Internet Glossary
Posted: June 11th 2008

ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line: Technology that allows data to be sent over existing copper phone lines. An ADSL connection is much faster than a standard phone modem connection.

Alias
An alternate name that is associated with a real file or address.

Anonymous FTP
Using FTP without establishing a user ID and password.

Antivirus Software
Software written specifically to combat harmful viruses. Anti-Virus software seeks and removes viruses from your computer. Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan are two popular Anti-Virus programs.

Apache
An open source HTTP server for Unix, Windows NT, and other platforms. Apache was developed in early 1995, based on code and ideas found in the most popular HTTP server of the time, NCSA httpd 1.3. It has since evolved to rival (and probably surpass) almost any other Unix based HTTP server in terms of functionality, and speed.

Applet
A small Java program.

ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange: This is the global standard for code numbers used by computers to represent all upper and lower-case Latin letters, numbers, and punctuation.

ASP
1. Application Service Provider 2. A hosting environment that extends the normal capabilities of a web server and exposes objects for use in web programming. It is accessed by either VBScript (it's default) or JavaScript.

AUP
Acceptable Use Policy. A set of rules that inform web hosting customers what they can and cannot do through their hosting accounts. Often such policies place certain restrictions on e-mail use (such as spamming) and content (such as not allowing images of child pornography).

Autoresponder
A feature that sends an automated reply to incoming email. For example, when customers send email to your sales@yourdomain.com address, a standard message could be sent back to them.

Backbone
A high-speed line (or a series of connections) that forms a major pathway within a network.

Bandwidth
The amount of data you can send through a connection, usually measured in bits per second. A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can move about 15,000 bits in one second.

Banner
Paid advertisements in the form of graphics (usually rectangular in shape) displayed on a Web page. When viewers click on a banner, they are taken to the advertiser's Web site.

Baud
A unit of measurement for modem speed, synonymous with bits per second (bps). A 56K modem has a speed of 56,000 baud or 56,000 BPS

BBS
Bulletin Board System: A computerized meeting system. BBS users can have discussions, make announcements, and upload or download files. There are thousands of BBSs around the world; many of them rely on a direct modem-to-modem connection over a phone line, using a single computer.

Binary
An FTP file format for transferring encoded data such as programs and images.

Binhex
BINary HEXadecimal: A method of converting non-text files (non-ASCII) into ASCII. This is needed because Internet email can only handle ASCII.

Bit
This is the smallest measure of computerized data, either 1 or 0. Eight bits equal one byte, or one character.

Blue Screen
A Windows 95/98 or Windows NT error that turns your computer screen blue while displaying an error message. It's sometimes called "blue screen of death" because it can cause an operating system to "freeze" or "lock up," requiring a reboot (restart) and deleting all unsaved data.

Bookmark
The feature of a Web Browser that lets you save the address (URL) of a web page so you can go back to the page easily at a later time.

BPS
Bits per second: A measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 28.8K modem can move 28,800 bits per second, or about 3600 characters per second.

Broadband
A transmission medium capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies, typically from audio up to video frequencies. It can carry multiple signals by dividing the total capacity of the medium into multiple, independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates only on a specific range of frequencies.

Browser
A client program used to view various kinds of Internet resources. You use a browser (e.g., Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer) to view Web pages from your computer.

Byte
A byte is a set of 8 bits that represent a single character.

Cable Modem
A type of modem that allows people to access the Internet via their cable television service. A cable modem can transfer data at 500 kbps or higher, compared with 28.8 kbps for common telephone line modems, but the actual transfer rates may be lower depending on the number of other simultaneous users on the same cable.

Certificate Authority
An issuer of Security Certificates used in SSL connections.

CGI
Common Gateway Interface: A protocol that allows a Web page to run a program on a Web server. Forms, counters, and guestbooks are common examples of CGI programs.

CGI-BIN
Some HTTP servers require CGI programs to reside in a special directory. This directory is often ""/cgi-bin"". However, better servers provide ways to distinguish CGI programs so they can be kept in the same directories as the HTML files to which they are related.

CGI-LOCAL
A directory on a web server in which a web hosting account holder can place customized CGI scripts. Those CGI scripts are run directly from the CGI-LOCAL directory.

Client
A program (or software) used to interact with a Server. A Web browser is a specific kind of client.

Colocation
Renting a secure space with reliable network connectivity in a data center while maintaining your own equipment.

Compress
Store data in such a way that the file size is reduced.

Connectivity
The status regarding whether two computer systems are communicating with each other over either a local network or over the Internet. When computers are communicating with each other, there is said to be "connectivity" between them.

Content
The graphics, video, sound and text that makes up a web page is usually referred to as the content.

Control Panel
All users have access to a Web-based Control Panel that allows you to set mail forwarding options, enable/disable anonymous FTP access, view your statistics, change your password and more. It also allows access to other features, such as an HTML Form Generator, Web-based HTML editor and Perl script checker. Users may also update account contact information at anytime without having to contact customer support.

Cookie
A cookie is a piece of information sent to a browser by a Web Server. The browser then returns that information to the Web server. This is how some Web pages "remember" your previous visits; for example, an E-Commerce site might use a cookie to remember which items you've placed in your online shopping cart. Cookies can also store user preference information, log-in data, etc

CyberCash
CyberCash is the name of the company that developed a Web-based payment system. Their CyberCash software enables online payment services for credit cards and Internet check transactions. CyberCash works with all popular browsers.

Daemon
A process that runs all the time.

Data center
A secure location for web hosting servers. Data centers are designed to assure that the servers and the data housed on them are protected from environmental hazards and security breaches.

Data Transfer
In general, any outward-bound traffic from a Web site (with the exception of email) is considered to be data transfer. Each time a Web page, image, MIDI file, etc. is loaded, data transfer is generated.

Database
This is any collection of data: part numbers, product codes, customer information, etc. It usually refers to data stored on a computer.

Decompress
The restoration of a group of compressed files to their original size.

Dedicated Server
A server that provides services for only one account or domain name.

Directory
A location on a computer that is used to hold computer files. A subdirectory is a location within a directory. For example, in the path C:/verio/customers, "verio" is the name of the directory and "customers" is the name of a subdirectory located within the "verio" directory.

DNS
Domain Name System: A system of servers located throughout the Internet that handle Internet connections and the routing of email.

Domain Name
A unique name that identifies a Web site. A domain name acts as a permanent Web address and provides a professional, prestigious Web presence. Compare these two URLs: 1. http://www.anywebhost.com/members/yourwebpage 2. http://www.yourname.com In the first URL, the domain name "anywebhost.com" is owned by someone else. If you moved your business Web site to another Web host, you'd need a new URL--and you'd have to notify your customers of your new address. The second URL contains an example of a custom domain name that you own: "yourname.com." If you ever move your site, your address will stay the same. See Also: InterNIC.

Domain Pointer
A web hosting feature that allows a specific domain name to send web site visitors to a different domain. Also see: Domain Name.

Download
Transferring a file from a computer on the Internet to your own computer. Things you might download include software, images, email, MIDI files, etc.

DSL
A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high speed data communication over the existing copper telephone lines between end-users and telephone companies.

E-Commerce
The conducting of business communication and transactions over networks and through computers. As most restrictively defined, electronic commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of funds, through digital communications. However EC also includes all inter-company and intra-company functions (such as marketing, finance, manufacturing, selling, and negotiation) that enable commerce and use electronic mail, EDI, file transfer, fax, video conferencing, workflow, or interaction with a remote computer.

EFT
Electronic Funds Transfer. Transfer of money initiated through electronic terminal, automated teller machine, computer, telephone, or magnetic tape. In the late 1990s, this increasingly includes transfer initiated via the World-Wide Web. The term also applies to credit card and automated bill payments.

Email
Electronic Mail: Messages sent from one person to another via computer. Email can also be sent automatically to a large number of addresses via a mailing list.

Email Client
The software, such as Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger, or Eudora used to send and receive email messages on your computer.

Email Server
A computer used to direct messages to the appropriate place. When you send an email using your client software, it is sent to the server which then processes it and sends it to the appropriate party.

Encryption
This is a method of encoding a file for security reasons. Encryption is often used to protect credit card numbers from third parties during online purchases.

Engine
A program that processes scripts or data and outputs the processed content.

Extranet
An extranet is a private network, built for specific users (e.g., business clients) who don't have access to an intranet.

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: A compilation of answers to the most common questions on a particular subject.

File Sharing
The practice of sharing computer files over a network. Shared files can reside on a server that is accessed by client computers or the files can reside on a decentralized network of computers. In the latter case, there is no central server: files are uploaded to and downloaded from individual computers or workstations. File sharing is particularly popular among persons who collect music files.

Firewall
A combination of hardware and software, used to protect a network from unwelcome traffic. A firewall can be used to separate a LAN into two or more parts, or to control network traffic.

FreeBSD
An Open-Source UNIX based operating system.

FrontPage
FrontPage is a WYSIWYG Web page editor by Microsoft. In order to use FrontPage to create and maintain your Web site, your hosting service must install "extensions" (CGI programs that provide the server side implementation of FrontPage) for your account.

FTP
File Transfer Protocol: A common method of sending and receiving files on the Internet. You might use FTP to upload HTML files to your Web host from your own computer. A user ID and password are needed to use FTP, unless Anonymous FTP is allowed.

GIF
Graphic Interchange Format: A type of image file. GIF files are graphics or pictures, often used on Web pages. Because GIF files contain a maximum of 256 colors, this file format is ideal for simple graphics with minimal shading or color variation. Other types of graphics are better suited for the JPEG file format.

Gigabyte (GB)
One billion bytes. To be more accurate, one gigabyte actually contains 1,073,741,824 bytes. Since the prefix "giga" is associated with one billion, the term gigabyte is used to define 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Graphic
Any picture or image file within a Web page. Graphics are usually in GIF or JPEG format.

Guest Book
An on-line form where site visitors can leave comments regarding the site they are visiting.

Hit
A single request from a Web browser for a single item from a Web server. When a browser displays a Web page that contains 2 graphics, 3 hits occur at the server: 1 hit for the HTML page itself, plus a hit for each of the two graphics. See Also: Impressions

Homepage
The first page of a Web site. Some people choose to have only a homepage, with no supporting pages.

Host
1.A computer system accessed by a user from a remote location. In the case of two computer systems connected via modem, the "host" is the system containing the data and the "remote" is the computer at which the user is working. 2.A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network, including the Internet. Each host has a unique IP address. 3.As a verb, "host" means providing the infrastructure for a computer service. A company that hosts a Web server may provide the hardware and software needed to run that server, but does not supply all the content on that server. Ameritech provides hosting services by running and maintaining the server, while allowing customers to maintain their own Web site content.

HTML
HyperText Markup Language: The coding language used to create Web pages

HTTP
HyperText Transfer Protocol: The protocol for moving hypertext files across the World Wide Web. When you enter a URL in your browser to visit a Web page, an HTTP command is sent to the Web server. This command tells the server to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.

Hypertext
Any text within a document that is linked to another location. The other location could be within the same document, or a different document. Clicking hypertext with your mouse will activate the link. This glossary is made up of hypertext, containing many links.

Image Map
A graphic used for multiple navigation on a Web page. Image maps contain HTML code that turn specific areas of graphics into links.

Impressions
The actual number of people who've seen a specific Web page. Impressions are much more accurate than hits when discerning how much traffic your Web page actually receives. Impressions are sometimes called "page views."

Internet
The vast collection of interconnected networks that use TCP/IP protocols.

InterNIC
The InterNIC is a concept for an integrated network information center that was developed by several companies, including Network Solutions, in cooperation with the U.S. Government. Under a recent agreement with the U.S. Government, Network Solutions is transitioning from the use of the word "InterNIC" in connection with its products and services

Intranet
A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but only for internal use.

IP Number (IP Address)
The unique 4-part number assigned to each and every computer linked to the Internet (e.g., 206.141.202.111). When you connect to the Internet, your ISP assigns you an IP number for the duration of your connection. DNS converts domain names into IP addresses.

IRC
Internet Relay Chat: A method of real time communication, powered by a network of servers.

IRIX
The first commercially available, mainstream UNIX operating system to support symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) capabilities. IRIX was also the first UNIX operating systems to support complete 64-bit and 32-bit environment, the first to support advanced ccNUMA scalable features and the first to support advanced realtime and graphics features.

ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network: Technology that allows data to be moved over phone lines at speeds of up to 64,000 BPS per channel.

ISP
Internet Service Provider: A company that provides access to the Internet.

Java
Java is a programming language invented by Sun Microsystems. Java programs (or "applets") can be downloaded from the Internet to your computer. They can also be used to enhance Web pages. Common Java applets used on Web pages include animation, calculators, and counters.

JavaScript
A scripting language developed by Netscape that interacts with HTML source code, allowing for interactive Web sites. JavaScript is used for things such as "rollover buttons" (graphics that change color when you run your mouse over them), rotating banners, MIDI jukeboxes, pop-up windows, etc.

JPEG (or JPG)
Joint Photographic Experts Group: a type of image file, similar to GIF. Whereas the GIF file format is limited to 256 colors or less, JPEG files use millions of colors and can often be compressed to a smaller kilobyte size, making Web pages load faster.

JSP
Java Server Pages -- Server based dynamically generated HTML based on Java.

Kilobyte (KB)
A thousand bytes. To be more accurate, one kilobyte actually contains 1024 bytes. Since the prefix "kilo" is associated with 1000, the term kilobyte is used to define 1024 bytes.

LAN
Local Area Network: A computer network limited to the immediate area, usually the same building or floor of a building.

LangTag
A branding system that allows resellers to customize all web pages and e-mail messages generated by the their reseller account. By using the LangTag system, resellers can completely customize their service so that all web hosting functions appear to be those of the resellers' company.

Linux
A popular open source operating system. Linux is an implementation of the Unix kernel originally written from scratch with no proprietary code. Work on the kernel is coordinated by Linus Torvalds, who holds the copyright on a large part of it. The rest of the copyright is held by a large number of other contributors (or their employers). Regardless of the copyright ownerships, the kernel as a whole is available under the GNU General Public License.

Log File
A file that contains a list of actions that have occurred on your web server. The statistics of your site are created by referencing the activity log file.

Mail Forwarding
When you sign up for an Ameritech hosting plan, you'll receive a domain email account (you@yourname.com). You might also have an email address provided by your local ISP. With mail forwarding, all email addressed to you@yourname.com will be sent to your "real" email address. Additional mail forwarding options include the ability to forward different yourname.com email to specific addresses on the Internet. For example, email addressed to webmaster@yourname.com could forward to your "real" email address (provided by your ISP), while sales@yourname.com could forward to a different email address.

Mailing List
A group discussion conducted through email messages, specific to a topic or common interest. When a message is sent to a mailing list, each list subscriber receives a copy.

Megabyte (MB)
A million bytes; a thousand kilobytes. To be more accurate, one megabyte actually contains 1,048,576 bytes. Since the prefix "mega" is associated with one million, the term megabyte is used to define 1,048,576 bytes.

Message Board
A type of bulletin board where users read and respond to other people's posts.

META tag
Hidden HTML code that contains information about a Web page, such as who created the page, what the page is about, and which keywords best describe the page's content. Some search engines use this information to list Web pages.

MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface: A computerized music file, often used on Web pages.

MIME
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions: The standard for attaching non-text files (such as graphics, spreadsheets, word processor documents, sound files, etc.) to email messages.

Modem
A device that connects your computer to a phone line. It transforms digital computer data into analog data; the analog data is then sent through a telephone line to a second computer. A modem on the receiving end transforms the analog data back into the digital format, so that the receiving computer can read it.

mSQL
Mini SQL: A lightweight database engine designed to provide fast access to stored data. See Also: SQL

MX Record
An entry in a domain name system database that directs the routing of mail transfer agents. The MX record is used, for instance, to set which mail server will handle the processing of your e-mail.

Name Server
A program that stores and tracks DNS information. Also see: DNS.

Netiquette
The informal rules of Internet etiquette.

Netizen
Derived from the term citizen, referring to a citizen of the Internet. The term implies civic responsibility and participation.

Network
Any time you connect 2 or more computers together for the purpose of sharing resources, you have a computer network.

Newbie
Someone who is new to the Internet.

Newsgroups
An Internet message board system, where people meet to discuss a variety of topics. There are thousands of newsgroups on the Internet covering a wide variety of interests.

NT
"New Technology." By itself , the "NT" abbreviation is unofficially used to refer to Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. Microsoft prefers that their operating system be referred to as "Windows NT" and not merely as "NT." Also ,note that "NT" is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.

OC-12
An optical connection with a transfer rate of 622 megabits. OC connections often form the transmission "backbone" of an Internet service.

ODBC
A standard for accessing different database systems. There are interfaces for Visual Basic, Visual C++, SQL and the ODBC driver pack contains drivers for the Access, Paradox, dBase, Text, Excel and Btrieve databases.

Open Source
Freely distributable and modifiable software to which the source code (or uncompiled software) is available.

Operating System (OS)
This is the software that manages a computer system. Windows 95 is an OS.

Overage
When an account exceeds its allotted monthly data transfer limit. For example, if your account allows a maximum of 10 GB of data transfer per month but, at the end of the month, your account transferred 11 GB of data, your account is in overage status. In many cases, the account holder must pay a fee to compensate for the extra amount of data transferred for the month.

Page Views
See impressions.

Parked Page
A web page that is dislayed when a domain is "parked." That is, the owner of the web page does not have a web page to display.

Password
A series of characters that enables someone to access a file, computer or program. Your Control Panel is password protected to prevent unauthorized users from changing your information. The password should be a combination of characters that would be difficult to guess.

Perl
Practical Extraction and Report Language. This programming language was designed mainly for processing text. It is one of the most popular languages used for writing CGI Scripts.

PGP
Pretty Good Privacy -- a high-security encryption program for sending encrypted emails.

Pico
A simple UNIX text editor that can be run from a shell. Also see: Shell.

PID
Process ID -- a number used by a system to identify and distinguish between processes.

Pixel
A unit of measurement for graphics or monitor resolution. A pixel is one dot on a computer screen. Most computer monitors are set to a resolution of 800 x 600, meaning 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.

Plug-ins
Software programs that enhance other programs or applications on your computer. There are plug-ins for Internet browsers, graphics programs, and other applications.

POP
Post Office Protocol - or - Point Of Presence: Post Office Protocol is a method of retrieving email from a server. Point Of Presence is a telephone number that provides dial-up Internet access. ISPs usually provide several POPs so users can gain Internet access with local phone calls.

Port
A connection point for different protocols to communicate on different machines.

Post Message
To send a message to a newsgroup or other type of message board.

PPP
Point to Point Protocol: The protocol that allows a computer to use a telephone line and a modem to make TCP/IP connections, connecting users to the Internet.

Process
A single instance of a program running on a system.

Propagation
The process of updating a domain across the world's Internet servers. Propagation can take between three to five days.

Protocol
A standard for the exchange of information. There are several different types of protocols (e.g., FTP, TCP/IP) used by various computers and software.

RAID
Redundant Array of Independent Devices -- a system for ensuring data integrity by storing data on multiple disk drives.

RAM
Random Access Memory: This is reusable computer memory, available to all programs on a computer. A computer with 32M of RAM has about 32 million bytes of memory that programs can use. RAM is read/write memory, as opposed to ROM which is read-only memory.

RealPlayer
A streaming media delivery system for the Internet. Providers of news, entertainment, sports, and business content can create audio and video multimedia content, and deliver it online to audiences worldwide. To create your own RealPlayer files and offer them on your Web site, your hosting service must install special "extensions" for your account. Ameritech offers RealPlayer extensions.

Redirect
The process of automatically sending a site visitor to another Internet location. The location can be a subdirectory on another site or even a particular web page.

Resolution (Screen or Monitor)
The way things appear on your computer monitor. Resolution is measured in pixels. The lower the resolution, the larger things appear on your screen. Most computer monitors are set at 800 x 600 resolution, meaning 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high. Some people's monitors are set at 1024 x 768 or higher. Others are set at 640 x 480. When designing a Web site, keep in mind that your Web pages will look different to viewers depending on their monitor resolutions. You can change your own monitor resolution through your computer's Control Panel (for Mac, Windows 95 and Windows 98).

ROM
Read-Only Memory: This is a computer's unchangeable memory. It's used to store programs that start the computer and run diagnostic functions.

Root
The System Administrator account on a UNIX system.

Router
A special network system for directing network traffic.

Script
A list of commands that can run without user interaction.

SCSI
Small Computer System Interface -- an extremely fast device access protocol.

Search Engine
A directory of Internet content. If you're looking for specific information on the WWW, a search engine can list Web sites at which you'll likely find that information. Popular search engines include Excite, Snap, Yahoo, and Infoseek.

Second level domain
"In the Domain Name System (DNS), the next lower level of the hierarchy beneath the top level domains. In a domain name, that part of the domain name that appears immediately to the left of the top-level domain. For example, the ""verio"" in verio.com. Second level domain names are often descriptive and have come to be used increasingly to represent businesses and other commercial interests on the Internet. "

Security Certificate
Information used to establish a secure connection by SSL protocol. In order for an SSL connection to be created, both sides must have a valid Security Certificate, issued by the Certificate Authority.

Sendmail
The BSD Unix Message Transfer Agent supporting mail transport via TCP/IP using SMTP. Sendmail is normally invoked in the background via a Mail User Agent such as the mail command.

Server
A computer or device that manages network resources. The term can refer to a piece of software, or to the machine on which the software is running. A single server machine could be running several different server software packages, thus providing many different services to users on the network.

Service provider
A company who provides a specific internet related service.

Servlet
A java program that runs on a web server.

Shared (web) hosting
Web hosting in which multiple web hosting accounts are located on an individual server. These accounts share system resources such as hard disk space, memory, and so forth.

Shell
A UNIX command processing environment.

Shopping Cart
Software used to create an online "storefront," or E-Commerce Web site. It acts as a virtual shopping cart, keeping track of the items visitors have ordered and allowing them to add or remove items. When a visitor decides to "check out" (purchase the items online) the software sends all order information to the merchant.

SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol: A protocol used to transfer email between servers.

Snailmail
The term used to define the method of a letter being physically delivered to a person using the Post Office or some other letter carrier.

Socket
A constant connection between two programs.

Solaris
A UNIX based operating system designed by Sun Microsystems?.

Spam (or Spamming)
Junk email or junk newsgroup posts. Spam is usually some sort of advertising, inappropriately sent to a mailing list or newsgroup. Spam not only wastes the recipient's time, but also misuses network bandwidth.

Spider
An Internet robot (used by a search engine) that explores the Web at large. Spiders collect Web page addresses based on content found at those pages.

SQL
Structured Query Language: A specialized programming language for sending queries to databases. Many database applications can be addressed using SQL. Each specific application will have its own version of SQL implementing features unique to that application, but all SQL-capable databases support a common subset of SQL.

SSH
An encrypted shell connection program. See Shell.

SSL
Secure Sockets Layer: A protocol designed by Netscape to enable encrypted communications across the Internet. It provides privacy, authentication, and message integrity. SSL is often used in communications between browsers and servers. A URL that begins with "https" is a clue that an SSL connection will be used on the Web site. During an SSL connection, each side sends a Security Certificate to the other. Both sides then encrypt what they send, ensuring that only the intended recipient can decode it.

Subhost
A domain or web site that shares a server with another domain or website.

T-1
A connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000 bits per second. T-1 is most commonly used to connect networks to the Internet.

T-3
A connection capable of carrying data at 44,736,000 bits per second. Equivalent to 29 T-1 connections.

TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol: This is the suite of protocols that defines the Internet. Originally designed for the UNIX operating system, TCP/IP software is now available for every major computer operating system. Your computer must have TCP/IP software to be connected to the Internet.

Telnet
A program for connecting to shells on remote computers. See Shell.

Third level domain
In the Domain Name System (DNS), the next highest level of the hierarchy below the second level domains. In a domain name, that part of the domain name that appears two segments to the left of the top-level (or first level) domain. For example, the "verio" in verio.va.us. Third level domains are not the part of an e-mail address that appears in front of the "at" (@ )symbol. For instance, the support in support@nextverio.com is not a third level domain.

Top level domain
In the Domain Name System (DNS), the highest level of the hierarchy after the root. In a domain name, the top level domain is that part of the domain name that is furthest to the right. For example, the "com" in verio.com.

Traceroute
A TCP/IP utility that allows a user to determine if two computers are communicating successfully with each other.

Transfer
Changing the party who is listed as the domain name registrant. The party that takes over the domain name becomes responsible for paying a new registration fee.

TrueSpeech
Software that compresses speech down to as little as 1/40th its original size. Regular speech files are normally large, causing Web pages to load slowly; TrueSpeech compression allows faster, easier transfer.

UNIX
A computer operating system. UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time and has TCP/IP built-in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.

Upload
Sending a file from your system to a server or to someone else's computer.

URL
Uniform Resource Locator: The standard way to display an address on the World Wide Web (WWW). A URL is accessed through a Web browser and looks like this: http://www.verio.com

Usage Statistics
Statistics that describe the traffic or data transferred from one's web site. These statistics are usually generated by one's web hosting service. The statistics categories may include "visitors per month," "monthly amount of data transferred," "unique visitors per day," and more.

User ID
This is the account reference name sent to you in the Account Activation Letter. When you need to log on to your site, you will use this item. A User ID is sometimes referred to as a "user name".

UUENCODE
UNIX to UNIX Encoding: A method for converting files from Binary to ASCII so that they can be sent across the Internet via email. See Also: MIME

Virtual Server
A UNIX based server environment which allows multiple independent servers to operate on the same hardware (as opposed to dedicated or shared servers).

Virus
A virus is a malicious program whose sole intent is to cause problems on a computer. There are Anti-Virus programs, such as McAfee and Norton Utilities, created to combat viruses.

Virus Hoax
Occasionally, rumors are started about viruses that do not exist. These are merely hoaxes.

Volano Chat
A real-time, live chat interface you can add--quickly and easily--to your Web site. Written in Java, it is compatible with the vast majority of Web browsers and requires no plug-ins.

VPS (Virtual Private Server)
A hosting environment that gives users their own Unix virtual machine. Each VPS is a private and protected area that operates as an independent server. The VPS allows multiple customers to share the expense of hardware and network connections (and completely eliminate the hassle of maintaining it all), without sacrificing performance or freedom. Although multiple customers share hardware, they do not share software. Every VPS has its own complete directory structure and set of dedicated applications (web server, mail server, etc.). Even though hardware is shared, the VPS Technology features 'fair share' scheduling of processes, memory, and network, so each VPS receives the resources it deserves.

WAP
Wireless Application Protocol -- system for sending web content to wireless network devices.

Web or WWW
World Wide Web: This commonly refers to the massive, global collection of hypertext (HTTP) servers that allow concurrent viewing of Internet data. The term "dub,dub,dub" is a shortened, spoken version of "WWW."

WebMail
A method used to access e-mail messages through a web browser using HTTP.

Webmaster
The person who creates and maintains a web site.

Wizard
A utility in a program that outlines a series of sequential tasks to set up a portion of the program. For example, an email program may use a wizard to gather the necessary information to set up an email account.

WML
Wireless Markup Language -- similar to HTML but designed specifically for WAP applications. Also see: WAP.

WS_FTP
A popular third-party utility that is used to upload and download files to an FTP server.

WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get (pronounced "wizzy-wig"): A program that displays a document on your screen exactly as it would appear when printed or published online. The term usually applies to HTML editors, such as Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. These WYSIWYG editors can show you how your Web page will appear online, as you're editing the document.

XML
eXtended Markup Language -- an expansion of HTML that includes dynamic content capability.

Zip
Zone Information Protocol: This is a method of compressing computer data or files into a small size, so they can be transferred quickly over the Internet. There are programs built specifically to zip files, such as WinZip.

Zone File
A file that has data describing a part of the domain name space. Zone files hold the information that is needed to resolve domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) numbers