Glossary and Definitions of Common Internet Terms

ActiveX - A Java-like Microsoft language that permits Web-originated programs to be run from Microsoft Explorer browser.

Agent - Client or robot programs, often able to act autonomously or intelligently.

Alias - An alternative name for an object, such as a variable, file, or device.

Alt - An image (img) attribute specifying that text can be displayed by a browser as an alternative to the image.

Anonymous FTP - Allows visitors to upload and/or download predetermined files from designated directories without usernames or password. This is different from "FTP access." With the advent of the current HTTP specifications and browsers, however, this is fairly moot, since the same can be done through your browser. Some people just prefer to have anonymous FTP available, whether or not they use it regularly. Unfortunately, by it's very nature, anonymous FTP service amounts to an extremely high security risk. Many providers today no longer offer this service because of abuse and security concerns.

Applet - A high-level program that can be included in an HTML page, much like an image can be included. The program's code is then executed by the browser. Note: Many older browsers cannot interpret Java applets and disregard them.

Application - Applications software (also called end-user programs) includes database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets. Figuratively speaking, applications software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities.

Archie - A program that enables you to search for files anywhere on the Internet by filename.

Argument - Words or numbers you enter as part of an HTML tag to expand or modify how that tag operates.

ARPANET - The precursor to the Internet, ARPANET was a large wide-area network created in 1969 by the United States Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA).

ASCII - Acronym for AMERICAN STANDARD CODE FOR INFORMATION INTERCHANGE, a standard character set.

Authentication - The process of identifying an individual, usually based on a username and password.

Authoring Software - Computer programs that aid in creating HTML documents by inserting the code for tags.

Autoresponders / Vacation Reply - Sends an automated e-mail response to incoming e-mail sent to a specific address. One autoresponder per e-mail address. Example, Visitor X sends an e-mail to sales@yourdomain.com. The Autoresponder sends a pre-written message to visitor X automatically. Unfortunately, autoresponders are slowing disappearing from use on the Internet because of abuse to mail servers created by the spam problem facing the Internet today.

Backbone (Internet Backbone) - A backbone is a large transmission line that carries data gathered from smaller lines that interconnect with it. On the Internet or other wide area network, a backbone is a set of paths that local or regional networks connect to for long-distance interconnection.

Backup Generator - SPIKE 1 employs extensive emergency backup systems including redundant power generators capable of operating the equipment during a complete power outage.

Backup/Restore - The process of copying files so that they are preserved in the case of equipment failure or catastrophe. If files are damaged on the server, we resort to the backup copy to restore the files back to the machine. PLEASE NOTE: Each customer is solely responsible for independent backup of their own data stored on the servers at all times. Weekly back-ups are performed for basic system configuration only. In case of emergency these backups will be used to restore the systems to the last known valid (good) state.

Bandwidth - The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second(bps) or bytes per second.

Baud rate - The speed rate of a data channel - expressed as bits per second (bps) - which is usually used when referring to the speed of modems.

BBS - Bulletin Board System - An electronic message center. Most bulletin boards serve specific interest groups.

Binary - Pertaining to a number system that has just two unique digits. Computers are based on the binary numbering system, which consists of just two unique numbers, 0 and 1.

Bit - Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. A single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1.

Body - HTML tag used to enclose the body (all the text and tags) of the HTML document.

Bookmark - Nearly all Web browsers support a bookmarking feature that lets you save the address (URL) of a Web page so that you can easily re-visit the page at a later time.

Browser - Short for Web browser, a software application used to locate and display Web pages.

CGI script - Used to supplement basic HTML to make your web site more interactive and functional. Example, hit counter, guest book, order form, etc. You as our customer have free access to our library of CGI scripts that will enhance your web site.

Data Transfer - Your aggregate traffic is the sum of outward-bound, inward-bound, web, e-mail and anonymous FTP traffic. Each time a web page, image, audio, video, and other elements of your web site is accessed by your visitor, traffic is generated.

Detailed Usage Statistic - We give you a detailed graphical statistics of your web site grouped by the month(s), week(s), day(s), and hour(s), so you can easily track how many hits your site is generating. This information includes which page is the most popular, how much data transfer is occurring, and more.

Disk Space - Used to store everything related to your web site such as your regular html files, images, multimedia files, anonymous ftp files, POP mail messages, cgi-scripts and any other files that make up your web site

Domain Alias (also referred to as a Domain Mirror) - Allows additional domain names to point to your web site. For example, company X registered two domain names, A and B. It decides on A as its default web site. Then domain B becomes a "domain alias" (or mirror) of domain A. Whenever someone types in domain B, they are automatically "pointed" to domain A. (Also sometimes referred to as "domain pointers.")

Domain Name - Basically an easy to remember Internet address in plain alphabetic characters which computers translate into an ugly IP address (which is a long set of numbers). For example - spike1.net is a domain name.

A more formal definition as provided by InterNIC: "An addressing construct used for identifying and locating computers on the Internet. Domain names provide a system of easy-to-remember Internet addresses, which can be translated by the Domain Name System (DNS) into the numeric addresses (Internet Protocol (IP) numbers) used by the network. A domain name is hierarchical and often conveys information about the type of entity using the domain name. A domain name is simply a label that represents a domain, which is a subset of the total domain name space. Domain names at the same level of the hierarchy must be unique.

FTP Access - Used to upload and download your web site to and from our server to your computer. You have unlimited access to your account 24 hours a day 365 days a year to set up and maintain your web site.

mySQL - A database engine used for accessing database.

PHP4 - PHP is an HTML-embedded scripting language. Much of its syntax is borrowed from C, Java and Perl with a couple of unique PHP-specific features thrown in. The goal of the language is to allow web developers to write dynamically generated pages quickly. More information regarding the PHP3 programming language can be found at the PHP3 official web site -- http://www.php.net/

POP3 E-mail Accounts - These are your e-mail mail boxes on our server that can be accessed directly to retrieve your mail using such programs as Eudora, Outlook Express, and Netscape Mail. Each POP3 account has its own password to ensure privacy. You will be able to check your e-mail anywhere around the world where you have access to the Internet.

Shopping Cart - A shopping cart keeps track of what your customers have ordered on-line as they add and remove items from their virtual "shopping cart." When the customer is ready to check out, the program tallies the order for your customer to review. If the customer decides to submit the order, the program will e-mail the order information to the e-mail address of your choice and a "receipt" to your customer.

Secure Server (SSL) - One method of ensuring that information entered through your web site is protected from preying eyes. Information submitted via a secure form is sent to the server in an encrypted mode. Most commonly used for credit card transactions.