Common Computer Terms:
Attachment – a file attached
to an email or bulletin
board message.
Bookmark – a bookmark acts
like a marker to a website.
Internet Explorer calls a
bookmark a "Favorite".
Netscape calls a bookmark a
"Bookmark". Either way a
bookmark will allow you to
revisit a web page at a
later date without having to
remember the URL to the
page.
Browser – or web browser, is
a program that allows people
to interface to the World
Wide Web. It interprets HTML
code, text, images,
hypertext links, java
applets, etc. allowing you
to view websites and move
from one site to another.
Internet Explorer is a web
browser.
Bulletin Board – a series of
messages that have been
posted as replies to each
other. A bulletin board
typically contains many
threads covering different
subjects. By reading each
message in a thread, one
after the other, you can see
how the discussion has
evolved.
Cable – a personal high band
width internet connection
using coaxial cable.
Chat – real-time
communication between two
people via computer. Once a
chat has been initiated,
either person can enter text
by typing on the keyboard,
and the entered text will
appear on the other person's
monitor.
CPU – “Central Processing
Unit". The component of a
computer in which data
processing takes place.
Cut – to remove an object
from a document and place it
in a temporary storage area.
In word processing, for
example, cut means to move a
section of text from a
document to a temporary
area.
Default – this term is used
to describe a preset value
for some option in a
computer program.
Download – the process of
sending information to your
computer from the internet
or from another computer.
Email – electronic Mail
FAQ – frequently Asked
Questions. Created to help
answer a majority of
questions that someone may
have when coming to a
website the first time.
Firewall – a firewall is
used to protect a networked
server from damage by those
who log in to it. This can
either be a computer
equipped with security
features, software
protection, or both. A
firewall allows only certain
messages from the Internet
to flow in and out of the
internal network.
FTP – “File Transfer
Protocol". A protocol that
allows you to move files
from a distant computer to a
local computer using a
network like the Internet.
GIF – stands for Graphics
Interchange Format. This is
a type of graphic image
commonly used in web pages.
Hard Drive – the mechanism
that reads and writes data
on a hard drive.
Homepage – the starting
point or main page of a
website. This page usually
has information about the
site and links to other
pages within the site
HTML – “Hyper-Text Markup
Language." The language used
to create web documents.
HTTP – “Hyper-Text Transfer
Protocol." The transfer
protocol used on the web to
view text and media.
Internet – countless
networks and computers all
over the world that allow
millions of people to share
information. This
information is transferred
all over the world through a
series of lines collectively
called the Internet
Backbone.
IP – “Internet Protocol."
This allows for data to be
transferred between systems
over the Internet. It
provides a standard set of
rules for sending and
receiving data via the
Internet.
IP Address – a code made up
of numbers that is separated
by 4 dots that identifies a
particular computer on the
Internet. Every computer,
whether it be a web server
or the computer you're using
right now, requires an IP
address to connect to the
Internet.
ISP – “Internet Service
Provider"
Java – a computer
programming language
developed by Sun
Microsystems.
JPG – short for Joint
Photographic Experts Group.
Type of Graphic Image
Format. Commonly used in Web
Pages.
Listserv – an email program
that allows multiple
computer users to connect
onto a single system,
creating an on-line
discussion.
Login – username or a code
that identifies you to a
certain server. It is often
used in conjunction with a
password to verify who is
accessing the server.
Modem – or dial up, a type
of personal low band width
internet connection using a
phone line.
Netiquette – or net
etiquette, refers to
etiquette on the Internet.
Based on the Golden Rule,
good netiquette is basically
not doing anything online
that will annoy or frustrate
other people. Three areas
where good netiquette is
highly stressed are email,
online chat, and newsgroups.
Operating System – usually
referred to as the "OS",
this is the software that
actually "talks" with
computer's hardware. Without
an operating system, all
software programs would be
useless. The OS is what
allocates memory, processes
tasks, accesses disks and peripherials, and acts as
the user interface.
Paste – to copy an object
from a temporary storage
area on your computer to a
file. In word processing,
text is moved from one place
to another by cutting and
pasting.
Plugin – a helper
application that enhances
your browser performance
(e.g. viewing movies or
animation).
Portable Document Format
(PDF) – a file format that
can be read by all computer
platforms but retains the
original document’s
formatting. This type of
file is generated by Adobe
Acrobat software and can be
viewed feely by using the
Acrobat reader.
Server – a computer with a
special service function on
a network, generally
receiving and connecting
incoming information traffic
Upload – the process of
sending information from
your computer to the
internet or to another
computer.
User – a person who uses a
computer
Web Page – what make up the
World Wide Web. These
documents are written in
HTML (hypertext markup
language) and are translated
by your Web browser.
Web Site (or Website) – a
collection of related,
interlinked Web Pages.
The online encyclopedia
Wikipedia contains a
comprehensive list of even
more computer terms.
