Access provider
Organization that arranges for access to the Internet. The charge is usually depending on the amount of usage you contract for. Also called Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Address
Unique identifier used to access a website by domain name (http://www.gowebtide.com) or IP address (202.45.101.32), or send/receive email (info@gowebtide.com).
 
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Bandwidth
Transmission capacity of a network connection.May be measured in bits per second (bps).
 
Bit - Binary Digit
Smallest unit of computerized data. A bit is either "on" or "off" and is represented by "1" or "0".
 
Bookmark
Browser feature that allows you to save a link to a Web page. The page may then be accessed by selecting the bookmark.
 
Bps - Bits Per Second
Measurement of how fast data is transferred from one place to another. May be in thousands of bits per second (Kbps) or million of bits per second (Mbps). A 56.6 modem can transport 56,600 bits per second.

Browser - Web Browser
Software program that allows you to access the World Wide Web to view websites, view newsgroups and download files. Netscape, Internet Explorer and Opera are the top three browsers. There are many others. There are no standards amongst browsers. Each browser serves web pages differently and that is important to understand when designing a website.

Byte
A set of 8 bits that represent a number from 0 to 255.
 
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Cable Modem
Device connected to a computer that accesses the Internet over a local cable TV line.
 
Cache
Area of computer where browser stores viewed Web pages. When returning to a page, the browser gets the page from the cache, saving time. If the page has changed, clicking the "Reload" button on the browser will download the latest version.

Compression
Technology that reduces the size of a file to save bandwidth. Useful when transmitting information over the internet.
 
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Dial-up
Using a telephone line to connect one computer to the computer of an Internet Service Provider. Initial computer is then connected to the Internet through the computer of the ISP.

Domain name
Unique name that identifies an website. Webtide's domain name is gowebtide.com (the www in front a domain name is not officially part of the name). There are many suffixes for domain names: .com, .net, .org being the most common.

Download
Transfer of data down from a server to a computer. Accessing a web page means the page is downloaded from an internet web server to a computer. Collecting email is downloading messages from an internet mail server to a computer.
 
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Email address
Unique electronic mail identifier. An email address is specified by a user name at a domain (info@gowebtide.com).
 
Email alias
Additional email addresses that point to an already existing main email address. Using email aliases means that additional email addresses may be setup without the need for additional separate email accounts.
 
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FTP - File Transfer Protocol
Method that transfers files over the Internet. Used to download and upload files from one computer to another over the Internet.
 
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GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
File format used to save images for display on the Internet.
 
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Hit
Single request from a browser to a server. Each time an html, image or any file is sent from a server to a computer a hit is recorded.
 
Home page
Main page of a website. The Webtide home page is located at http://www.gowebtide.com/index.html

Host
Server computer which stores a website. The server is connected by a large bandwidth connection to the Internet 24 hours a day. A request for a website is received by the hosting server. The server downloads the pages to the requesting computer.

HTML - Hypertext Mark-up Language
Coding language to create web pages.
 
HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Method for transferring web files over the Internet. Used to tell computer what type of document is being accessed (http://www.gowebtide.com - tells that hypertext web pages are being sought).

Hyperlink (aka Link)
Highlighted word or graphic within a web page that accesses another area of the same page or another web page when clicked. Term has been shortened to link.
 
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Intranet
A private internet setup by organizations to transfer information within that organization only. Business's may setup intranets to speed up document transfer, make company information available to employees and let outside field staff access needed user manuals or schedules.

IP - Internet Protocol
Rules that govern Internet functions.
 
IP address
Unique 32-bit Internet address consisting of four numbers, separated by dots. Every server connected to the Internet has an IP number and every domain is associated to an IP number.

ISP - Internet Service Provider
An organization that provides Internet access.
 
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Java
A cross-platform programming language. Java is a language for complex functions that must be performed on different operating systems.

JavaScript
JavaScript is a scripting language. It is not related to Java. JavaScript is a useful way for most website interactions, animations and functions.

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group
File format used to save images for display on the Internet.
 
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Link (aka Hyperlink)
A highlighted word or graphic within a web page that accesses another area of the same page or another web page when clicked. Term also known as hyperlink.

Location (Web Address, URL)
Internet address of a website. Some browsers call the website address the location.

Login
Entering into a computer system that requires a check of the user.
 
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Modem - Modulator-Demodulator
Device that allows computers to transmit information over telephone lines.

MP3 or MPEG 3
Compression standard for music files. Even with the very high compression rate the music quality remains exceptional.
 
MPEG - Moving Pictures Expert Group
Video compression standard in a format similar to jpegs.
 
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Net
Short for Internet.

Network
Group of computers connected to share resources and exchange data. The internet is a world-wide computer network.
 
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Offline
Not connected to the internet or another computer network.

Page - Web page
One single document on the Web.

Password
Secret code used to enter a restricted area.

Plug-in
Additional software that add features to an existing software application.

Portal
A website that attracts visitors by offering information or services about a specific interest (www.deepcovebc.com) or a large range of interests (www.excite.com).

Protocol
A set of rules and conventions computers follow in order to understand each other.
 
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Response time
Time between the sending of a request to a specific Internet server and the execution of that request.
 
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Search engine
Website that searches in Internet according to criteria set by user.

Server
Computer that has a permanent Internet connection.

Site - Website
A collection of web pages linked together.

Spam
Junk email.

Spider
Small piece of software (also known as a (ro)bot), used by some search engines to index Web sites.

Surfing
Looking around the web with no apparent goal.

Sysadmin
System administrator of a UNIX machine. Webtide Internet Solutions is a Sysadmin for their clients.
 
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T-1
High speed, high bandwidth connection to the Internet designed to transmit information at 1.544 Mbps.
 
T-3
Ultra-high speed, high bandwidth connection to the Internet designed to transmit information at 44.736 Mbps (28 T-1 lines).
 
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Unix
Multi-user computer operating system that the internet grew up on and is still the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.
 
Upload
Sending files from one computer up to another computer through the Internet. Sending email is uploading messages. Placing files from a computer not always online to a server for viewing as a website is uploading.

URL - Uniform Resource Locator
Address of any resource on the World Wide Web. The URL of our website is: http://www.gowebtide.com  

User ID
Unique identifier that works in conjunction with a password that gives access to a restricted area.
 
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World Wide Web
An client-server system to distribute information over the Internet. Created at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland in 1991 by Dr. Tim Berners-Lee.

WYSIWYG
Acronym for what you see is what you get. Software applications that let one work in an environment that shows how the document will appear to viewers — as opposed to only seeing code in the work environment.
 
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