Glossary for Guide to the Internet for Speech Pathology

The Glossary in this book contains reference terms you'll find useful as you get started on the Internet. After a while, however, you'll find yourself running across abbreviations, acronyms, and buzzwords whose definitions will make more sense to you once you're no longer a novice (or "newbie"). That's the time to build a glossary of your own. For now, the 2DNet Webopædia gives you a place to start.

Alias
A simple email address that can be used in place of a more complex one.

Bandwidth
Internet parlance for capacity to carry or transfer information such as email and Web pages.

Browser
The computer program that lets you view the contents of Web sites.

Client
A program that runs on your personal computer and supplies you with Internet services, such as getting your mail.

Domain
A group of computers administered as a single unit, typically belonging to a single organization such as a university or corporation.

Domain name
A name that identifies one or more computers belonging to a single domain. For example, "apple.com".

Domain name server
A computer that converts domain names into the numeric addresses used on the Internet.

Download
Copying a file from another computer to your computer over the Internet.

E-mail
Electronic mail.

Emoticon
A guide to the writer's feelings, represented by typed characters, such as the Smiley :-). Helps readers understand the emotions underlying a written message.

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

Flame
A rude or derogatory message directed as a personal attack against an individual or group.

Flame war
An exchange of flames (see above).

FTP
File Transfer Protocol, a method of moving files from one computer to another over the Internet.

Home page
A page on the World Wide Web that acts as a starting point for information about a person or organization.

Hypertext
Text that contains embedded links to other pages of text. Hypertext enables the reader to navigate between pages of related information by following links in the text.

Link
A reference to a location on the Web that is embedded in the text of the Web page. Links are usually highlighted with a different color or underline to make them easily visible.

List server
Strictly speaking, a computer program that administers electronic mailing lists, but also used to denote such lists or discussion groups, as in "the writer's list server."

Lurker
A passive reader of an Internet newsgroup. A lurker reads messages, but does not participate in the discussion by posting or responding to messages.

Modem
A device for connecting two computers over a telephone line.

Newbie
A new user of the Internet.

Newsgroup
A discussion forum in which all participants can read all messages and public replies between the participants.

Pages
All the text, graphics, pictures, and so forth, denoted by a single URL beginning with the identifier "http://".

Quoted
Text in an email message or newsgroup posting that has been set off by the use of vertical bars or > characters in the left-hand margin.

Search engine
A computer program that will locate Web sites or files based on specified criteria.

Secure
A Web page whose contents are encrypted when sending or receiving information.

Server
A computer program that moves information on request, such as a Web server that sends pages to your browser.

Smiley
See emoticon.

Snail mail
Mail sent the old fashioned way: Write a letter, put it in an envelope, stick on a stamp, and drop it in the mailbox.

Spam
Spam is to the Internet as unsolicited junk mail is to the postal system.

URL
Uniform Resource Locator: The notation for specifying addresses on the World Wide Web (e.g. http://www.abacon.com or ftp://ftp.abacon.com).

Usenet
The section of the Internet devoted to newsgroups.

Web site
A collection of pages administered by a single organization or individual.

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