Home/Glossary
Guide to Internet Terms: A Glossary
Aggregate - A collection of information in which no individual information can be distinguished or identified. Aggregated information can be used to determine the characteristics of a group, such as "Sixty percent of our users are over 35."
Applet - A small Java program which allows a file or Web page to display animation, calculators, sound effects or other interactive functions. (See also "Java")
Bandwidth - The rate at which information travels through a network connection, usually measured in bits per second, kilobits (thousand bits) per second, or megabits (million bits) per second.
Bit - The smallest element of computerized data. A full text page in English is about 16,000 bits. (See also "Byte")
Blocking software - Computer programs that filter content from the Internet and block access to some Web sites or content based on specified criteria. Parents, teachers, or caregivers can use blocking software to prevent access to certain Web sites and other information available over the Internet. (See also "Client-based filter" and "Filtering software")
Bookmark - A file within a browser in which an Internet user can save the addresses of interesting or frequently used Web sites, so that they are readily available for re-use.
Browser - A program that allows a user to find, view, hear, and interact with material on the World Wide Web. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are examples of popular browsers.
Bulletin board - An area of a Web site where users can post messages for other users to read. In most cases, readers can contact the author of a bulletin board message by e-mail. (See also "chat," chat room," and "Discussion group")
Byte - A unit of measure of computer memory. A byte generally represents one character, such as "A," and is made up of eight bits. (See also "Bit")
Cache - A file on the hard drive in which a Web browser stores information such as addresses, text, and graphics from recently visited Web sites, making it easier and faster for the user to revisit a site.
CD-ROM (Compact Disk - Read Only Memory) - A computer storage medium which can store large amounts of information; generally used to distribute software or multi-media for use on computers with CD-ROM drives. CD-ROM disks look just like music CDs, and cannot be altered by a user.
Chat - A feature offered by many online services or Web sites that allows participants to "chat" by typing messages which are displayed almost instantly on the screens of other participants who are using the chat room. Chatting is one of the most popular uses of the Internet. Generally the participants remain anonymous, using nicknames or pseudonyms to identify themselves online.
Chat room - The name given to a place or page in a Web site or online service where people can "chat" with each other by typing messages which are displayed almost instantly on the screens of others who are in the "chat room." Chat rooms are also called "online forums."
Client-based filter - A software program that a user installs on his or her own computer to monitor Internet use, block access to specific types of material, prevent kids from accessing the Internet at certain times, or prevent kids from revealing personal information online. (See also "Filtering software" and "Blocking software")
Cookie - A piece of information sent by a Web server to a user's browser. (A Web server is the computer that "hosts" a Web site, and responds to requests from a user's browser.) Cookies may include information such as login or registration identification, user preferences, online "shopping cart" information, etc. The browser saves the information, and sends it back to the Web server whenever the browser returns to the Web site. The Web server may use the cookie to customize the display it sends to the user, or it may keep track of the different pages within the site that the user accesses. Browsers may be configured to alert the user when a cookie is being sent, or to refuse to accept cookies. Some sites, however, cannot be accessed unless the browser accepts cookies. (See also "Personally identifiable information")
Cyberspace - Refers to the various information resources that are available through computer networks and the Internet, as well as to "communities" which have developed through their common use of such resources, and to the culture which is developing in such electronically connected communities. May also be used to distinguish the physical world from the digital, or computer-based world.
Directories - Indexes of Web sites, organized by subject
Discussion group - Online area, like an electronic bulletin board, where users can read and add or "post" comments about a specific topic. Users can find discussion groups, also referred to as "discussion boards," for almost any topic. (See also "Newsgroups")
Domain name - Domain names are the alphabetic names used to refer to computers on the Internet. A Web site address, including a suffix such as .com, .org, .gov, or .edu. The suffix indicates what type of organization is hosting the site.
- com - Originally stood for "commercial," to indicate a site that could be sued for private, commercial purposes, but now the best well known top level domain, and used for a wide variety of sites
- net - Originally intended for site related to the Internet itself, but now used for a wide variety of sites
- edu - Use for educational institutions like universities
- org - Originally intended for non-commercial "organizations," but organizations now used for a wide variety of sites
- gov - Used for US Government sites
- mil - Used for US Military sites
- int - Used by "International" sites, usually NATO sites
Download - to transfer (copy) files from one computer to another. "Download" can also mean viewing a Web site, or material on a Web server, with a Web browser. (See also "Upload")
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) - A means of accessing the Internet at very high speed using standard phone lines.
E-mail (Electronic Mail) - Messages sent through an electronic (computer) network to specific groups or individuals. Though e-mail is generally text, users can attach files that include graphics, sound, and video. E-mailing requires a modem to connect the telephone line to the computer, and an e-mail address. E-mail addresses include the @ symbol, such as president@whitehouse.gov.
Encryption - A means of making data unreadable to everyone except the receiver. Encryption is often used to make the transmission of credit card numbers secure for those who are shopping using the Internet.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) - Pages which list and answer the questions most often asked about a Web site, newsgroup, etc. The FAQ page often provides useful information for a new user of a Web site, mailing list, discussion group, or product.
Filtered ISP - An Internet Service Provider (ISP) that sets criteria for determining content which is inappropriate for children, and automatically blocks subscriber access to that content. Parents and other caregivers who are choosing a filtered ISP should review the company's criteria for blocking, and make sure those criteria reflect their own values and judgments.
Filtering software - Software that screens information on the Internet and classifies its content. Some filtering software allows the user to block access to certain kinds of content. (See also "Blocking software," "Client-based filtering software," and "Server-based filtering software")
Firewall - Hardware or software that secures computer files by blocking unauthorized access.
Flaming - Posting or sending a deliberately confrontational message via newsgroup, e-mail, etc., usually in response to a previous message.
FTP - (File Transfer Protocol) - A way of transferring files over the Internet from one computer to another.
Gateway - A computer system for exchanging information across incompatible networks by translating between two dissimilar protocols. May also describe any mechanism that gives access to another, such as an ISP which acts as a gateway to the Internet.
Hardware - The mechanical devices that comprise a computer system, such as the central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as well as other equipment like printers and speakers.
Home page - The first page on a Web site, which introduces the site and provides the means of navigation.
HTML(Hypertext Markup Language) - The coded format language used for creating hypertext documents on the World Wide Web and controlling how Web pages appear.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - The standard language that computers connected to the World Wide Web use to communicate with each other.
Hyperlink - An image or portion of text on a Web page that is linked to another Web page, either on the same site or in another Web site. Clicking on the link will take the user to another Web page, or to another place on the same page. Words or phrases which serve as links are underlined, or appear in a different color, or both. Images that serve as links have a border around them, or they change the cursor to a little hand as it passes over them. (See also "Links")
ICRA - (Internet Content Rating Association) - An international, independent, non-profit organization which administers a rating system to identify potentially objectionable material included in rated Web sites. (See also "RSACi")
IM or Instant Message - IM (Instant Message) - Technology similar to that of chat rooms, which notifies a user when a friend is online, allowing them to "converse" by exchanging text messages. (See also "Web-based instant messaging")
Internet - A global connection of computer networks, also referred to as the "Net," which share a common addressing scheme. (See also "World Wide Web")
Intranet - A private network inside a company or organization, which uses software like that used on the Internet, but is for internal use only, and is not accessible to the public. Companies use Intranets to manage projects, provide employee information, distribute data and information, etc.
IP (Internet Protocol) - The computer language that allows computer programs to communicate over the Internet.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) - A protocol and a program type that allows participants to "chat" online in a live forum that usually centers around a common interest. IRC is the earliest form of online chat.
ISDN - (Integrated Services Digital Network) - Digital telephony scheme that allows a user to connect to the Internet over standard phone lines at speeds higher than a 56K modem allows.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - A company that sells direct access to the Internet, most often through dialing a local phone number. Unlike some online services, ISPs provide little or no proprietary content or online services.
Java -A computer programming language invented by Sun Microsystems. Using Java, Web developers create small programs called "applets" that allow Web pages to include animations, calculators, scrolling text, sound effects and games. (See also "Applet")
Keyword - A word that is entered into the search form or search "window" of an Internet search engine to search the Web for pages or sites about or including the keyword and information related to it.
Kids' Web Sites - Web sites designed for children under 13 years old, or which attract visitors who are under 13.
Link - A word, phrase, or image highlighted in a hypertext document to act as a navigation aid to related information. Links may be indicated with an underline, a color contrast, or a border.
Modem - A hardware device that allows computers to communicate with each other by transmitting signals over telephone lines, enabling what is called "dial-up access." Modems come in different speeds. The higher the speed, the faster the data are transmitted. The fastest widely available modems are "56K" (or 56 kilobits per second).
Monitoring software - Software products that allow a parent or caregiver to monitor or track the Web sites or e-mail messages that a child visits or reads, without necessarily blocking access.
Mouse - A palm-size device attached to a computer by a cord, which allows the user to select items displayed on the screen by controlling the cursor, and to give commands by clicking the device's buttons. (See also "Hardware")
Multimedia - Information presented in more than one format, such as text, audio, video, graphics, and images.
Navigation - A system of hypertext paths set up on a Web page to enable visitors to find their way around the site.
Netiquette - The informal rules of Internet courtesy, enforced exclusively by other Internet users.
Netizens - Citizens of cyberspace. (See also "Cyberspace")
Newsgroups - Discussion groups on the Internet (not on the Web, which is only one area of the Internet). Newsgroups are classified by subject matter and do not necessarily deal with journalism or "news." Health, hobbies, celebrities, and cultural events are the subjects of many newsgroups. Participants in a newsgroup conduct discussions by posting messages for others to read, and responding to the messages posted by others.
Operator - The person who is responsible for maintaining and running a Web site.
Opt-in - A policy for giving permission under which the user explicitly permits the Web site operator to either collect the information, use it in a specified manner and/or share it with others when such use or disclosure to third parties is unrelated to the purpose for which the information was collected. (See also "opt-out")
Opt-out - A policy under which the user's permission is implied unless the user explicitly requests that his/her information not be collected, used and/or shared when such use or disclosure to third parties is unrelated to the purpose for which the information was collected. (See also "opt-in")
Personally identifiable information - Information that can identify an individual user, such as name, home address, or e-mail address.
PICS - (Platform for Internet Content Selection) - Technology that allows Web browsers to read content ratings of Web sites. Content ratings are administered by the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), an independent, non-profit organization. (See also "ICRA" and "RSACi")
Plug-in - A small piece of software that enriches a larger piece of software by adding features or functions. Plug-ins enable browsers to play audio and video.
Posting - Sending a message to a discussion group or other public message area on the Internet. The message itself is called a "post."
Privacy Policy - The policy under which the company or organization operating a Web site handles the personal information collected about visitors to the site. Many Web site operators publish their privacy policy on their Web site. The policy usually includes a description of the personal information which is collected by the site, how the information will be used, with whom it will be shared, and whether the visitors have the option to exercise control over how their information will be used. All TRUSTe Web site licensees are required to post privacy statements. (See also "Opt-in," "Opt-out," and "TRUSTe")
RSACi - (Recreational Software Advisory Council on the Internet) - Rating system managed by ICRA (Internet Content Rating Association) to provide consumers with information about the level of sex, nudity, violence, offensive language (vulgar or hate-motivated) in Web sites. Ratings provided by RSACi are recognized by PICS technology. (See also "ICRA" and "PICS")
Search engine -A tool that enables users to locate information on the World Wide Web. Search engines use keywords entered by users to find Web sites which contain the information sought. Some search engines are specifically designed to find Web sites intended for children.
Server - A special computer connected to a network that provides (serves up) data. A Web server transmits Web pages over the Internet when it receives a Web browser's request for a page. A server can also be called a host or node.
Server-based filter - Software which is installed on a host server, such as a Web server, to filter out Web pages which include content which meets specific criteria. Users who connect to a server which uses a filter will only be able to access those pages which get through the server's filter.
Software - A computer program, which provides the instructions which enable the computer hardware to work. System software, such as Windows or MacOS, operate the machine itself, and applications software, such as spreadsheet or word processing programs, provide specific functionality.
Spam - Unsolicited "junk" e-mail sent to large numbers of people to promote products or services. Sexually explicit unsolicited e-mail is called "porn spam." Also refers to inappropriate promotional or commercial postings to discussion groups or bulletin boards.
Spider - A software program that "crawls" the Web, searching and indexing Web pages to create a database that can be easily searched by a search engine.
Surf - To search for information on the Web in a random, non-linear way.
TCP/IP - (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) - The protocols, or conventions, that computers use to communicate over the Internet.
Time limiting software - Software that allows users to set time limits for access to the Internet, computer games, or other software programs.
TRUSTe - An online seal program. Web sites which display the seal have agreed to abide with certain principles regarding user privacy. A user can access the site's privacy policy by clicking on the seal.
Trustmark - An online seal awarded by TRUSTe to Web sites that agree to post privacy statements which describe their policies toward user privacy, and to adhere to procedures that enforce their compliance with the published privacy policy. A user can access the privacy statement by clicking on the TRUSTe trustmark.
Upload - Copying or sending files or data from one computer to another. A Web developer, for example, could upload a document to a Web server. (See also "Download")
URL - (Uniform Resource Locator) - The World Wide Web address of a site on the Internet. The URL for the Internal Revenue Service, for example, is http://www.irs.gov. (See also "Domain name")
Web - The World Wide Web. An Internet system to distribute graphical, hyper-linked information, based on the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The World Wide Web is also known as WWW or W3. The Web is not synonymous with the Internet; rather, it is just one service on the Internet. Other services on the Internet include Internet Relay Chat and Newsgroups. The Web is accessed through use of a browser.
Web-based chat - Chat rooms that are found in Web sites, which allow people to chat with each other using their browsers. Another kind of chat room, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), requires additional software. (See also "Chat room," and "IRC")
Web-based e-mail - A technology that allows users to send and receive e-mail using only a browser, rather than using an e-mail program such as Eudora.
Web-based instant-messaging - Instant-messaging technology that works in Web sites, as opposed to that provided by commercial online services. (See also "Instant messaging")
Web site - A collection of "pages" or files linked together and available on the World Wide Web. Web sites are provided by companies, organizations and individuals.
Webmaster - The person responsible for administering a Web site.
WWW - The World Wide Web. (See also "Web")
