe to use and do not pose any breaches of security to your computer from the internet.

 

D	Dial-up connection - The most popular form of Internet connection for home users, data is transferred from the host computer over standard telephone lines.
	Directory - The same as a search engine however the information sent for indexing a site is sorted by editors who decide if it should appear in the directory and secondly which category it should appear under. Example's of directory's are, Yahoo and Uk Directory also see Search engine.
	DNS - Stands for Domain Name System. A DNS server lets you locate computers on a network or the internet by domain name. The DNS server maintains a database of domain names and their corresponding IP addresses.
	Domain Name - The address of a computer or network server connected to the Internet in the format that identifies the owner of that address in the format: server.organization.type. For example, www.merlinweblink.co.uk
	Dynamic HTML (DHTML) - The latest derivative of HTML which allows for greater flexibility in presenting web page text and graphics. (DHTML) An extension of the HTML language that enables the creation of presentation effects for text and objects.

 

E	E-Commerce - The generic term used to describe the trading of goods and services by computer. Normally used to describe on-line shopping, although it can also include other forms of commerce such as share trading. All e-commerce business transactions should be set up on a secure server on which to hold the Web pages ware customers enter their credit card details into. A security certificate is also needed so that customers know that businesses are who you claim to be. All the information collected from the on-line forms is then encrypted and sent to the company handling the transaction, were they deal with the payment request, this is all without fear of anyone else intercepting it. It is now thought that it is safer to use your credit card on the internet then it is using your credit card in a restaurant or shop, as only you input your card information on a secure server, where in a shop or restaurant you could loose sight of your card while they take the information from it !
	E-MAIL Address - The unique private Internet address to which your email is sent ie info@merlinweblink.co.uk. Many people get confused by email address and website site address. An email address has an @ in it and a website has www. at the start of it!!

 

F	FAQ'S (Frequently Asked Questions) - A document listing common questions and answers on a particular subject.
	Form - A set of data-entry fields on a page that are processed on a Web server. The data is converted to plain html format and forwarded to the recipient.
	FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - Process by which computer files and programs are transferred from one computer to another over a standard phone line. 'Anonymous FTP' means anyone can access and download files, through certain restrictions are still in place.
	Frontpage Extensions - A set of programs and scripts that support authoring in FrontPage and extend the functionality of a Web server.

 

G	GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - A graphics file format commonly used to display indexed-color graphics on the World Wide Web. GIF is a compressed format, designed to minimize file transfer time over standard phone lines. FrontPage can import and export GIF files.

 

H	Hit - Refers to the term used to describe the number of people visiting a Web page. Normally used to indicate the popularity of a site, they are not normally considered to be an accurate means of gauging the overall number of visitors to a page as a single hit can be generated by leaving that page and then returning straight away or even refreshing the page. The hit is calculated from the server indicating that a request has been made for that page.
	Home Page - The Original meaning refers to the web page your browser opens when it first starts up, or when you click the 'Home' button on most browsers. Nowadays the term refers to the main page of a web page. Some Web servers reserve Index.htm as the name for the home page, while others name the home page Default.htm.
	HTML - The standard tool used for creating Web pages, HTML is short for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML uses tags to display how various elements, such as text and pictures are displayed on a Web page, as laid down by the World Wide Web Consortium.
	HTML Editor - Authoring tool which assists the creation of Web pages. High end products include , Microsoft Front Page and Macromedia's Dreamweaver.
	HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - The Internet protocol which regulates how information is retrieved by Web browsers from World Wide Web servers.
	Hyperlink - On the Web, hyperlinks (or links) act as a pointer from text, a picture or a graphic, or from an image map to a page or file on the World Wide Web. Hyperlinks are the primary way to navigate between pages and among Web sites. However, they can also be used with graphics (such as buttons) or image maps i.e. larger pictures.

 

I	Internet - (The Internet) Refers to the vast collection of networked computers which use TCP/IP protocols to route data and messages to one another. At the heart of the Internet are high-speed data communication lines between major host computers, consisting of thousands of commercial, government, educational, and other computer systems that route data and messages. Currently, the Internet offers a range of services to users, such as e-mail, the World Wide Web, FTP, Newsgroups and others.
	Intranet - A private network belonging to a company or organisation which usually employs applications associated with the Internet, such as Web pages, Web browsers, FTP sites, e-mail, newsgroups, and mailing lists, accessible only to those within the organization.
	IP Address - (Internet Protocol address) The standard way of identifying a computer that is connected to the Internet, much the way a telephone number identifies a telephone on a telephone network. An IP address is four numbers separated by periods, and each number is less than 256, for example, 195.147.246.231. Your Web server administrator or Internet service provider will assign your computer an IP address.
	ISDN - Stands for Intergrated Services Digital Network and uses existing phone lines in order to deliver data fairly fast. Used primarily for commercial purposes due to the price
	ISP (Internet Service Provider) - A company that offers access to the Internet through a dial-up account via modem or ISDN.

 

J	Java - Created by Sun Microsystems, Java is a programming language designed to run small applications ( see applets) on the Internet.
	JavaScript - A scripting language which is incorporated into HTML code to give additional functionality to Web pages. While not as complex as Java to compile, JavaScript is becoming increasingly popular on the World Wide Web. Modern browsers such as Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape Navigator 4.07 can readily interpret JavaScript code.
	JPEG - Along with GIF, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is the most popular format for transferring photographic images on the Web.

 

M	Macromedia Flash - Software that allows Web designers to integrate animations and other special effects into ordinary HTML pages. Shockwave Flash a browser plug-in is required to view these animations.
	META tag - An HTML tag that appears in the HEAD portion of a page. META tags are a useful way of supplying information about a page, without affecting its appearance as they are hidden within the source code (see source code) of the web site. Often used to include a list of "keywords" about a page which are detected by search engines indexing sites. See Search engine.
	Microsoft FrontPage - Intergrated Web page editing, site design, management and publishing software.
	Microsoft Internet Explorer - The most popular browser on the Web, Internet Explorer is currently in its 5th generation. Features include integrated mail program (MS Outlook), messenger service, Windows update facility and support for Internet technologies such as DHTML and Active X controls.
	MP3 - A Popular format for delivering music over the Web. MP3 files offer almost CD quality at a fraction of the file size of other audio file sizes.

 

N	Netscape Navigator - Currently at generation 4.7. Second only to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Netscape's latest browser suite (Communicator) features AOL's Instant messaging software as well as it's own basic HTML editor - Composer.
	Naming Fee - The fee covering the registration of a Domain Name (in the UK this is for two years after which a renewal fee is levied for each subsequent two year period). Domain Names are usually arranged through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or with dedicated registration companies.

 

P

Plug-In - Helper application that adds features to a Web browser which otherwise could not handle commands internally such as Macromedia Shockwave.

POP - POP can mean either point of presence or post office protocol. Point of reference refers to a location where connections can be made to a network or the internet, usually through a dial up phone line. Post office protocol refers to the protocol that determines how mail is retrieved from your server. You will usually get a POP account from your ISP, and it is this that tells your email software how to get your mail.

 

R

Web Redirection - When you already have a domain name and website but want other domain names linked to your site, you can buy the domain name and then have it redirected to your web site. so you can have several domain names, pay for hosting for one website but be able to get to your site through several domain names i.e.: www.merlinweblink.co.uk is the domain name for our website, but www.merlinweblink.com is redirected so you can get to the site either way.

 

S	Search Engine - A Web site that categories and indexed other sites according to META tag (and other information) contained within a web page. With the exception of Yahoo! (see directory) the process is usually automated, apart from initial request by a user to have the site added to that particular search engine.
	Server - A computer that offers services on a network. Also known as a Host.
	Source Code - The term many web designer refer to when they talk about the HTML code required to write web sites. You can view the source code to any web site by clicking on View on your menu bar on your browser and clicking on Source .
	SMTP - SMTP stands for simple mail transport protocol, smtp is the main protocol used to send e-mail over the internet.

 

T	TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - Combined standard allowing for the transfer of data between computers over a network.
	TWAIN ("Technology without an interesting name") - Developed by a consortium of imaging hardware and software manufacturers, TWAIN is a cross-platform interface for acquiring pictures captured by TWAIN - compliant scanners, digital cameras, and still-frame video capture boards. In FrontPage, you can transfer pictures onto pages directly from TWAIN-compliant devices.

 

U	URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - The web site address of a page on an Intranet or the World Wide Web (WWW) which includes the system protocol by which the site is accessed (the most common URL type being http://.

 

W	Web Browser - PC based software program which interprets HTML files displaying them as Web pages to the user on the Internet. Browsers often contain additional functionality to allow users to send and receive e-mail, along with plug-ins or controls to enable third-party sound and video files to be played.
	Web Hosting - A service provided by an ISP that allows for your web page to viewed on the Internet by uploading it to a dedicated computer

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