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Dictionary of Internet and Web site-related terms

ASP (Active Server Pages)
A programming specification used to create dynamic, database-driven elements or components used to retrieve or update information.

Browser
A browser is a program (i.e. Netscape, Internet Explorer) on a computer that is able to read a Web page written in HTML. It re-arranges it into a format that the person using the computer can read and understand.

Byte
A byte is a unit of storage equivalent to 8 bits, or enough for one character. Typically, computer storage is measured in larger units like Kilobytes (1,024 bytes), Megabytes (1,048,576 bytes), or Gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes).

CGI (Common Gateway Interface)
A special program (sometimes referred to as a “script”) that enables Internet users to execute files on a Web server. CGI scripts are used in dynamic feedback documents, like filling out forms or clicking on radio buttons.

Domain name
A domain name is the www.yourwebsite.com address that allows users to locate a specific Web site on the Internet.

E-commerce
E-commerce (Electronic commerce) is a general term that is used to describe all business transactions that take place online. E-commerce capabilities allow customers to purchase products from a user’s Website.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
This information is often posted on a Web site to provide answers to commonly asked questions.

Flash (Macromedia Flash)
Flash is a very popular program used to add or create dynamic, moving, animated images and objects on a Web page. Most of the animated images and objects you encounter on the Internet were created using Flash.

Hit
A hit is a per unit measurement of file openings that occur on a Web site. It refers to how many times someone opens the home page of a Web site, or any other page on that Web site.

Host
A host is a company that has the necessary equipment (file servers) to hold the pages of a Web site. There is usually a monthly fee for storing the Web site on the server and for allowing visitors to access that Web site.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
The authoring software language used for creating Web pages on the Internet.

Internet
The Internet is a global network of computer networks that connect millions of people throughout the world and allows them to exchange ideas, products, news, music, and information on an unprecedented scale.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)
An ISP is a company (like AOL, Earthlink, etc.) that provides a way for its customers to access the Internet.

Link
A link is an electronic tag that directs a computer’s browser to another Web page, e-mail address, video file, audio file or graphic image.

Merchant account
This defines an account provided by a financial institution allowing Web site owners to accept payment transactions for products/services in real time, via credit cards, e-checks, and debit cards.

PERL (Practical Extraction and Report Language)
A popular script programming language very good at processing text.

Phishing
Phishing is an Internet scam where victims are sent an official-looking e-mail that attempts to trick the user into disclosing personal information like passwords, social security numbers, or account information. Typically, the e-mail will direct the victim to a Web site that has been created to look like an official government, bank, or organization/business site.

PHP
PHP is an open-source, server-side scripting language that is embedded alongside HTML to perform interactive functions, such as accessing database information. PHP is similar to Microsoft's active server page technology (see ASP) but used primarily on Linux or Unix servers.

Search engine
A search engine is a specialized program that allows users to search through Web sites and return results that match the user’s search request.

SSL (Secure Socket Layers)
SSL is a special format for encrypting and transmitting data and information safely over the Internet. When you see the URL in the address bar change to “https://….”, it indicates that your credit card information (or other sensitive data) is being sent through an encrypted, secure channel.

Upload
Transmitting a data file from your computer to another computer comprises an upload. This is the opposite of a download, which is receiving a file on your computer from another computer.

URL (Universal Resource Locator)
A URL is an Internet address that refers to a specific page on a Web site. For example, www.anysite.com would take you to that company’s home page, but www.anysite.com/info/rates.htm will take you directly to the rates section on the information page of the Web site.

Web Page
A Web page is a single electronic document written in HTML. The person who created the Web page has the ability to add photographs, text, images, and links to other Web pages in the document. Think of a Web page as a single document in a folder (a Web site).

Web site
A Web site is a collection of two or more Web pages that are linked together under a common Web address (domain name).

Web site analytics
Web site analytics is another way of referring to the statistics that are commonly measured to gauge how well a Web site is performing. Analytics has become increasingly popular as pay-per-click advertising and paid inclusion programs become more prominent in Internet marketing campaigns. Most professional Web marketers rely on statistics and performance data to determine how effective a particular advertising campaign has been, or to evaluate the impact of a Web site redesign project.

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
WYSIWYG is an acronym used to describe any tool or software that allows you to view and edit a document or Web page exactly as it appears on the screen.


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