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Part 1 of an A to Z of information technology terms, jargon and abbreviations
3-D (three dimensions or three-dimensional) - describes an image that provides the perception of depth. When 3-D images are made interactive so that users feel involved with the scene, the experience is called virtual reality. You usually need a special plug-in viewer for your web browser to view and interact with 3-D images. Virtual reality experiences may also require additional equipment.
3GIO - third-generation I/O. Proposal underway to develop a high-performing bus for future PCs. In the short term it will connect chipsets, but in the long term it should also replace PCI.
Access - a basic desktop database package, shipped with Microsoft Office.
Access provider - a general term for a company that lets you connect to the Internet by dialing in to their computer in return for money. This may be an Internet Service Provider or an online service. [ISP]
Access time - the time taken by the hard disk to find and retrieve data.
ACPI (advanced configuration and power interface) - the latest standard that specifies how PC or laptop power can be effectively managed. Features include activating devices only when required and reducing clock speed when full processing power is not needed.
ActiveX - a multimedia programming system developed by Microsoft for use on the world wide web.
Address - the location of an Internet resource. An email address may take the form of alias@username.plus.com A web address looks something like http://www.plus.net
Address book - software that stores the email addresses of the pople you contact online; all popular email programs have one built in.
ACR (advanced communications riser) - single motherboard slot designed for a special card that delivers the ports supported by certain chipsets. Theoretically offers cheap modems, networking or audio facilities. Similar alternatives include AMR, ANR and CNR.
ADN (advanced digital network) - usually refers to a 56Kbps leased-line.
ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) - high speed permanent connection to the Internet similar to a leased line, with a variety of speeds available. Downloads speeds are considerably greater than upload speeds, which is what that word 'asymmetric' is all about.
AGP - (accelerated [advanced] graphics port) - a bus or set of electrical paths that gives a PC's graphics controller (the specialist chip that updates the display) fast access to the system memory chips. This is particularly important when complex displays such as 3-D scenes that occupy large chunks of memory need to be updated without clogging up the existing system buses [ISA, PCI, USB].
AI - (artificial intelligence) the term used for computers that appear to exhibit human intelligence such as 'understanding' the spoken or written word, reasoning or the ability to respond to their physical surroundings and adapt their response accordingly.
Alias - a nifty short name for something whose real name is much longer. For example, your email software will usually let you refer to yourself as Joe Bloggs instead of joe_bloggs@somewhere.co.uk.
Alphanumeric - letters and numbers, used to describe keyboards and displays.
AMR - audio and modem riser. An expansion slot on a motherboard. See ACR.
AMSTRAD - Alan Michael Sugar Trading.
Analogue signal - a continous signal, such as the one sent over an ordinary phone line.
Anchor - either the starting point or destination of a hyperlink.
Animated GIF - A type of animation created by loading two or more GIF images into an animation program, setting an order and delay times, and re-saving as a single file.
Anonymous FTP - a method of getting access to files on an FTP site without needing special permission or a logon name. Instead you enter anonymous as your logon name, and your email address as your password.
Anonymous remailers - services that will forward your email messages or newsgroup articles after stripping out your personal details, so that no-one can tell who sent them.
ANR - audio and network riser. An expansion slot on a motherboard. See ACR.
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) - the US equivalent of the British Standards Institute (BSI).
Anti-aliasing - a technique used to adjust jagged diagonal lines and curves in images caused by false frequencies (aliases) to make them look smoother. This process is commonly used to improve the appearance of fonts and large text images.
Anti-virus program - this monitors the files on your computer for viruses and will usually give you the option to kill the virus or delete the file if a virus is found.
AOL - America Online, a company which offers subscribers a connection to the Internet. [ISP]
Apache - an open source web server package, mostly used on Linux or Solaris platforms.
API (application program interface) - a common interface that allows programs to make use of services provided by the operating system or other application. Winsock, for example, is an API that allows Windows and other programs to talk to TCP/IP for Internet access.
Applet - a little application program. Prior to the world wide web, the built-in writing and drawing programs that came with Windows were sometimes called "applets." On the web, using Java, the object-oriented programming language, an applet is a small program that can be sent along with a web page to a user. Java applets can perform interactive animations, immediate calculations, or other simple tasks without having to send a user request back to the server.
Application - a software program such as a word processor, spreadsheet, web browser, or even a game, that is designed for a specific purpose.
Application servers - software used to provide an interface between systems to enable web services (see Middleware).
Archie - a system that lets you track down files on FTP sites by entering the name of the file (or part of it) into a program that can search through indexes of files on these computers.
Archive - a single file which usually contains several (or many) other files to make for quicker and easier downloading. Most archives also compress these files into a smaller space than they'd ordinarily take up, speeding up downloads still further.
ARJ - allows the user to store one or more files in a compressed format in an archive file. This saves space both in the compression and in the saving of disk sector clusters. Particularly strong compressing databases, uncompressed graphics files, and large documents. Named after the creator, American programmer Robert Jung.
ARM (Acorn Risc machine) - uses Acorn's Risc microprocessor [Risc], [CPU].
ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) - the precursor to the Internet. Developed in the late 60's and early 70's by the US Department of Defence as an experiment in wide-area-networking that would survive a nuclear war.
Article - for no particularly good reason, the name for a message sent to a newsgroup.
ASCII - pronounced 'ass-key', and often referred to as 'plain text'. This is a text system that allows ordinary numbers and letters, punctuation marks such as spaces, tabs and carriage-returns, plus a few special characters, but no formatting or font information. ASCII text can be recognised by almost any type of computer and read in any word-processor. Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
ASP ( active server pages) - a scripting language created by Microsoft for developing dynamic web sites.
AT (advanced technology) - originally described IBM PC architecture that forms the basis of all clones to this day. Also used to describe original motherboard form factor.
ATA - (AT attachment) - an interface for connecting drives to motherboard and transferring data into main system. Incorporates IDE.
ATAPI (attachment packet interface) - an extension to the EIDE interface specification that additionally supports CD-ROM and tape drives.
Attachments - files included with a message to be sent by email or to a newsgroup. Messages that contain attachments are indicated by a paper-clip icon in most software.
Attributes - in HTML, these are additions to tags that let you specify or change what the tag should do. For example, <HR> creates a rule across the page. Adding the WIDTH= and ALIGN= attributes lets you create a short rule placed on the left side of the page.
ATX - an industry-wide open specification for a desktop computer's motherboard. ATX improves the motherboard design by taking the small AT motherboard that has been an industry standard and rotating by 90 degrees the layout of the microprocessor and expansion slots. This allows space for more full-length add-in cards. A double-height aperture is specified for the rear of the chassis, allowing more possible I/O arrangements for a variety of devices such as TV input and output, LAN connection, and so forth. The new layout is less costly to manufacture. Fewer cables are needed. The power supply has a side-mounted fan, allowing direct cooling of the processor and cards, making a secondary fan unnecessary.
Authentication - a security measure for checking a user's identity (user ID). Some Web sites require a user's identity to be authenticated before they can enter. This is usually done with a password and or username.
Autocomplete - when you type part of a web page address in a browser's location bar, the browser tries to make things easier by guessing the rest.
Autoresponder - a computer program that automatically returns a pre written message to anyone who submits e-mail to a particular Internet address, whether an individual or a web site. Autoresponders are widely used by web sites for the purpose of responding to visitor comments and suggestions in a preliminary way and, in cases where traffic is heavy, as the sole way to communicate with user inquiries. Publishers of ezines and other online e-mail newsletters typically use an autoresponder to respond to people who subscribe or cancel their subscriptions.
AVI - audio visual interleaved. A type of digital video and audio file pioneered by Microsoft.
Bandwidth - a general term for the amount of information that can be transferred over an Internet connection. Often used in terms of 'wasting bandwidth' by, for example, sending the same article to 30 different newsgroups when it was only relevant to one.
BASIC (beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code) - a popular programming language that is simple with easy to understand statements. Microsoft's Visual Basic provides a graphical interface for writing programs.
Baud - was the prevalent measure for data transmission speed until replaced by a more accurate term, bps (bits per second). One baud is one electronic state change per second. Since a single state change can involve more than a single bit of data, the bps unit of measurement has replaced it as a better expression of data transmission speed. The measure was named after a French engineer, Jean-Maurice-Emile Baudot. It was first used to measure the speed of telegraph transmissions.
BBS (bulletin board system) - a computer which provides an email service and file archives (and perhaps more) which members can connect to via modem. Some online services such as CompuServe started life as BBSs before becoming connected to the Internet.
BCC (blind carbon copy) - you can use this when you send an email and you don't want the main user to see who else you're sending the message to.
Binaries or Binary Files - the term for a file that contains anything but plain ASCII text (such as a program, movie, or formatted document). Also appears in newsgroup names to indicate that non-text files can be attached to articles in the group.
BIOS (basic input/output system) - the program a personal computer uses to get the computer system started after you turn it on. It also manages data flow between the computer's operating system and attached devices such as the hard disk, video adapter, keyboard, mouse, and printer.
Bit - the smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit has a single binary value, either 0 or 1. Although computers usually provide instructions that can test and manipulate bits, they generally are designed to store data and execute instructions in bit multiples called bytes. In most computer systems, there are eight bits in a byte.
Bitmap - an image made out of bits and bytes.
Bluetooth - a specification for linking devices such as mobile phones, computers and PDAs (personal digital assistants) over a short range wireless connection. The maximum range over which it can operate is currently 10 metres, with data transfer rates of up to 721 kbps (kilobits per second) supported.
Bookmarks - the Netscape Navigator name for Favourites.
Boot-up - what your PC does when you switch it on.
BOT - a program designed to automatically search the web for information; many of the search engines, including Infoseek and AltaVista, employ bots to scout the internet for new sites.
Bounced Email - email messages that come back to you instead of being delivered, usually because you typed the email address wrongly.
Broadband - transmission over a wire that can carry multiple signals at once.
Broken link - an HTML link that's not working properly.
Browser - the vital piece of Internet software, ostensibly designed for viewing pages from the world wide web, but capable of handling almost all of your Internet activities. The two most popular browsers are Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and Netscape's Navigator.
Bug - if software has a fault which means it doesn't work properly it's described as having a 'bug'.
Bus - term to describe the path and means by which data is transferred between components in a PC. Buses come in a variety of speeds and capabilities.
Bus master - an intelligent device such as a PCI adapter card that can gain control of the bus and use it to transfer data without involving the processor.
Byte - a group of eight bits used to represent a character or number with four bytes representing a word. The binary system is used, so a kilobyte is 1,024 bytes while a megabyte is 1,048,576 bytes (not 1,000,000 bytes).
Cache - a temporary storage area used to speed up different processes such as a folder on your system into which your browser stores all the files it downloads from the world wide web in case you want to view those pages again – it can then load them quickly from this folder instead of downloading them all over again. Also refers to a processor that stores recent or frequently used instructions in small chunks of very fast memory called level 1 and 2 cache.
CD-ROM drive - what you need to read CD-ROMs.
Celeron - a cheaper type of Pentium processor from Intel. [CPU]
Channel - a special kind of web site that delivers web pages directly to your PC without you having to request it.
Character - what your computer calls any letter, number, or symbol that appears on the screen.
Chat - a type of conversation which takes place by typing messages back and forth instead of speaking (other than to swear at the chat software). A popular chat system is IRC, but online services have their own chat rooms, and other software allows one-to-one chatting by ''dialing-up' an email address rather like using a telephone.
Chat room - a web page that allows you to send text messages to other visitors in real time.
Chipset - manages flow of data between components on a motherboard. Typically comes in two parts: northbridge and southbridge.
Client - the name for something (usually a software program) that makes use of a service. For example, your email program is a client that makes use of the email service. The opposite term is server.
Clipboard - some of your computer's memory set aside to temporarily store copied or cut information.
Clock speed - a measurement of how fast your PC or processor is, measured in millions of beats per second (MHz).
CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) - a battery-powered chip on the motherboard that stores basic system configurations and clock settings (BIOS).
CNR (communication and network riser) - a motherboard expansion slot. See ACR.
ColdFusion - a cross-platform web package (Linux/Windows/Solaris) for web application development.
Compiler - a special program that takes the instructions written in a programming language and turns them into machine code that a PC processor can understand.
Compressed files - see Archive.
Compression programs - these programs enable you to squeeze several files into one smaller file, usually with a .zip file extension. All the files that make up a program are often zipped up into one .zip archive. WinZip is a popular compression program.
Containers - the name for the type of tags used in HTML that must have a closing tag (such as <B>...</B> for bold text). The text to which the tags are being applied is contained within them.
Cookies - small text files that some web sites store on your computer so that they know who you are next time you visit.
CPU (central processing unit) - a microprocessor chip located on the motherboard that functions as the 'brains' of the computer as it controls all its functions.
Ctrl-Alt-Del - the three keys which, when pressed together, will usually let you regain control of your PC after a crash.
Cursor - a pointer that tells you where you are typing. It also describes the pointer that moves around when you use the mouse.
Cyberspace - a word coined by the science fiction writer William Gibson in his novel 'Necromancer'. It's used as a very generalised term for the Internet and everything that comes with it. It is the imaginary space that we travel through when surfing the web.
CYMK (cyan, yellow, magenta, keystone black) - the four basic colours used by ink jet and laser colour printers. A huge range of colours can be created by a combination of overlaying and dithering.
DAS (direct attached storage) - a disk array directly connected via IDE or SCSI to a server for content storage.
Data - the stuff that makes up what a computer works with inside its memory - numbers, words, images and so on.
Data transfer rate - the rate at which data can be taken or sent somewhere, such as from the disk to the processor.
DB2 - database software from IBM that runs primarily on Unix and Solaris platforms.
DBA - database administrator is software that administers databases. It can carry out the maintenance of a database, including the applications and content structure.
DDR - double data rate SDRAM is synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) that can theoretically improve memory clock speed to at least 200 MHz.
Device - what Windows calls anything that connects to your PC in whatever way, such as the hard disk or grahics card.
Device driver - a program that controls a device which is attached to a PC such as a printer, modem, monitor, graphics card or CD-ROM drive. Without the correct driver the device will not work.
Dialog box - the little box that pops up in Windows to ask you questions or tell you something has happened.
Dial-Up Networking - the TCP/IP stack built into Microsoft Windows 95, Window NT 4.0, and later operating systems, that makes setting up an Internet connection a relatively pain-free task.
Digital camera - records pictures via a small built-in computer rather than using film. The pictures are then ready to be down-loaded to your PC and then viewed on screen or printed off.
Digital signal - a signal made up of 'offs' and 'ons', the 0 and 1 of computer data. Phone lines can't carry digital signals so your computer's data has to be converted into analogue data, by your modem, before it is sent.
DIMM (dual inline memory module) - a memory board that is effectively a double Simm. It uses a 168-pin connector, and its 64 bit-wide bus allows single modules to be installed in Pentiums whereas the earlier Simms had to be fitted in pairs.
Directory - a web site that enables you to find the addresses of other sites. Unlike search engines they are maintained by humans and often have a subject-based menu hierarchy to make it easy to find sites. Yahoo! is an example of a directory site.
Dithering - a printing process of simulating additional colours or shades by mixing available colours and varying dot sizes.
DLL (dynamic link library) - a program module that contains instructions common to different applications. Instead of including these in a program, the DLL can be called as required, loaded into memory and run. As the link is dynamic the majority of DLLs can be unloaded when no longer needed, so saving memory resources.
DMA (direct memory access) - a process for data retrieval from a device such as a hard disk that writes it into main memory without involving the processor, so freeing it up for other tasks.
DNS see Domain Name System
Domain name - the name given to a computer on the Internet that's (vaguely) recognisable to human beings, such as www.royalnetwork.com. Every computer on the Net has its own unique name.
Domain ame system (DNS) - also defined as Domain Name Server. This system translates the friendly domain names that we humans like to work with into IP addresses that computers like to work with.
Dot address - another name for IP address.
Downloading - the act of copying files (of any type) to your own computer from some other computer. The opposite term is uploading.
DRAM - the most common and cheapest form of computer memory which uses one capacitor and transistor to store one bit of information.
DVD (digital versatile disk) - a high-capacity CD-ROM disk that can store up to 17Gb of data. The latest disks have two layers and DVD drives use a laser with two focal points to read each one. Each layer holds 4.7Gb, so a dual-layer, dual-sided disk will store 17Gb of data.
E-commerce - a 'catch-all' term relating to financial transactions that take place on the Net, along with the software, hardware and protocols that are involved.
EDO (extended data out) - to read a word of computer memory it must be precharged first. EDO memory speeds up this sequence by precharging the next word while still reading the current word.
EISA (extended ISA) - expansion slot and bus developed by Compaq as a successor to ISA and competitor to IBM's MCA. Open standard, but rarely used on anything but servers.
Email or e-mail - short for 'electronic mail', a system that lets you send text messages over a network from one computer to another.
Email address - an address consisting of your username and the host name of your service provider's computer, in the form username@host. Because this host name is unique, and you're the only subscriber with that username, the email is as personal to you as your phone number.
Email programs - these programs enable you to send and receive electronic mail messages. Eudora, and Outlook Express are popular examples.
Emoticons - little pictures (usually faces) made out of typed characters and viewed sideways-on, such as :-) meaning Happy (see Smileys).
Encryption - the term for altering data or text to turn it into meaningless gobbledegook. Only someone with the correct decoding information (or 'key') can read and use it.
Enhanced IDE - an improved version of IDE that supports large hard disks, faster access speeds and DMA. It is actually two controllers providing primary and secondary channels, which handle two devices each, and can also talk to CD-ROMs and tape drives via Atapi.
EPP/ECP (enhanced parallel port/extended capabilities port) - improved parallel port which provides transfer rates of over 2 megabytes per second and bi-directional operation. The latter is mainly used by printer monitoring software as it can receive status information from the printer while sending it data. ECP is designed for other devices such as ZIP drives.
Error Protection Protocol - a technique used in modems to cancel out extraneous electrical noise and repeat unsuccessful online transmissions.
Ethernet - the original form of the most popular type of network today that connects PCs together over shared cabling. It was called ethernet in remembrance of the ether from which electromagnetic radiation was once thought to flow.
Extranet - a type of Internet web site that's a closed community protected by a password and/or firewalls. It is typically provided by a business for suppliers, key customers and so on.
E-zine - a magazine on the web.
FAQ (frequently asked questions) - a list of questions and answers on a particular subject. These are frequently placed in newsgroups so that the group doesn't become bogged down with new users asking the same questions all the time. You'll also find FAQs on Web sites, and almost anywhere else in the computing world.
FAT (file allocation table) - a table held on a floppy or hard disk that tells the operating system the location of data and what order it is stored in. Using 16 bit addresses, it can only support disk sizes of 2Gb whereas FAT 32 uses 32 bit addresses and supports hard disk sizes up to 2Tb (terabytes).
Fatal exception - this is a Windows error message generated by the operating system when it detects invalid code, invalid data or illegal instructions being accessed by a program. It frequently results in the 'blue screen of death'. Generally requires the PC to be switched off and back on to clear it. You can try CTRL-ALT-DEL.
Favourites - a menu in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser (and a corresponding folder on your hard disk) containing shortcuts to sites that you visit regularly. You can revisit a site easily by clicking its name on the menu, and add new sites to the menu with a couple of clicks.
Firewall - a system or software utility designed to stop unauthorised access to a private network. Can also be used by a company to control what resources outside the network can be accessed by employees.
FireWire - a very fast serial interface for connecting external devices. Also known as IEEE 1394 or iLink, it supports up to 63 devices and speeds of 400Mbps (megabits per second). First implemented on the Apple Mac, it is more expensive than USB and suited more to devices that require high-speed transfer rates such as digital cameras.
Firmware - software that is permanently stored on ROM (read-only memory). It provides many devices such as printers, modems and tape drives with basic instructions and, where FlashROM is used, the code can be changed by downloading a new set of instructions.
FlexATX - an addendum to the MicroATX specification, itself a derivative of the most recent ATX 2.01 standard. FlexATX is designed to be a lower cost, but backwards-compatible platform for smaller PCs.
FTP (file transfer protocol) - one of the many protocols used to copy files from one computer to another on the Internet. Also used in terms like 'an FTP site' (a site that lets you grab files from it using this protocol), and as a verb, as in 'You can ftp to this site'.
Finger - a command (or a software program that sends the command) which returns information about someone whose email address you entered. Also used as a verb, so this is one instance in which you can 'finger' someone and get away with it.
Firewall - a security setup that prevents unauthorised users from gaining entry to a company or corporate network. Designed to exclude 'hackers'.
Flame - a negative or abusive response to a newsgroup article or an email message.
Follow-up - a reply to an email or newsgroup message that contains the same subject line (prefixed with RE) and continues the same thread.
Forward - send an email onto another internet user.
Frames - a way of dividing web pages into separate areas that can be scrolled individually.
Freeware - software that you don't have to pay for.
FTP programs - file transfer protocol (FTP) is a fast way of uploading and downloading files from the internet.
Gateway - a program or device that acts as a kind of translator between two networks that wouldn't otherwise be able to communicate with each other.
GIF - one of the two major graphics formats used on the Internet (along with JPEG). GIF images can be saved with between 2 and 256 colours, so they contain less information than the 16-million-colour JPEG format, and therefore make smaller files. They're suitable for anything but photographs and the most lifelike art. See also animated GIFs.
GMCH - graphics and memory controller hub. Intel's name for the faster half of a hub-based chipset which co-ordinates data between the CPU, memory and AGP. Also known as northbridge.
Gopher - a menu-based system for storing, searching for, and retrieving documents, which was the precursor to the world wide web.
GPF (general protection fault) - an error message that is generated when a program tries to access an area of memory being used either by another program or the operating system. If it were allowed to write to this area it would overwrite another program's data or instructions, so Windows stops it and requests that the errant program be closed.
Hayes command set - a set of instructions for controlling basic modem functions, such as dialing and hanging up, devised my modem manufacturers Hayes. You probably won't have to know anything about them; your comms program will let you select a plain-English option like 'dial' or 'connect' and will then translate that into the relevant Hayes command code for you.
History list - a list of recently-visited sites stored by your browser so that you can see where you've been, get back there easily, or find out what someone else has been using your browser for.
Hit - a unit of measure of a visit to a web site. When someone visits a web site that site has received a hit.
Homepage - two definitions for this one. 1. The page displayed in your browser when you first run it, or when you click the Home button. 2. The first page (or main contents page) of a web site.
Host - a computer connected directly (and usually permanently) to the Internet that allows other computers to connect to it (like your service provider's computer). This also leads to the expression 'host name' which means the same as domain name.
HTML see Hypertext Markup Language
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) - the protocol used to transfer web pages around the Internet, along with the images and other ingredients that go with them.
HTTPS - (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) - used to secure web sites by encrypting traffic to and from the user using SSL.
Hub - a device used on a star network to connect all PCs together. When it receives a signal it refreshes and strengthens it before passing it on.
Hypertext - a system of clickable text used on the world wide web, as well as in older Windows help files and CD-ROM-based encyclopaedias. A hypertext link can be inserted wherever a cross-reference to another part of the document (or an entirely different document) is needed.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) - a fairly simple system of textual codes that can be added to an ASCII text file to turn it into a web page.
Hypertransport - high-speed bus developed by AMD to transfer data between northbridge and southbridge chipset components. First used by Nvidia Nforce chipset. May also be part of future 3GIO bus standard.
IAP (Internet Access Provider) - see Internet Service Provider
ICH - I/O controller hub. Intel's name for the slower half of its hub-based chipsets which supports I/O, ports and drive controllers. Links directly to the GMCH. Also known as southbridge.
IDE (integrated drive electronics) - also known as ATA, this is the most common interface for connecting hard disks and other storage devices to a PC. As all the controller electronics are built into the device, it can be connected directly to the motherboard so you don't need a separate adapter card as you do with SCSI.
IGP - integrated graphics processor. Nvidia's name for the northbridge component of its Nforce chipset. Features built-in Geforce graphics.
Image map - a single image divided into several 'hot' areas and placed on a web page. Each area will take you to a different page or file when clicked.
Instant Messenger - a software program that allows the user to see which of his friends are online and to exchange short conversational messages with any of them in real time. IM software is free, with programs available from AltaVista, Yahoo, AOL, Microsoft and others.
Intranet - a network maintained by a company that is only available to its staff or authorised users. Like the Internet, it uses HTML pages and web browsers.
Invalid page fault - caused when a page of data or program code in the swap file cannot, for various reasons, be loaded into the main memory.
Internet - often shortened to just 'the Net'. The Internet is a gigantic network of computers, all linked together and able to exchange information. No-one owns or controls it, and anyone can connect to it. Without the capital 'I', an Internet is a more general term for networks connected to each other.
Internet Protocol (IP) - see TCP/IP
Internet service provider (ISP) - a company that allows anyone to connect to the Internet by dialling into their host computer. All they ask in return is that you give them money. Also sometimes referred to as an Internet Access Provider, or IAP.
Internet telephony (IP) - see Talk
IP address (Internet Protocol Address) - every computer on the Internet has its own unique address, which can appear in two forms: the friendlier domain name, or as an IP address that computers themselves use. This consists of four numbers separated by dots, such as 148.159.6.26. Also known as a 'dot address'.
IPVPN (IP-based Virtual Private Network) - either delivered over a private IP-based network or the public Internet.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) - an Internet service that provides one of the most popular chat systems which can be accessed using many different IRC programs. Chat rooms in IRC are referred to as 'channels'.
IRQ (interrupt request) - signals used by devices to literally interrupt the processor in order to gain its attention. For example, every key pressed on a keyboard generates an interrupt signal indicating that an event has occurred that requires an action. PCs support 15 hardware interrupts. Each device must have its own IRQ or conflicts will occur that can cause a PC to hang or crash, although plug and play devices have alleviated this problem.
ISA - industry standard architecture. Expansion bus introduced by IBM on its original Personal Computer in 1981. Extended from 8 to 16 bits for PC/AT in 1984 and only completely retired during 2001.
ISDN - an abbreviation for Integrated Services Digital Network. An ISDN line allows faster access to the Internet than current modems allow, and can simultaneously handle voice and data.
ISP - see Internet Service Provider
Java - a software-programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. The language is often used to write small programs called 'applets' that can be inserted in a Web page.
JavaScript - a similar language to Java, except that it's written in plain text and can be inserted 'as is' into a HTML document to place effects or small programs on a Web page.
JPEG - along with GIF, this is one of the two most-used formats for images on the net. This format saves information for 16.7 million colours, making it ideal for photographs but creating unnecessarily large files for most forms of artwork.
JRun - a development environment for Java-based server software.
JSP (Java server pages) - a scripting language based on Java for developing dynamic web pages and sites. It's typically used on Solaris and Linux platforms.
Keyword - the word, words or phrase you enter into a search engine to find the web site you want.
LAN (local area network) - a small network that is generally confined to a single office or building.
Leased line - a line leased from the telephone company that provides a permanent, dedicated connection to an Internet Service Provider. Leased lines are lightning fast and cost a small fortune. (Also known as a 'T1 connection'.)
Link - as a noun, a link is a piece of clickable hypertext, identifiable by being underlined and a different colour from the ordinary text around it. As a verb, to link to a site or page means the same as to open or download it.
Linux - a UNIX-like operating system that was designed to provide personal computer users with a free or very low-cost operating system comparable to traditional and usually more expensive UNIX systems. Linux has a reputation as a very efficient and fast-performing system. Linux's kernel (the central part of the operating system) was developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
Listserv - like Majordomo, is a small program that automatically redistributes e-mail to names on a mailing list. Users can subscribe to a mailing list by sending an e-mail note to a mailing list they learn about; listserv will automatically add the name and distribute future e-mail postings to every subscriber. (Requests to subscribe and unsubscribe are sent to a special address so that all subscribers do not see these requests.) These programs are also known as list servers.
Local bus - a bus that communicates directly with the CPU, bypassing the slower ISA bus. Proprietary local buses arrived in the early 1990s. VLB was the first local bus standard, but Intel won with PCI.
Location bar - the white box at the top of your browser window where you can type in the address of a web site.
Log off - a synonym for 'disconnect' – logging off means telling the computer you're connected to that you've finished for this session.
Log on/logon - either of these can be used as a noun or a verb. When you log on to a service or computer you are identifying yourself, usually by entering a username and password. This act may be referred to as 'a logon', or 'logging on'. Your username may be termed a 'logon name'.
LOL - abbreviation of laugh out loud, commonly used online or on IRC.
Lurking - a cute term for observing something without taking an active rôle. This may refer to visiting chat rooms and just following conversations rather than chatting, or reading newsgroups without posting any articles yourself.
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