|
A |
| ABS |
Function
in programming languages that calculates absolute value. |
| Absolute
URL |
A
complete URL that specifies a protocol, host name, directory
name, and file name. |
| Abstract
Window Kit (AWT) |
A
Java Development Kit function used to work with existing Java
applets. |
| Access
Provider |
A
company that sells Internet access to its customers. An
access provider may be an online service such as America Online
which features a relatively simple software setup on the user's
computer, packaged content, and some Internet access.
A "true" provider requires more software setup on
the User's computer and offers full, direct Internet access.
An access provider may offer residential Internet service or
dedicated service for businesses. |
| Access
Time |
A
measure of the amount of time (usually in nanoseconds) it takes
for a software program or a piece of computer hardware to find
data and offer it to the CPU for processing. |
| Acquire |
To
import a file from an analog source, usually from a scanner
or video source. |
| Acrobat
Reader |
A
client application that can display Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) files. |
| Acronym |
A
word formed from key letters in a phrase or string of words. |
| Action |
An
attribute that specifies the path of the CGI script processing
a form. |
| Action
Property |
Permits
you to alter or retrieve the value of the action attribute of
the form. |
| Active
Link |
A
link that is currently selected in a Web browser. |
| ActiveX |
An
evolving set of cross-platform technologies originally developed
by Microsoft for creating and integrating components on the
Internet. Examples include dynamic Web pages and dynamic
client/service applications. |
| ActiveX
Controls |
Software
objects (or applets) that can be embedded into Web documents
or other programs, the properties of which can be altered by
the end-user via scripting. Also known as Object Linking
and Embedding (OLE) controls, they provide multimedia effects
viewable with a Web browser. |
| ActiveX
Control Pad |
An
authoring tool used to add ActiveX controls and ActiveX scripting
to HTML pages. |
| Actual
Parameters |
Actual
values passed to a programming function or procedure. |
| Ada |
A
programming language based on Pascal that allows multiple tasks
to run concurrently. Each comment begins with two hyphens,
with each statement ending in a semicolon. |
| Address |
A
number or bit pattern that identifies a computer memory location. |
| Address
Class |
Address
Classes define the number of IP addresses for a particular numeric
range. |
| ADPCM |
Adaptive
Differential Pulse-Code Modulation. A technique for translating
speech or other analog sound into a digital format |
| ADSL |
A
symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. An emerging technology
that employs existing phone lines to deliver digital information
at speeds ranging from 1.54 to 8 Megabits per second (Mbps)
to homes and businesses. The technology uses most channel
bandwidth to transmit to the user, retaining a small fraction
to receive information from the user. Because of its high
bandwidth, ADSL simultaneously allows plan old telephone service
(POTS) over the same wire. |
| AFAIK |
Internet
shorthand for "As far as I know." |
| AFAIR |
Internet
shorthand for "As far as I remember." |
| Agent |
Software
that automatically performs a function for another application. |
| AI |
Artificial
Intelligence. Computers simulating human thought patterns. |
| .AIF
or .AIFF |
This
extension denotes sound files |
| Alert
Box |
A
message box. This Windows dialog box prevents the user
from proceeding until the message box contents have been read. |
| ALGOL |
An
algorithmic programming language that places instructions in
block sets instead of numbered instructions. BASIC and
FORTRAN use numbered instructions. |
| Algorithm |
A
procedure for problem-solving that involves dividing the problem
into many simple setps, solving each step in turn. |
| Alphanumeric |
Letters
and digits, combinations of which are suggested password structures. |
| Alternative
Representations Image |
A
low-resolution image programmed to load first while its counterpart
higher-resolution image is loading on top. |
| Alternative
Representations Text |
Text
that identifies an image for those browsers that cannot display
images, or which display images slowly. |
| Amiga
Sound File |
A
sound file (.mod, .nst or .iff) originating with Commodore Computers. |
| Analog |
Information
that flows and changes continuously; contract with digital,
which is either on or off. |
| Anchor |
An
item in an HTML document from which a link is assessed.
An anchor may be a word, phrase, or image. Links provide
access to various data, including other Web pages, binary files,
Gopher and FTP servers, and e-mail client windows. Lings
also provide a method for advancing to another section of the
same Web page. Anchors may be either text or inline images. |
| And
Gate |
A
logic gate that produces an output of 1 when its inputs are
1. |
| Angle
Brackets |
The
"lesser than" and "greater than" symbols
on the keyboard. They are used to identify HTML tags in
an HTML document. Also known as wickets
(< >). |
| Animation |
A
process of adding movement to objects. File types (.awa,
.awm or .fli) originating with Microsoft Corporation. |
| Annotation
Bot |
A
FrontPage bot that inserts text (or notes to the user) on a
page that can be viewed from the FrontPage editor but not from
a Web browser. Annotation text is displayed in purple
and retains the character size and other attributes of the current
paragraph style. |
| Anon
Server |
Usenet
service that allows users to post to newsgroups anonymously. |
| Anonymous
FTP |
An
Internet service to make files available to the Internet community.
Users can log into tens of thousands of anonymous FTP servers
worldwide using the login name anonymous and a password consisting
of their e-mail address. A primary distribution method
for Internet and shareware applications and files. |
| ANSI |
American
National Standards Institute. Standards applied to programming
languages and code, as in Window character codes. |
| Antialiasing |
Technique
for smoothing slanted and curved line displays or frequencies
in digitized sound. |
| API |
Application
Programming Interface. Software that allows applications
to communicate with an operating system. Unlike an open
architecture system that communicates through commonalities
in databases, conventions, and scripting, APR's use of third-party
vehicles can result in slower performance. |
| APL |
Internet
shorthand for "a programming language." |
| Apple
Computer |
Corporation
that developed one of the first desktop computers, the Apple.
They later created the Macintosh, the first mass-produced computer
with a graphical user interface. |
| Applet |
A
small compiled program written in the Java language referenced
and executed from a Java-capable browser. Like ActiveX
controls, the properties can be altered by the end user via
scripting. |
| Applet
Viewer |
A
utility included in the Java Development Kit to display applets
without a Web browser. It is useful for testing and debugging
applets. |
| Application
Framework |
Predefined
procedures, a shell, and a template are all examples of an application
framework. An application framework has built-in code
eliminating the need to rewrite existing code. |
| Archie |
A
search vehicle used to locate publicly available files on anonymous
FTP servers. |
| Architecture |
The
structure or manner components fit and work together, especially
in a network or other complex computer-based environment. |
| Architecture-Neutral |
Programs
written to run without platform dependence. |
| Archnet |
A
type of local area network, such as a token ring network, that
uses Ethernet hardware. |
| Argument |
An
actual parameter. Values passed onto functions or procedures,
such as a Java applet. |
| ARPA |
Advanced
Research Projects Agency. The Department of Defense agency
that originated the first global computer network. It
is now called DARPA. |
| ARPANET |
Advanced
Research Projects Agency Network. A pioneering long-haul
network funded by ARPA. It was the basis for early networking
research and a central backbone during the development of the
Internet. The ARPANET consisted of individual packet-switching
computers interconnected by leased lines. |
| Array |
A
data collection with a given name and indexed by number. |
| ASCII';
ASCII File |
American
Standard Code for Information Interchange file. Also called
a text file, text-only file, or an ASCII (pronounced as-kee)
text file. A document in the universally recognized text
format called ASCII. The generic format is useful for
transferring unadorned but readable files between programs that
otherwise could not comprehend the other. Internet e-mail
messages are encoded using ASCII. |
| ASPI |
An
advanced SCSI programming interface. A standard program
created to provide access to SCSI hardware. |
| Assignment |
Ascribing
one value, either a literal or a variable, to a variable. |
| Associate |
To
link a format extension with a program. For browser use
in viewing multimedia files. |
| Asynchronous |
A
data transmission used by most computers to transmit numerous
characters at any time with a start and stop bit for each individual
character. |
| ATM |
Asynchronous
Transfer Mode |
| At
Symbol (@) |
Used
in e-mail addresses to separate the user's mailbox name from
the host computer and domain portion of the address. For
example "johnco@888prosoft.com." |
| Attachment |
A
term in e-mail parlance that describes a separate file associated
with an e-mail message and sent with it. |
| Attribute |
A
design characteristic (color, size, location, etc.) assigned
to an object by code within its tag wickets. |
| .AU |
A
sound file format. |
| Authoring
Tool |
Multimedia
or Web site construction application program. |
| Autoexec.Bat |
An
ASCII file found on DOS-based PC's containing system and software
configuration commands executed on start-up. |
| Auto-load
Images |
A
browser preference to automatically download and display images.
If this option is not selected a generic icon displays instead. |
| Automatic
Garbage Collection |
A
way to eliminate unwanted or invalid information from a computer's
memory. |
| Avatar |
Personal
graphical representation of an individual (or animated object)
within a VRML world. |
| .AVI |
An
extension for Microsoft's audio video interleave file format. |
| .AWA;
.AWM |
An
extension for Microsoft's animation file format. |
|
B |
| Backbone |
1.
A high-speed connection within a network that connects shorter,
usually slower, circuited nodes. 2. A system that acts
as a hub for activity. Note: A common misconception
regarding the Internet is that there is a single backbone.
In reality, there are several. Organizations maintaining
backbones on the Internet include the National Science Foundation
(NSF), Advanced Network Services (ANS), UUNet Technologies,
and Performance Systems International (PSI). |
| Background |
Field
or color underlying objects, text or tables. |
| Back-up |
Duplication
of files as a disaster recovery precaution. They are usually
saved and stored in a separate location away from the originals. |
| Bandwidth |
The
transmission capacity of an electronic line such as a communications
network or computer channel. |
| BASIC |
Beginner's
All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. A simple programming
language useful for simple calculations and demonstrating programming
techniques. In the mid-1960's, it originated at Dartmouth
College as a teaching aid. |
| Bang |
The
term for the exclamation mark (!) when used in a UNIX command-line
instruction. |
| Bare
Metal |
New
computer hardware that has yet to be programmed with an operating
system. |
| Baud
Rate |
A
term used to describe modem transmission speed, though best
avoided. Baud rate measures the number of events, or signal
changes, that occur in a second. Baud rate differs from
the more current phrase, bits-per-second. A modem that
encodes our bits per event operates at 2400 baud, but transmits
9600 bits per second (2400 events times four bits per event)
and thus should be called a 9600-Kbps modem. |
| BBS |
Bulletin
Board System. A computer system equipped with one or more
modems, serves as an information resource, and passing messages
on to dial-up users. |
| Berners-Lee,
Tim |
Considered
the father of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee was one of
the primary forces behind the creation and acceptance of the
Web. Berners-Lee then directed W3, the World Wide Web
organization based at MIT in Boston and CERN in Geneva. |
| BGCOLOR |
Background
color, an HTML attribute. |
| Binary
File Bitmap |
1.
A file containing date or instructions written in terms of 0's
or 1's, and which is machine-readable. 2. An image format
(.bmp), originated by Microsoft. The .bmp extension refers
to an image in which data bits are represented by displayed
pixels on a monitor. |
| Bit |
Binary
digits 0 and 1, which represent two values, off and on, respectively.
These digits are the basic units of a two-digit numbering system. |
| Bitnet |
Wide-area
network that links university systems globally. |
| BLOB |
Binary
large object. For example, a large block of bits stored
in a database. |
| Blockquote |
An
HTML tag used to indent information: <BLOCKQUOTE>...</BLOCKQUOTE>. |
| Blur |
To
deselect. The blur event is the opposite of the focus
event. It occurs when a user removes the focus from the
current in-focus and form element, either by clicking or tabbing
to another form element, and moves the focus to a new element.
Blur can also occur by clicking on an inactive region of a page
and removing focus from any element. |
| .BMP |
The
extension for Microsoft's bitmap file. |
| Body |
The
style standard for identifying the part of an HTML document
that contains the document content. The body presents
the viewable page of in-line images, embedded data, multimedia
objects, and hyperlinks. |
| Bookmark |
1.
A method for recording and retrieving Web page addresses (URLs)
in a browser. Bookmarks can also record Gopher menus,
FTP directories list and newsgroups. Web browsers call
this feature several names, including "hotlist," "favorites,"
and "bookmarks." Within the FrontPage environment,
bookmark has a slightly non-traditional meaning. Here,
it is a named set of one or more characters in a paragraph,
link, or image that can be an internal-ling target on your Web
page. |
| Boolean |
Values
that consist of one of the keywords, true or false, and represent
the results of a comparison. Named after the British mathematician
George Boole, these values enable computers to conduct quality
searches. |
| Boolean
Query |
Query
joining simpler queries with "and," "or,"
and "not." These query values enable a search
to connect, separate and ignore phrases and words. |
| Border |
In
HTML, a line enclosing an object, such as a graphic, frame,
or table. Color and width may be applied to borders. |
| Bot |
An
exclusive FrontPage dynamic object, appearing as a robot icon
and which is used to create unique, complex Web site elements.
A bot works only with Internet Explorer 3 or higher, and is
activated by the user. |
| Bounce |
Process
of returning problematic e-mail |
| BPS |
Bits
per second. A measure of data transmission speed.
Bits per second is a different measurement than baud rate. |
| Braces |
Curly
braces ({}) are required by JavaScript to delineate functions,
if-then constructions and repeat loops. |
| Brackets |
Used
to enclose characters. They have two forms: square
[] and angle <>. Code often uses one type of bracket
specifically for one type of statement presentation. |
| Branch |
An
instruction telling the computer to jump to another part of
the program. |
| Break |
In
HTML, to insert information without a preceding space, use:
<BR>. The break statement in JavaScript tells the
script to exit the nearest for loop. The script continues
execution immediately after the closing brace of the for statement. |
| Breakpoint |
Places
for interruption for normal program execution often introduced
by stop. |
| Brittle |
Not
robust. Software lacking in flexibility and the ability
to recover when an underlying configuration element is changed.
Such changes can happen according to plan (e.g., an upgrade
in a operating system), or by accident (e.g., a power failure,
or through a file deletion). |
| Browser |
A
program used for viewing pages and navigating from page to page
on the Web. Netscape and Internet Explorer are the dominant
browsers in use today. |
| BSD |
Berkeley
System Distribution. A version of UNIX for DEC and other
selected computers. |
| BTW |
Internet
shorthand for "By the way." |
| Bubble
Sort |
An
inefficient algorithm for arranging adjacent items in an order.
For example, the statement "a moved item has bubbled up
to position" shows how a process has eventually arranged
the items. |
| Bug |
An
error encoded into the software itself. Bugs are common
in pre-released versions, often called "Alpha" or
"Beta" versions. Bugs are usually removed in
a version update, which is sometimes called a "bug fix."
The word itself comes from the days when computers were so large
that maintenance workers found actual insects in the computers
themselves. |
| Bulletproof |
Software
that nearly always recovers from system faults, and which also
has the capacity to repair and alter itself after user-induced
changes in the hardware or software. |
| Bus |
An
electronic pathway that conducts signals to connect the functional
components of a computer. The three-bus PC processor design
includes a data bus for data transfer between the memory and
the microprocessor's internal or external data bus; an address
bus to identify which memory location is accessed; and a control
bus to carry control unit signals. |
| Button |
A
graphical interface that allows the user to select from a list
of options usually associated with World Wide Web pages coded
in HTML or various scripting languages (both client-side and
service-side). A radio button is an example. |
| Byte |
A
measurement of memory needed to store one 8-bit character. |
| Byte
Code |
Java
source code compiled into class files (.class) and output as
Java byte code. Byte codes are similar to machine instructions
but are architecture-neutral. They are guaranteed to run
on multiple platforms with the Java interpreter enabled. |
|
C |
| C |
A
general-purpose programming language like Pascal. |
| C++ |
A
programming language using object types or classes. It
is a superset of the C language. C++ is an object-oriented
language. |
| CA |
Certificate
Authority or Certifying Authority. An organization, such
as Verisign Corporation, that issues digital IDS for a fee. |
| Cache |
1.
An amount of memory dedicated to temporarily saving files.
Cache eliminates constant reassessing and reloading a source.
2. For a browser, a storage director for information or multimedia
files downloaded while traversing the Internet. |
| CAD |
Computer-Aided
Design. Used to two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional
(3-D) models. |
| Calling
Statement |
Statement
that transfers program execution to a subroutine, procedure,
or function. When the subroutine is complete, execution
transfers back to the command following the call statement. |
| Cancel |
Clears
a dialog box command without taking any action. |
| Caption |
A
title inserted above or below a table or image. The HTML
tag for caption is: <CAPTION>..</CAPTION>. |
| CAV |
Constant
Angular Velocity that refers to the constant speed of rotation
used in disk drives. Data retrieval is faster near the
spindle. |
| CCITT |
Comite
Consultatif Internationale Telephonique et Telegraphique.
An international organization that sets standards for data communication.
This organization is now referred to as the Internationale Telephonique
and Telegraphique (ITV-t). |
| CERN |
Conceil
European pour la Recherche Nucleaire. The European
Laboratory for Particle Physics. The birthplace of the
World Wide Web. The CERN format allows many companies
to communicate using one standard. |
| CERN
Image Map |
The
program hitmage.exe handling server-side clickable image dispatcher
maps when the image map style is CERN. A style of image
map that uses server-side executables that process commands
formatted in the CERN style. |
| CERT |
Computer
Emergency Response Team. CERT was formed to address computer
security issues and to conduct reseaerch targeted at improving
existing systems. These issues include technical assistance
for responding to computer security incidents, product vulnerability,
technical documents and tutorials. (cert@cert.org). |
| Certificate |
A
digital ID issued by a CA to authenticate and validate Internet
data transfer. |
| CGI |
Common
Gateway Interface. Describes a protocol whereby a Web
server can pass control to a software application, based on
a user request, receive and organize that information, and send
it back to the user in a consistent format. Programs that
use the CGI standard typically reside on a server (often found
in the cgi-bin subdirectory on UNIX host computers) and
allow developers to provide users with PCs, Macs, or UNIX computers
to access data without worrying bout the difference in
client computers. Applications using CGI can be written
in a variety of programming languages, including C, C++, Java,
JavaScript, REXX, and Perl. |
| CGI-BIN |
A
subdirectory on a Web server from where a CGI program executes
a response to a user request (for example, completing a form
or filling in a Web site guest book). |
| CGM |
Computer
graphics metafile. An ANSI graphics standard file format
is used in PC-based desktop publishing and illustrating applications. |
| Change
Event |
A
change event occurs after a user modifies input in a form element,
such as a text input area, a selection box, or scrolling list
of choices. The change occurs only after a modified entry
loses focus; that is, when a user has completed an entry on
a form and clicks elsewhere. |
| CHAP |
Challenge
Handshake Authentication Protocol |
| Character
Entity |
An
HTML element consisting of an ampersand (&), a pound sign
(#), a number (or predefined term in place of the pound sign
and number) and a semicolon (;). For example, the sequence
~ generates the tilde symbol (~), and the ©
character entity generates the copyright symbol ( ). |
| Character
String |
Any
ordered sequence of alphanumeric characters (typically bytes)
that are manipulated as a unit by a computer program.
Also called a string. |
| Chat
Room |
Internet
or online service forum for real-time user communication. |
| Chatting |
An
Internet or online service function allowing logged-on users
to type messages to |
| Checkbox |
A
selection box that offers options when clicked. Checkboxes
are inclusive allowing selection of more than one option. |
| Checksum |
Total
number of bits in a unit of data. An acronym for "summation
check" indicating an error check technique that forwards
a bit count with each transmission of data units. If the
total differs on the receiving terminal, the data is returned. |
| Ciphertext |
A
document that has undergone encryption. |
| CIX |
Commercial
Internet Exchange. A consortium of companies formed in
1992 to promote commercial use of the Internet. |
| Class |
Java's
basic execution object type. |
| Clickable
Image |
An
image containing one or more designated regions (or hotspots)
called hypertext links. When the Web site visitor places
the cursor over the image link, it indicates the link's presence
by changing appearance to a pointing hand. |
| Click
Event |
The
click event occurs when a user clicks the mouse button on a
link or a form element. It is usually associated with
various scripting languages such as JavaScript and VBScript,
as well as GUI applications. |
| Client |
A
computer system or process that requests the service or resources
of another computer system. For example, a software application,
such as a browser, that allows the retrieval of information
from the Internet and the World Wide Web is a client.
Microsoft Internet Explorer, MCSA Mosaic, Netscape Navigator,
and so forth, are all World Wide Web clients. |
| Client/Server
Architecture; Client/Server Model |
A
distributed computing system where computing tasks are divided
between a server and one or more intelligent clients.
Typically, a client will send a request to a server. They
will process the request and return the results to the client.
The client may then use or manipulate the received data.
The Internet relies on the client/server model for much of its
functionality. |
| Client-Side
Image Map |
An
image than encodes the destination URL of more than one hotspot
located within the image map when clicked. Client-side
image maps do not require processing from the server to resolve
the link destination, thus saving valuable browser and server
transaction time. |
| Closed
Architecture |
Program
structure or hardware compatible with hardware and software
from only one vendor. |
| CLV |
Constant
Linear Velocity. Used in most CD-ROM drives. The
speed of rotation various (slowing as the read head moves outward)
to allow a constant and consistent data retrieval speed. |
| COBOL |
Common
Business-Oriented Language. A programming language for
business data processing. |
| Code |
Source
code (programming language) or object code (machine language). |
| CODEC |
Coder-decoder.
A device that translates analog data to digital and back again. |
| COLS |
An
HTML attribute that designates the number of columns in a table
or a frameset. (In a frameset, COLS and ROWS are mutually
exclusive.) |
| .Com |
1.
On the Internet, the commercial business DNS designation.
2. The DOS command file extension indicating a type of executable
file. |
| COM |
Component
Object Model. A Microsoft standard for representing software
components in a distributed environment. |
| COMDEX |
Computer
Dealers' Exposition. Major computer show sponsored by
The Interface Group, Inc. |
| COMMENT |
An
HTML tag indicating the enclosed explanatory information is
extraneous to the Web page content. The comment remains
hidden to the site visitor. Comment tag: <!--...-->. |
| Comment
Box |
An
HTML tag command allowing the user to input personal data in
a text area designated to be x rows by x columns with columns
meaning a character space. For example: Henry =
5 columns. |
| Comparison
Operators |
Used
in programming languages to compare two values to determine
what to do next. |
| Compatible |
Software
or hardware that will work with other software or hardware without
causing errors or system crashes. |
| Compiler |
A
computer program that translates a file (called source code)
written using a programming language text editor into computer-executable
form called machine code (also called object code). A
computer executes machine language quicker than the textual
commands of the original source file. The Java Development
Kit includes a compiler used to translate Java source code into
byte code, which is a special form of code that can be executed
by computers based on different architectures (PCs, Macintoshes,
and UNIX machines). The Java compiler is also written
in Java. |
| Compiled |
A
program language that has been compiled. Compiled programs
generally run faster than interpreted programs or scripts because
it is read as a binary file (for example, machine code).
Java is a compiled language. |
| Concatenation |
Synthesizing
code to reduce duplication and simplify by linking two or more
items into one item. |
| Conditional
Expression |
A
quick way to assign a value to a variable based on the results
of a certain condition in JavaScript. A conditional expression
is identified by the use of the question mark (?): (condition)
? valuetrue: valuefalse. |
| Configure |
Adjusting
computer settings for optimum performance of a routine. |
| Confirmation
Page |
A
default Web page displayed when a user submits a form.
The confirmation page is specified in the form handler's dialog
box. More than one form can use the same confirmation
page. |
| Constant |
A
value that remains unchanged during program execution. |
| Content
Provider |
A
business providing information for a fee. |
| Continue |
A
JavaScript command used within a for loop that tells
JavaScript to skip the rest of the body of the loop, execute
the update statement, and return to the top of the loop.
The continue command is generally used in conjunction
with an if construction to test a condition. If the condition
is true, then the program executes the continue statement. |
| Cookies |
Data
created by a Web server stored on a user's computer that provide
a means for the website to maintain a user's patterns and preferences. |
| Copyright |
Internationally
recognized concept designed to protect ideas, written material,
and objects from being duplicated without acknowledgement or
reimbursement to the originator. |
| CORBA |
Common
Object Request Broker Architecture. Allows a distribution
of network applications over different platforms and languages. |
| CPU |
Central
Processing Unit. A single computer chip encoded with a
computer's instruction set that controls all other computer
parts. For example, the hard drive, peripherals, RAM,
ROM, and so forth. |
| Cracker |
Person
who illegally accesses computers via the Internet. |
| Crash |
Software
or hardware failure usually without an opportunity to save work
in progress. |
| CRC |
Cyclical
Redundancy Check. An error detecting code. The checksum
function is an example of a CRC. |
| Crippleware |
Free
software that is either incomplete or self-destructs within
a specified time period. |
| Cross-Browser |
Compatible
with different browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer
and Netscape Navigator. |
| Cross-Platform |
Compatible
with different platforms such as DOS, Windows, Macintosh, and
UNIX. |
| Cryptography |
Technology
of encoding information. |
| CSS |
Cascading
Style Sheets. Multiple and overlapping style definitions
that control the appearance of HTML elements (for example, fonts,
colors, spacing) in HTML documents. Cascade refers to
the top-down hierarchy of commands. |
| CUA |
Common
User Access. Guidelines to standardize computer program
communication, including menus and keystrokes. |
| CU-SeeMe |
An
Internet videoconferencing software package sold by White Pine
Software. It provides whiteboard and chat options that
require a computer video camera. Netscape and Microsoft
are incorporating these capabilities into their browsers, as
well. |
|
D |
| Database |
A
collection of data capable of being sorted and searched using
search algorithms. |
| Data
Capture |
Storing
information and translating it into a form a computer can read
and display. |
| Data
Types |
A
classification given to a data field that determines the kind
of data the field will accept. There are four data types
in JavaScript: numbers, strings, Boolean values, and a
null value. Compared with other languages, this is a small
number of data types. |
| Daemon |
A
background program that runs continuously. |
| DARPA |
Department
of Defense Advance Research Projects Agency. The US government
agency that funded the ARPANET and funded development of other
technologies used with the Internet. |
| Data
Object |
Used
in JavaScript to determine the current time and date.
To use the date object, you must create a new date object and
apply the various date methods to get and set dates. The
most commonly used methods are the get methods. They obtain
the time and date of the value in the date object. |
| Date
Object Methods |
Used
in JavaScript to set the date and time. For example:
getHours()-returns the hour; getMinutes()-returns the minutes;
getSeconds()-returns the seconds; getYear()-returns the year
("97" is 1997); getMonth()-returns the month ("0"
is January); getDate()-returns the date of hate month; getDay()-returns
the day of the week ("0" is Sunday). |
| dB |
Decibel.
The logarithmic measure of signal strength. |
| DDE |
Dynamic
Data Exchange. A program mechanism for exchanging data
with other programs while both are running. |
| Debug |
To
review and remove any errors, incompatibilities, or inoperable
components. |
| Decrypt |
To
translate encrypted or coded information back to its original
format. |
| Dedicated
Line |
A
permanently connected, private telephone line between two locations. |
| Default |
An
option that is automatically selected over other options when
a program is run. The user will have to manually change
the default to choose another option. For example:
default alignment is left. |
| Desktop |
Computer
screen workspace. In windows 95, for example, a desktop
simulates items found in a "real world" office, complete
with an "Inbox," "trash bin," "My Computer,"
"files," "folders," and so forth. |
| Device
Driver |
A
software program that controls a specific device attached to
or in a computer. For example, a printer device driver
is needed so a computer can tell a printer to to output a file
sent to that printer. Operating systems typically come
equipped with certain device drivers present. |
| DHCP |
Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol - A service that allows for the
centralized management of dynamic IP addresses and other addresses
required by computers/devices. |
| Dialup |
A
temporary network connection made over a regular phone system,
rather than a connection through an internal network or permanently
leased line. |
| Dialup
Connection |
Connection
made from a computer to another computer or network using a
modem and a standard phone line operating at speeds of either
14.4 Kbps or 28.8 Kbps. For example, a connection is created
when a computer dials an ISP. The connection ends when
the computer is directed to hang up. |
| Digital |
Use
of digits (0, 1) to represent data and code. For example,
combinations of these digits can represent real-world objects
and concepts, such as time and temperature, or letters of alphabet.
Whereas analog transfer employs constant flow, a digital system
transfers using different combinations of on and off. |
| Digital
Signature |
A
security technique for identifying the source of a document
or an application, such as an ActiveX control. |
| Direct
Connection |
A
connection using a dedicated telephone line established at speeds
as slow as 56 Kbps and as fast as 45 Mbps. The higher-speed
direct connections are called T-1 and T-3 connections.
T-1 connections operate at 1.5 Mbps. T-3 connections range
in speed from 3 Mbps to 45 Mbps. They are less common
because they are the most expensive type of connection to lease.
Typically, direct connections are always open and dedicated,
which adds to their lease cost. |
| Director
Path |
The
path taken to a specific location or file on a hard drive.
Path refers to the tree-like structure associated with how data
is named and represented in a hierarchical way. |
| Discussion
Bot |
A
FrontPage function that allows users to participate in online
discussions similar to Internet newsgroups. |
| Distributed |
An
operation or function that is decentralized and runs on more
than one lined computer. |
| DLP |
Digital
Light Processing. An all-digital projection display solution
that takes digital electrical input and displays a digital optical
image. |
| DNS |
Domain
Name System. 2. The unique name that identifies an Internet
site. Also referred to as a name server. 2. A user-friendly
method that allows client computers to access server computers
by specifying a domain name such as location.com. Without
a domain name, a user must know the equivalent IP address for
the service computer (for example, 163.142l.84.6). The
DNS allows host computers not directly on the Internet to register
names in the same style. |
| Document-centric
Orientation Domain Name |
A
way of emphasizing the useful product of an application rather
than the application itself. For example, OLE provides
a document-centric focus and allows the user to work on a problem
with information from more than one application. |
| Document-Write
(document.write) |
A
Java method that allows the display of text on a screen. |
| Domain |
1.
A networking architecture that organizes groups of computers
in a network to help identify and find resources. 2. On
the Internet, the highest-level domain is the final suffix to
an organization or institution's computer-based name.
It describes that organization's place in cyberspace.
For example, 888prosoft.com has ".com" as its domain,
showing that is is a commercial organization. Other domain
names include .gov, org, and edu. |
| Domain
Address |
An
Internet address in a readable, generally user-friendly format,
rather than in the numerical IP address. For example,
press-enterprise.com (the name of a host computer on the Internet),
as opposed to its numerical equivalent, which would look something
like 205.139.56.27. |
| Domain
Name |
An
address on the internet. |
| Dotted
Quad |
The
numeric address of an Internet site. Also referred to
as the dot address. Dotted quad refers to the decimal
number equivalent that delineates the four-byte (32-bit) Internet
protocol address and four decimal numbers separated by dots.
Each number represents the binary value of one of four bytes
(group of 8 bits or an octet). For example, 205.139.56.27. |
| Download |
To
transfer a file from a server by means of an electronic connection. |
| Drag-and-Drop |
In
a graphical user interface, moving a file or object by dragging
it with a mouse to a new location without using any keyboard
commands. |
| DSL |
Digital
Subscriber Line |
| DVE |
Digital
Video Effects. |
| Dynamic |
Always
changing, either because the item is programmed to, or due to
user interaction. |
| Dynamic
Web Page |
A
unique Web page that is created by requesting data from other
Web sites. |
|
E |
| Echo |
To
send information back to its source. Local echo is where
you tell your own program, such as Telnet for Windows 95, to
repeat your typed commands in the command window. |
| Editor |
A
computer program that allows an author to create, view, and
modify text files. |
| .Edu |
The
DNS designation for educational instructions. |
| Elevator
Bar |
A
vertical or horizontal scroll bar. |
| E-Mail |
An
electronic message sent over a computer system to one or more
individual users. |
| Embedded |
Something
inserted into a document. This term usually refers to
an OLE object. |
| Embedded
Object |
An
OLE object inserted, as opposed to linked, into a destination
document created by a different application. |
| Emoticons |
Small
character graphics used to show emotion in electronic mail.
They are also called smilies. Examples include:
:-) Happy; :-( Frown; :-/Grin; ;-)Wink; :-*Kiss; :-OShout. |
| Empty |
A
term used to describe markup tags that anticipate a one-time
action, and which have only one opening tag. |
| Encryption |
A
security technique to prevent access to information by converting
it to unreadable ciphertext (scrambled). |
| Engine |
The
part of a program that implements a special procedure such
as a search. |
| EPS |
