Online Learning at CSU
Glossary of Terms
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ
R
Router
A communications device designed to transmit signals via the most efficient route possible.
S
Search engine
This term refers to a program that helps users find information in text-oriented databases.
Server
A computer system that manages and delivers information for client computers. Note: in an X-11 environment, the meanings of client and server are reversed.
SGML
The abbreviation for Standard Generalized Markup Language, SGML is an international standard for the publication and delivery of electronic information.
Shareware
This term refers to software that is available on public networks and BBSs. Users are asked to remit a small amount to the software developer, but it's on the honour system.
SLIP
The acronym for Serial Line Internet Protocol, SLIP refers to a method of Internet connection that enables computers to use phone lines and a modem to connect to the Internet without having to connect to a host.
Socket
This is a communication mechanism originally implemented on the BSD version of the UNIX operating system. Sockets are used as endpoints for sending and receiving data between computers.
Synchronous connection
An analog to analog or digital to digital connection that is able to perform two or more processes at the same time by means of a mutual timing signal or clock.
T
T-1
High-speed data line connection. T-1 operates at 1.45 Mbps.
Tags
These are formatting codes used in HTML documents. Tags indicate how parts of a document will appear when displayed by browsing software.
TCP-IP
The basic protocols controlling applications on the Internet; it stands for "transmission control protocol/Internet protocol."
TIFF
This is the acronym for Tagged Image File Format, a graphic file format developed by Aldus and Microsoft. Mosaic supports the viewing of TIFF images.
Trumpet Winsock
A popular, cheerier TCP/IP protocol stack.
U
URL
This is the abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the addressing system used in the World Wide Web and other Internet resources. The URL contains information about the method of access, the server to be accessed and the path of any file to be accessed.
V
Veronica
This is a search utility that helps find information on gopher servers. Veronica allows users to enter keywords to locate the gopher site holding the desired information. The name is an acronym for "very easy rodent oriented net-wide index of computerized archives." Honest!
W
WAIS
The abbreviation for Wide Area Information Service, WAIS is a Net-wide system for looking up specific information in Internet databases.
WAIS gateway
This term refers to a computer that is used to translate WAIS data so it can be made available to an otherwise incompatible network or application. Mosaic must use a WAIS gateway.
Web-browser
This is the software that allows a user to access and view HTML documents. Examples of web-browsers are Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape Navigator and Mosaic.
Web Document
An HTML document that is browsable on the Web.
Webmaster
This term refers to the person in charge of administrating a World Wide Web site.
Web Node
This term is synonymous with Web site or Web server.
Web Page
An HTML document that is accessible on the Web.
Webspace
This term refers to the space created by the World Wide Web.
World Wide Web
Also known as WWW or W3, the World Wide Web is a hypertext- based Internet service used for browsing Internet resources.