WEB SITE & COMPUTER GLOSSARY

by Joelle Steele

Here is a short dictionary that defines some of the terms relating to Web sites and computers.

404 error. See “page not found error.”

Above the fold. The top area of a Web page that appears on screen without the need to scroll down to see it.

Active Server Page. See ASP.

ActiveX. A Microsoft program module that enables sharing between different software applications of such things as spellcheckers, media files, Flash files, etc.
Address. See URL; see E-mail.

Address book. A computerized or digital database of E-mail addresses and other personal contact data.

Adware. Software that serves banner or pop-up ads, sometimes installed in shareware or freeware as a download, and that tracks responses to ads in order to serve up more relevant ads for visitors. Also called spyware

Aliasing. An E-mail feature that allows you to automatically redirect mail to another of your E-mail addresses; the jagged appearance of the edges of a graphic. See also anti-aliasing.

Alt tag. A very short line of HTML code that creates a caption when the mouse hovers over an image.

Anchor. The starting or ending point of a hyperlink; a non-linear link between or among documents.

Anonymous FTP. A form of login that allows people to upload or download files.

Anti-aliasing. The softening of the jagged edges of a graphic image.

Anti-virus program. Software that scans for viruses and isolates or eliminates them from your computer.

Apache. A Web server application used by Web hosts to serve up their client's HTML pages.

API. Application Program Interface, an interface that allows Web browser and servers to communicate with other programs.

Applet. A program written in Java or JavaScript, usually embedded on an HTML page, that works on the end user's computer rather than on the server.

Application Program Interface. See API.

ASCII. An acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. An international 8-bit standard for numbers, letters, symbols, punctuation, and control codes that have no style or font attributes. The standard for .txt (text) files.

ASP. Active Server Pages. A server-side scripting language or code used to create Web pages (.asp) that serve up dynamic content.

Atom. A form of syndication most commonly used for blogs and other sites with changing content.

Autoresponder. A program used to send an E-mail response to anyone from whom you receive E-mail, most commonly when you go on vacation.

Authentication. The verification of the identity of a computer, program, or user on the Web.

Auto bidding. When your bid on a keyword is automatically changed when a competitor changes their bid.

Back-end. A term referring to server-driven software that provides interactivity with a Web visitor.

Background. The blank space, with or without color or embedded imagery, that is behind the text on a Web page.

Bandwidth. A term that refers to Internet airtime. The wider the bandwidth, the faster the connection, with "broadband" meaning a fast Internet connection.

Banner. A graphic that spans the width of a Web page and is used to display company information and/or an advertisement.

BBEdit. A Mac/Apple text editor used for HTML or other scripting languages.

Bin Hex. Binary Hexadecimal, a file format that converts binary files into ASCII files so that they can be transmitted over the Internet.

Bit. A single binary digit, the smallest and most basic unit used by a computer. Eight bits are equivalent to a byte.

Bitmap. A format in which the image is created with a map or grid of bits that form a picture when displayed on a computer monitor.

Blog. A Web log or updated Web journal. Writers of blogs are called bloggers; the activity of keeping a blog is called blogging; and the culture and society of those who write and read blogs is called the blogosphere or blogsphere.

Bookmark. See Favorites.

Boolean search. A search method that uses logical operators (OR, AND, and NOT) to limit or expand an Internet search, now mostly incorporated automatically into search engines.

Boot off. To be disconnected from the Internet.

Bots. See robots.

Bounce. The immediate return of an E-mail that was undeliverable; when a visitor immediately leaves a Web page without reading it.

Breadcrumbs. Web navigation that shows the visitor a trail of folders or directories that they used to reach the current page.

Broadband. See bandwidth.

Browse. A term used to describe a visitor's movements from page to page or Web site to Web site.

Browser. An interface program that allows you to view Web sites. Also called a Web browser.

Browser safe colors. See Web safe colors.

Bulletin board. See Forum.

Button. A graphic hyperlink.

Byte. A string of 8 binary digits, or 8 bits.

Cable, cable modem service. A broadband Internet access service offered by Cable TV companies.

Cache, caching. Temporary files made by browsers on your hard drive to allow for quick viewing of previously visited Web sites over a short period of time.

Cascading Style Sheets. See CSS.

Case-sensitive. A term or word that can only be used if the upper or lower case letters are always typed the same way. For example, if the password Gh99aB7 is case-sensitive, then it will not work if it is typed gh99ab7 or gH99Ab7.

CGI. Common Gateway Interface, a type of communication between programs and Web servers. Also computer-generated imagery.

CGI Bin. A folder or directory on a server where CGI programs are stored.

CGI Program. A program that manages Web server input and output, such as forms and queries.

Channel. A Web site that broadcasts information dynamically to its visitors who want them.

Charset. Stands for character set, which is a set of characters used for different purposes or for certain letters in languages.

Click through rate/ratio. See CTR.

Client. Any computer that accesses server-provided services over a computer network.

Client-side program. A program that is installed on a user's computer and runs on their Web site, such as Java or JavaScript.

Code. See HTML.

Codec. A nickname for the technology used to compress or decompress data.

Common Gateway Interface. See CGI.

Communication Protocol. A standard or set of rules that allows computers to interact, such as IP (Internet protocol), FTP (file transfer protocol), HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), or POP E-mail (post office protocol).

Compression. A method for making files transmit more quickly, display faster, or take up less storage space.

Computer-generated imagery. See CGI.

Content. The information on a Web page as opposed to its colors and layout. Content can be text (words), graphics, videos, or databases.

Content tag. HTML code that contains the keywords for a Web site.

Conversion ratio/rate. The percentage of visitors who are converted into buyers/customers, as calculated by the number of clicks divided by the number of buyers.

Cookie. A small monitoring file placed on your hard drive by a Web server.

Cost per click. See CPC.

CPC. Cost per click of a pay-per-click advertisement; ad sales based on how often someone clicks an ad.

Cracker. See Hacker.

Crawler. See spider.

Crawling. The process in which spiders and robots analyze Web sites and index them for use by search engines.

Cross-browser compatibility. When a Web site can look and function similarly and correctly on different browsers.

Cross-platform. Something that can be used or read on different computer platforms (operating systems).

CSS. Cascading style sheets; style sheets created in HTML and applied to one or more pages or to a template of a Web site to lay out text, headings, paragraphs, colors, etc.

CSS3 colors. Some of the more recent browser-safe/Web-safe colors approved by the World Wide Web Consortium.

CTR. Click-through ratio or rate; percentage of ad impressions clicked on.

Database. A collection of information consisting of organized Web pages or other files stored and made available for viewing and retrieval.

Data transfer allotment. The resources a Web host allots to respond to your Web site visitors as they view your pages.

Dedicated hosting. Using your domain name on a server used only by you.

Description tag. HTML code that allows a brief description of a Web page – a "snippet" – to show up in search results.

DHTML. Dynamic HyperText Markup Language. Refers to Web pages that use combinations of code or scripting language to allow a visitor to interact with the page in some way.

Dial up. A conventional type of phone line Internet access via a third-party provider, such as AOL or NetZero.

Digital camera. A camera that takes pictures and stores them in electronic format on a miniature disk, rather than on film.

Digital Subscriber Line/Loop. See DSL.

Directories. Lists of Web sites that fit certain categories or criteria, collected manually, and searchable by visitors.

Dither, dithering. Simulation of a color by combining pixels of different colors that are close to each other to give the appearance of the desired color. For example, combining Web-safe colors to simulate a color that would otherwise not be Web-safe.

DNS. See Domain Name Server.

Domain E-mail. E-mail addresses you create that use your Web site domain name, e.g., info@millertreeservice.com.

Domain forwarding. See URL forwarding.

Domain name. See URL.

Domain Name Server (DNS). A database of Internet names and addresses that operate under Internet protocol (a numbering system).

Domain Name System. Identifies a computer as a point on the Internet and uses a Domain Name Server to translate the domain name into IP numbers and vice versa.

Domain parking. A service provided by a Web host that allows you to have multiple URLs that all go to the same Web site.

Dot-com. A business that has a registered URL name/address with a .com domain.

Dots per inch. See DPI.

Download. Transferring or retrieving files, images, or E-mail from the Internet or from another computer to the one you are using. Transferring a file from a remote computer to a local computer, or a file from a Web server to a client.

DPI. Dots per inch, indicating the resolution of an image; the more dots or pixels per inch, the more detail in the image.

DSL. Digital Subscriber Line (or Loop), a fast Internet connection over telephone lines and provided by your local phone company.

Dynamic. A Web page or document created as it is being viewed to provide new information to visitors each time they visit.

Dynamic HyperText Markup Language. See DHTML.

E-mail. Electronic mail, in which you have an address from which you can send and receive mail. Also spelled e-mail and email.

Electronic mail. See E-mail.

Encryption. The encoding of messages and passwords to ensure privacy.

Error message. Any page that pops up and tells the user or visitor that whatever they tried to do was done incorrectly or that the function they attempted failed.

Ethernet. One of several ways in which computers can be connected to one another or to the Internet.

eXtensible HyperText Markup Language. See XHTML.

Extension. A file suffix that indicates the type of file, e.g., .htm, .html, .jpg, .gif, or .doc.

Extranet. A part of an Intranet that allows access to people outside of it, usually by password.

FAQs. See Frequently Asked Questions.

Favorites. A way to save or bookmark a Web address for future use.

Feed Reader. See RSS Feed Reader.

File Transfer Protocol. See FTP.

Firewall. A piece of software, or a piece of hardware, that blocks access from unauthorized parties to protect a computer or network of computers.

Flame, flaming. Derogatory comments, including crude language, insults, and other personal attacks made in private E-mails or online in public forums.

Fonts. The attributes of a typeface, such as italic or boldface.

Forms. A set of fill-in boxes or buttons created in HTML that allow a visitor to transmit orders or information to the company that owns the Web site.

Forum. Places online where people can discuss subjects of a mutual interest that is specified by a particular forum. Also referred to as discussion forums, message boards, and bulletin boards.

Frames. A design element in which a Web page is divided into two separate sections, each with a scroll bar. While one section is being scrolled the other remains fixed. Not all browsers support frames and they are falling out of favor.

Freeware. Software that is downloaded free with no expectation of the user ever paying anything for its use.

Frequently Asked Questions. Also called FAQs. A page on a Web site that answers the basic questions most visitors ask.

Front end. The appearance and functionality of the Web site on the visitor or client-side.

FTP software. File Transfer Protocol software that is necessary for uploading (launching, publishing) a Web site to the Internet.

GIF. Graphics Interchange Format, a file format (.gif) most useful for B&W line art or simple color graphics.

Gigabyte. File size equal to 1,000 megabytes or 1 million kilobytes.

Google sitemap. A sitemap Google uses to index your site, and that can be created using Google’s instructions or a tool provided by your Web host.

Graphic. Any Web image or picture, as opposed to the text.

Graphic interface. An attractive intermediary program that allows you to view documents or Web pages created in other software.

Graphical user interface (GUI). Any program that allows a user to create documents in a user-friendly environment without the need to work directly in a scripting code or programming language.

Graphics. Images composed of computer-generated drawings or logos, sometimes connected to or part of a photographic image.

Graphics Interchange Format. See GIF.

Graphics editing software. See image management software.

GUI. See graphical user interface.

Hacker. A criminal who breaks into networks or computer systems to steal money, identities, or other information, or to exploit weaknesses in security protocols just to show they can do it.

Head. The top portion of the HTML code behind Web pages, beginning with <head> and ending with </head>, and containing, among other things, the title, description, and keywords tags that identify the page to search engines.

Hex, Hexadecimal. A number in a Base 16 arithmetical system, represented by numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F; the numbers used to code RGB colors on Web pages.

Hit, hits. A statistic that indicates every time a Web page and/or a graphic image is viewed by a visitor. Most devices that calculate hits count a hit as everything on a Web page (images, tools, forms, etc.), plus the page itself.

Home page. The opening or top-most page of a Web site to which all other pages are linked; the first page that a search engine visits when it is indexing a Web site. Its file name is usually index.html.

Host, hosting, Web host. A business that has a server connected to the Internet and can broadcast your Web site over the Internet 24/7.

Hotlink. See Hyperlink.

HTML. Hypertext Markup Language, the programming language or code of the Web. The "hyper" refers to the linkages between text or an image and another file on the same Web site or elsewhere on the Internet.

HTML Editor. A program in which a Web page is created, such as Expression Web, Dreamweaver, WebEasy, etc.

HTML Form. See Forms.

HTML Mail. See Rich Text.

HTML Tags. Code that identifies parts of a Web page so that search engines and browsers can display it correctly.

HTTP, HTTPS. HyperText Transfer Protocol, HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. The protocol that connects Web sites throughout the Internet, and that precedes the domain name or URL.

Hyperlink, link. A word or phrase that is linked, like a shortcut, to another page within a Web site or to another Web site.

Hypertext. Text that when clicked on takes the visitor to another Web page or Web site.

HyperText Markup Language. See HTML.

Hypertext Preprocessor. See PHP.

HyperText Transfer Protocol. See HTTP.

Ignore page tag. HTML code that tells search engines not to index the page with this code on it.

Image management software. A program used to manipulate photos and other graphics by changing their size, dimensions, colors, etc.

Image map. A graphic on a Web page used to navigate from one page to another.
Images. Any visual design element, such as a photo or a graphic, displayed on a Web page.

IMAP. Internet Message Access Protocol, allows E-mail message and address books, etc. to be stored and managed on a local computer or on a server. May eventually replace POP E-mail.

Impression. A single display or view of a Web advertisement.

Index. A list of all known Web sites created by a search engine spider or robot and accessible by using a search engine.

Inline images. See Images.

Integrated Services Digital Network. See ISDN.

Interface. See graphic interface.

Internet. A system of millions of computers connected together for the purpose of sharing information. Nicknamed the Information Superhighway. Not to be confused with the World Wide Web, which is a part (subset) of the Internet. The term "internet" (lower case "i") is a network of computers that are not part of the Internet.

Internet Message Access Protocol. See IMAP.

Internet Protocol. See IP address.

Internet Relay Chat. Also known as IRC. An Internet protocol that enables people to conference online and chat with each other by typing messages back and forth in real time.

Internet Service Provider. See ISP.

Interstitial. An advertisement that opens in a separate browser window while a visitor waits for the main page to open.

Intranet. A private network within a company or organization that works similarly to the Internet, allowing access to certain resources by its members or employees.

IP address. Internet protocol address, the numeric address system used by all computers/servers connected directly to the Internet.

IRC. See Internet relay chat.

ISDN. Integrated Services Digital Network, an Internet access service offered by your phone company, slower than DSL.

ISP. Internet Service Provider, a company that provides Internet access, E-mail, and other Internet services.

JPEG, JPG. Joint Photographic Experts Group, a file format most useful for photographs used on a Web site or transmitted via E-mail.

Java, Java applet. A programming language and its application programs (applets), used to create software with graphic interfaces and various Web gadgets. Not to be confused with JavaScript.

JavaScript. A scripting language used to write small programs that are embedded in the HTML code and used on Web pages to create dynamic and interactive effects for the visitor. Not to be confused with Java.

Joint Photographic Experts Group. See JPEG, JPG.

Jump page. A Web page that functions as a gateway or portal to other pages, that notifies a visitor that they are leaving one Web site for another, or that informs a visitor that a page no longer exists.

Keyword bid. The maximum amount of money to be paid each time a visitor clicks on a pay-per-click advertisement on a search engine results page.

Keyword density. The number of keywords used on a Web page. Also refers to the overuse of keywords that results in “stuffing” or “cramming,” which can cause search engines to drop a page from their index.

Keyword tag. HTML code that helps a search engine index a Web page correctly to show up in search results.

Keyword, keyphrase. Words written or coded on a page so that visitors can type them into a search engine and find that page in a search.

Kilobyte. File size measurement equivalent to 8 bits.

LAN. Local Area Network. A computer network between computers located within the same building, or only on the same floor of a building, and often physically connected with local cables.

Launch, launching. The initial publishing of a Web site or a new Web page.

Link. See Hyperlink.

Local Area Network. See LAN.

Logical operators. See Boolean search.

Login. The name used to access a Web site or computer network; also the process of connecting to a Web site or computer system using a username and password.

Lynx. A text-only Web browser used by the visually impaired or people who can't or don't want to load graphics due to a limited or slow Internet connection.

Malware. Ads, banners, pop-ups, and other pages that carry malicious or unwanted programs such as viruses, worms, and browser hi-jacks.

Megabyte. File size measurement equivalent to 1,000 kilobytes.

Merchant account service. A business that makes it possible for your company to receive payments by credit card.

Message board. See Forum.

Metafile. A generic term for a file format that can store multiple types of data, including graphics.

Meta tag. A piece of HTML code that spiders and bots read when creating a search engine index but that is not displayed to visitors. Includes head tags, title tags, description tags, and keyword tags.

MIDI. Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A protocol for communication between computers and musical instruments.

MIME. Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, a messaging standard that allows E-mails to include graphics, video, and audio.

Modem. Short for Modulator Demodulator, a device that uses phone or cable line to convert computer signals to analog signals and vice versa, for communication with other computers and with the Internet and World Wide Web.

Motion Picture Experts Group. See MPEG.

MPEG. Motion Picture Experts Group video graphic format (.mpg) that compresses audio/video files so that they can be transmitted faster and take up less storage space.

MP3. The file extension for MPEG, layer 3, which compresses audio signals for fast transmission over the Internet and to take up less storage space.

Multimedia. A Web presentation consisting of text, images, video, and audio.

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. See MIME.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface. See MIDI.

Navigation. The means of moving from one Web site to another or within a Web site using a system of hyperlinks or links.

Nesting. A folder inside of a folder inside of a folder, etc., or a page linked to a page linked to a page, etc., and the number of clicks it takes to get to the most deeply nested folder.

Net. See Internet.

Network. A system of two or more computers connected together that share and/or exchange information.

Network Interface Card. See NIC.

NIC. Network Interface Card, an ethernet card in a network that is plugged into the network cable.

Non-virtual hosting. A Web site provided, often free, by an ISP that includes the ISP’s name as part of the Web site address.

Notepad. The Windows default text editing software.

nslookup. An Internet utility that will give you a DNS (Domain Name Server) address if you type in the IP address.

Offline. See online.

Online, offline. Being connected (online) or not (offline) to the Internet.

Operating system. See Platform.

Optimize, optimization. A means of compressing an image sufficiently that its download time is reduced.

Outlook Express. A program you can use to manage your E-mail and address book on your own computer.

Page. See Web page.

Page, pages, page view. A statistic that indicates every time a page is viewed by a visitor.

Page not found error. Also known as a 404 error, this page tells a prospective visitor that a Web page no longer exists.

Palette. The set of colors that a designer selects when designing a Web site.

Page rank. See Rank.

Password. A secure or secret set of miscellaneous letters and numbers selected and used to login to a Web site or computer network.

Pay-per-click. See PPC.

PDF. Portable Document Format, a file created from documents made in various programs so that they can be read by everyone.

Photo editing software. See image management software.

PHP. Hypertext Preprocessor (formerly Personal Home Page), a programming language used to create Web software.

Ping. An Internet utility used to troubleshoot connections with remote computers.

Pixel. One of many points or dots of which electronic images are made.

Platform. The basic operating system of a computer, such as DOS, Windows, Mac, Linus, OS, Sun, etc.

PNG. Portable Network Graphics, a compressed graphics file format that was designed specifically for use on the World Wide Web because it compresses images without loss of quality and supports millions of colors.

Podcast, podcasting. A form of audio broadcasting over the Internet by making audio files available as enclosures in RSS feeds.

POP. Post Office Protocol, the way an E-mail software stores and retrieves mail from a mail server. It may eventually be replaced by a protocol called IMAP. With POP3 E-mail you can use your own domain name as part of your E-mail address.

Pop-up. See interstitial.

Portable Document Format. See PDF.

Portable Network Graphics. See PNG.

Portal, portal page. See Jump page.

Post Office Protocol. See POP.

PPC. Advertising method in which a Web site owner pays each time a visitor clicks on an ad in a search engine results page that takes them to the advertiser's Web site.

Primary navigation. The structural interlinking of the main pages of a Web site, such as Home, Contact, About, or FAQs pages.

Protocol. A set of conventions that establish communication between computers and computer systems.

Publish, publishing. Sending or transferring your Web site files from your computer to your Web host’s server so that your Web site will then appear on the Internet.

Rank, ranking. Refers to how a Web page is ranked in a search result, the position it occupies in relation to all the other Web pages that come up in the same search. How the ranking is determined is based on how the search engine performs that task, and so it may vary from one search engine to another. Some are based more on popularity, others on content relevancy.

Real Simple Syndication. See RSS.

Reciprocal linking. When two Web sites link to each other because they offer complementary products or services, or because their sites are related in some way.

Redirect. An action that a Web page takes to automatically take the visitor to another Web page.

Referrer, referrers. Search engines that send visitors to your Web site.

Refresh. A meta tag that allows a page to be refreshed to the current page or to switch to another page entirely.

Register, registering. Domain names or URLs must be registered.

Relevancy. In Web sites this refers to the content of a Web page as viewed by a search engine, and whether the search engine finds that content to be unique, fresh, and pertinent to the overall content of the Web site.

Resolution. The sharpness and clarity of an image or computer monitor, based on the number of pixels in the image or screen.

Return on investment. See ROI.

RGB. Stands for red, green, and blue, and refers to the color presentation on monitors.

Rich Site Summary. See RSS.

Rich Text Format. A text file format that preserves some of the formatting of the original document, such as underlines, boldface, colored text, italics, and different typefaces. When used in E-mail it is called HTML mail.

Robots, bots, search bots. See spiders.

Robots.txt file. A file you create in Notepad that helps search engines index your site correctly.

ROI. Return on investment. The money you make versus the money you spent to make it, usually as applied to pay-per-click ad campaigns.

Router. A hardware device used to connect or transmit signals between or among computers in a network and/or to the Internet.

RSS. Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication, a means of distributing information throughout the World Wide Web.

RSS Feed file. A file you create in Notepad to syndicate your Web pages throughout the Internet.

RSS Feed Reader. A software program that allows a user to read the XML code of RSS feeds.

RTF. See Rich Text Format.

Satellite connection. An Internet connection offered by providers of satellite TV service.

Scalable Vector Graphics. See SVG.

Scanner, scanning. A device used to convert a printed image, such as a photograph, into an electronic file.

Screen resolution. The number of dots per inch (DPIs) that a computer screen has, and the more DPIs and the larger the screen, the more detail possible in the clearest resolution.

Script, scripting language. A type of programming language used to create Web pages, such as HTML, XHTML, or JavaScript.

Scroll bar. A navigation device used to allow the user to move up and down or sideways across a computer screen.

Search bots. See spiders.

Search engine. A program that searches the Internet using robots or bots, small programs that search documents for specified terms or phrases which are thenindexed for retrieval during Internet or Web searches on keywords. Popular search engines include Google and Yahoo, as well as thousands of others, including Alta Vista (Yahoo) and Hot Bot (Lycos).

Search Engine Optimization. See SEO.

Search Engine Results Pages. See SERPs.

Search string. A group of keywords or a keyphrase used to search the Internet.

Search, searching. Refers to searching the Web for a particular Web site or specific piece of information based on the use of keywords or keyphrases.

Secondary pages. The sub-pages of a Web site that contain articles, databases, or other miscellaneous information.

Secure Socket Layer. See SSL.

SEO. Search Engine Optimization, a means of writing and coding a Web site using appropriate keywords and keyphrases that result in higher rankings with search engine results pages (SERPs).

SERPs. Search Engine Results Pages. The list of Web sites that results from a search on certain keywords.

Server. A computer with enormous storage capacity that is constantly connected to the Internet by a host or Web host service.

Server-side program. A program installed on the server and accessed and run on the server to enable dynamic pages or animation on a Web page.

Shareware. Copyrighted software that is distributed free, although a user is usually expected to pay a small donation to the owner of the software if they decide to continue to use it. See also Freeware.

Shopping cart. A program used to process payments paid by credit card for online purchases.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. See SMTP.

Site. See Web site.

Site map. An HTML page that consists of the contents of a large Web site broken down into links to all of the pages in the Web site. It is very useful to search engines as well as visitors.

Snippet. A brief description of a Web site's content as found in the SERPs due to being encoded in the page's description head tag.

Source code. See HTML.

Spam. Unwanted and unsolicited E-mail sent to random (not market-targeted) E-mail addresses.

Spiders. Programs that analyze Web sites and index them for use by search engines. Also called crawlers, robots, or bots.

Splash page. A home page in which there is nothing but a big graphic or video and the words “enter here.”

SMTP. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a standard server-side protocol for sending E-mail.

Spyware. See Adware.

SSL. Secure Socket Layer, a security protocol for making commercial transactions online, usually recognizable with the use of URLs that begin with https, rather than http.

Streaming, streaming video. A means of sending audio or video files over the Internet so that a visitor can view them on a Web page while they are still in transit.

Subdomain. A lower-level portion of a domain name, also called a child domain, which is identified by its name at the far left of the URL, e.g., paintings.artcenter.com, in which paintings is the subdomain.

Subdomain hosting. See non-virtual hosting.

SVG. Scalable Vector Graphics, a text-based graphics language that describes images in small files that provide high-quality graphics on the Web and on hand-held devices (where the graphics scale to different size screens). Supports scripting and animation.

Tables. A feature used in word processing and Web design programs to organize text and images more easily on a Web page.

Tag, tags. A piece of HTML code used to layout or format a Web page.

Tagged Image File. See TIF, TIFF.

Templates. A Web page document created with all the necessary formatting except for the text and images.

Text-Edit. The Mac/Apple default text editing software.

Themes. Generic designs that come with some Web design software or templates to enable you to easily create your Web site.

Thumbnail. A very small version of a bigger image, usually hyperlinked to the full-size image.

TIF, TIFF. Tagged Image File, a file format used to archive images.

Title tag. HTML code that lets search engines know what a Web page is about, and provides code to display the title in their indices.

TLD. Top-Level Domain, the suffix attached to a domain name, such as .com, .org, .biz, etc.

Tools. Programs offered on the Internet and through Web hosts to help Webmasters manage their Web sites.

Top-Level Domain. See TLD.

Typeface. A style of type such as Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, etc., to which font attributes (italics, boldfacing, etc.) may be applied.

Unicode. A standard character set that uses 16 bits to code each character.

Uniform Resource Locator. See URL.

Uniform Resource Name. See URN.

Universal Resource Identifier. See URI.

Upload. Transferring a file from your computer to another computer or remote server, or from your computer to the Internet. See also publish, publishing.

URI. Universal Resource Identifier, a standardized method of identifying Internet resources, including URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) and URNs (Uniform Resource Names).

URL. Uniform Resource Locator, a Web address that includes the domain name.

URL forwarding. An online service that directs your domain address to any subdomain host address your Web site has.

URN. Uniform Resource Name, a type of URI that an institution has made a long-term commitment to using at a specific location so that it can be reliably found at any time.

User interface. See Graphical User Interface.

Username. The name used to log in to a Web site or computer network, usually in conjunction with a secure password.

Vector graphics. Line-based graphics such as bitmap files and metafiles.

Video clip. A short video that is embedded and viewed on a Web page.

Visit, visitor. A visit to a Web site and the person visiting or viewing the Web site.

Visits. A statistic that indicates how many people have visited your Web site during a specific period of time.

Virus scanning. See anti-virus program.

Virtual hosting. A Web host service that hosts your own URL or domain name.

Visitor, visiting. People who come to view your Web site.

W3C. See World Wide Web consortium.

WAP. See Wireless Application Protocol.

Web-based E-mail. E-mail that is offered, accessed, and managed through a Web site that provides the service, such as Yahoo, Google, AOL, etc.

Web browser. See Browser.

Web crawler. See Spider.

Web design software. Any program that allows you to create your Web site and Web pages.

Web designer. See Webmaster.

Web host. See Host.

Web page. A Web site document consisting of text only, or text with images, audio, video, forms, etc.

Web Publishing Wizard. A Microsoft FTP program that allows you to publish your Web site if your Web design software does not have such a function.

Web safe colors. The 216 colors that appear “true” on most monitors and hand-held devices.

Web safe palette. See also Web safe colors.

Web server. A computer that stores and delivers (displays) Web sites on the World Wide Web. See also Host.

Web site. A collection of interlinked Web pages published to the World Wide Web.

Webalizer reports. Statistical reports offered by Web hosts that indicate how a Web site is doing.

Webmaster, Webmistress. The person who designs and/or maintains a Web site.

Wireless Application Protocol. A protocol used with hand-held devices such as cell phones.

World Wide Web. That part of the Internet composed of the servers that publish Web sites composed of specially formatted documents or HTML Web pages.

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). An organization that develops and sets style standards that allow Web sites to be presented and viewed reliably on a variety of different monitors and hand-held devices.

WYSIWYG. Acronym for "what you see is what you get" and pronounced "wissywig." The display of a page onscreen exactly as it will appear when published and viewed on the Web.

XHTML. eXtensible HyperText Markup Language, a more standardized form of HTML using XML standards. It is a variant of HTML and may eventually replace it.

XML. eXtensible Markup Language, designed for Web documents, such as database Web pages and RSS feed files.

ZIP files. A compressing and decompressing program for use in reducing the size of a file for ease of transmission over the Internet.