appletA small program or application, particularly one written in Java.
browseTo wander around a portion of the Internet, screen by screen, looking for items of interest. Also known as surfing, or cruising.
browserAn Internet client that helps users browse.
CGICommon gateway interface, a facility for using scripts in Web pages.
clientA software tool for using a particular type of Internet resource. A client interacts with a server, on which the resource is located. Browsers are clients.
close tagAn HTML tag required at the end of a block of code beginning with certain tags. Close tags begin with </.
compressionThe process of making a computer file smaller so that it can be copied more quickly between computers. Compressed files, sometimes called ZIP files, must be decompressed on the receiving computer before they can be used.
cyberspaceA broad expression used to describe the activity, communication, and culture happening on the Internet and other computer networks.
dial-up IP accountAn Internet account, accessed through a modem and telephone line, that offers complete access to the Internet through TCP/IP communications. It differs from a shell account in that a shell account does not employ TCP/IP on the userÕs PC, and might not offer complete Internet access or offer the user the ability to use the client software of his or her choosing. Dial-up IP accounts come in two types: PPP and SLIP.
dial-up IP connectionA method that allows a computer lacking a direct connection to access the Internet through another computer that is directly connected to the Internet. Even though the connection is established with a modem, the dial-up user runs TCP/IP for a true Internet connection.
direct connectionA permanent, 24-hour link between a computer and the Internet. A computer with a direct connection can use the Internet at any time.
DNSDomain Name System, a method of translating IP addresses into word-based addresses that are easier to remember and work with.
domainThe address of a computer on the Internet. A userÕs Internet address is made up of a username and a domain name.
e-mailShort for electronic mail, a system that enables a person to compose a message on a computer and transmit that message through a computer network, such as the Internet, to another computer user.
e-mail address The word-based Internet address of a user, typically made up of a username, an at sign, and a domain name (user@domain). E-mail addresses are translated from the numeric IP addresses by the domain name system (DNS).
ExplorerSee Internet Explorer.
extensionSee Netscape extension.
FAQ fileShort for Frequently Asked Questions file, a computer file containing the answers to frequently asked questions about a particular Internet resource.
flameHostile messages, often sent through e-mail or posted in newsgroups, from Internet users in reaction to breaches of netiquette.
formA part of a Web page in which users can type entries or make selections that are passed on for processing by a script.
frame definition documentAn HTML document whose purpose is to define the frames in a frame-based document, and to identify the content files to go in each frame.
framesDiscrete sections of a Web page that has been divided into frames by a frame definition document.
freewareSoftware available to anyone, free of charge; unlike shareware, which requires payment.
FTPShort for File Transfer Protocol, the basic method for copying a file from one computer to another through the Internet.
GIFA form of image file, using the file extension .GIF, commonly used for inline images in Web pages.
GopherA system of menus layered on top of existing resources that makes locating information and using services easier.
GopherspaceA metaphor for all the directories and other items accessible through Gopher menus. Taken together, these resources can be imagined as an online environment, or space, accessible through Gopher menus.
HTMLHypertext Markup Language, the document formatting language used to create pages on the World Wide Web.
HTML source editorHypertext Markup Language, the document formatting language used to create pages on the World Wide Web.
HTTPHypertext Transfer Protocol, the standard protocol used for communications between servers and clients on the World Wide Web.
hypermedia and hypertextMethods for allowing users to jump spontaneously among on-screen documents and other resources by selecting highlighted keywords that appear on each screen. Hypermedia and hypertext appear most often on the World Wide Web.
image mapA block of code that assigns different URLs to different areas of an inline image.
inline imageAn image that appears within the layout of a Web page.
InternetA large, loosely organized internetwork connecting universities, research institutions, governments, businesses, and other organizations so that they can exchange messages and share information.
Internet ExplorerA browser for the World Wide Web, created by Microsoft and available in the Microsoft Plus! add-in package and on the Microsoft Network. Can be confused with Explorer, which is the basic file/folder management system in Windows 95.
internetworkA set of networks and individual computers connected so that they can communicate and share information. The Internet is a very large internetwork.
IP addressThe number-based Internet address of a user or computer, made up of four sets of numbers separated by periods; for example, 192.480.77.69. In practice, Internet users more often encounter word-based addresses (nsnell@carroll.com), which are translated from the numerical IP addresses by the domain name system (DNS).
IRCShort for Internet Relay Chat, an Internet tool that allows two or more Internet users to participate in a live conversation through typing messages.
JavaScriptA programming language for creating scripts that add functions to Web pages.
menuA list of choices on a computer screen. A user selects one choice to perform an action with a software program. Menus figure prominently in Windows and in the Internet resource Gopher.
Microsoft Network (MSN) A new online information service whose access software is built into Windows 95. MSN can provide access to some Internet resources.
MIMEMultipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, a standard that allows graphics and multimedia information to be included in Internet documents such as e-mail messages.
MosaicA browser for the World Wide Web.
multimediaA description for systems capable of displaying or playing text, pictures, sound, video, and animation.
multitasking and multithreadingTwo advanced techniques supplied by Windows 95 and 32-bit applications that allow multiple applications to run together more quickly, smoothly, and reliably.
netiquetteThe code of proper conduct (etiquette) on the Internet (the Net).
NetscapeShort for Netscape Communications, a software company that developed and markets a popular Word Wide Web browser called Navigator. Some people casually refer to Navigator as Netscape.
Netscape extensionNonstandard enhancements to HTML that can add features to Web pages. The features can be viewed only through browsers that support the extensions.
networkA set of computers interconnected so that they can communicate and share information. Connected networks together form an internetwork.
newsgroupA Internet resource through which people post and read messages related to a specific topic.
passwordA secret code, known only to the user, that allows the user to access a computer that is protected by a security system.
PPPPoint-to-Point Protocol, a communications protocol that enables a dial-up IP connection.
providerA general reference to an Internet access provider, a company that has its own, dedicated access to the Internet and can therefore sell dial-up IP accounts to Internet users.
scriptAn external program opened by a link in a Web page to perform some special function.
scriptingThe activity of writing a script.
search engineA program that provides a way to search for specific information.
serverA networked computer that serves a particular type of information to users or performs a particular function. Users run client software to access servers controlling certain types of resources (e-mail, newsgroups, and so on). Dial-up IP accounts are provided through Internet servers with direct connections to the Internet.
sharewareSoftware programs that users are permitted to acquire and evaluate for free. Shareware is different from freeware in that, if a person likes the shareware program and plans to use it on a regular basis, he or she is expected to send a fee to the programmer.
shortcutA feature of Windows 95 that allows you to place an icon anywhere in Windows, even on the desktop, that you can click to open a file or program.
shorthandA system of letter abbreviations used to efficiently express certain ideas in e-mail messages, newsgroup postings and Internet Relay Chat sessions. Examples are IMO (in my opinion) and BTW (by the way).
sign onThe act of accessing a computer system by typing a required username (or user ID) and password. Also described by other terms, including sign in, log on (or logon), and log in (or login).
SLIPSerial Line Internet Protocol, a communications protocol that enables a dial-up IP connection.
spiderA program that searches methodically through a portion of the Internet to build a database that can be searched by a search engine.
surfingAnother term for browsing.
tagA code in HTML.
TCP/IPTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, the fundamental internetworking protocol that makes the Internet work.
TelnetA facility for accessing other computers on the Internet and for using the resources that are there.
UNIXA computer operating system widely used by Web servers.
URLShort for Universal Resource Locator, a method of standardizing the addresses of different types of Internet resources so that they can all be accessed easily from within a Web browser.
usernameUsed with a password to gain access to a computer. A dial-up IP user typically has a username and password for dialing the access providerÕs Internet server.
UsenetA loose affiliation of sites that together control the majority of Internet newsgroups.
WizardAutomated routines, used throughout Windows 95, for conveniently performing a step-by-step procedure, such as setting up Windows 95 or configuring it for the Internet.
World Wide Web (WWW or Web) A set of Internet computers and services that provides an easy-to-use system for finding information and moving among resources. WWW services feature hypertext, hypermedia, and multimedia information, which can be explored through browsers such as Mosaic.
wormA program that searches methodically through a portion of the Internet to build a database that can be searched by a search engine.