Address:
The method by which something is located on the Internet. Users have email addresses in the form of [email protected].

Address resolution:
Conversion of an Internet address to the corresponding physical address. On an Ethernet, resolution requires broadcasting on the local area network.

Backbone:
A high-speed connection within a network that connects shorter, usually slower circuits. Also used in reference to a system that acts as a hub for activity (although those are becoming much less prevalent now than they were ten years ago).

Bandwidth:
The capacity of a medium to transmit a signal. More informally, the mythical size of The Net, and its ability to carry the files and messages of those that use it.

Bookmark:
A method of having your browser program remember the

Browser:
A program used to view web documents. Common examples include Netscape, Mosaic, and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

DNS (Domain Name System):
The method used to convert Internet names to their corresponding Internet numbers.

Domain name:
The IP address of a computer expressed as (maybe) easy-to-remember words. For example, the domain name www.YourBusiness.com is equivalent to the IP address 38.240.148.2.

Download:
Transferring a file from another computer to your computer. FTP (file transfer protocol) is the Internet service used for downloading, although browser programs can do this too.

Electronic mail (e-mail):
A communication sent from one user to another. Email may contain text, but can also contain any type of computer file such as graphics, sound, video, spreadsheets, computer programs, etc.

Flame:
A piece of mail or a Usenet posting which is violently argumentative.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol):
The Internet standard high-level protocol for transferring files from one computer to another.

Gateway:
A special-purpose dedicated computer that attaches to two or more networks and routes packets from one network to the other. In particular, an Internet gateway routes IP datagrams among the networks it connects. Gateways route packets to other gateways until they can be delivered to the final destination directly across one physical network.

Gopher:
An older method of publishing information on the Internet. Most new information is published through the World Wide Web.

Hostname:
The name given to a machine.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language):
a language (or format) used for creating hypertext documents on the World Wide Web. This is the format used to create Web pages.

HTTP (hypertext Transport Protocol):
The method or protocol the Internet uses to transport web documents. When you see http: in front of an address, you know you're looking at a URL of a web document.

Hypergraphic:
A graphic image link to other documents containing more information on the same or a related topic. To retrieve the related document, click on the hypergraphic.

Hypertext:
A text link to other documents containing more information on the same or a related topic. Hypertext links are identified as different colored text with an underline. To retrieve the related document, or move to the related link, click on the hypertext.

Hypertext Link:
A link is a reference to a web document in another web document. Links are often represented by underlined words, but can be parts of graphic images.

Internet:
A collection of networks interconnected by a set of routers that allow them to function as a single, large virtual network.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network):
An emerging technology that is beginning to be offered by the telephone carriers of the world. ISDN combines voice and digital network services in a single medium making it possible to offer customers digital data services as well as voice connections

through a single "wire."

ISP (Internet Service Provider):
The organization or corporation that you dial into via modem so as to gain various access into the Internet.

IP Address:
The numeric address of a computer on the Internet, consisting of four numbers separated by periods (pronounced "dot"), such as 38.240.148.2. See domain name.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat):
A method of conducting live discussions over the Internet. Users log onto an IRC server, select a channel, and join the conversation. What people type is transmitted to all the other members of the channel.

LAN (Local Area Network):
Any physical network technology that operates at high speed over short distances (up to a few thousand meters).

Mail gateway:
A machine that connects to two or more electronic mail systems (especially dissimilar mail systems on two different networks) and transfers mail messages among them.

Modem:
Modulator/DEModulator. A device that uses phone lines to communicate with other computers.

Network:
A group of machines connected together so they can transmit information to one another. There are two kinds of networks: local networks and remote networks.

Newsgroups:
Discussion groups based on a particular topic. Messages that users post to a newsgroup are distributed to all other users who subscribe to the newsgroup.

Newsreader:
A program that manages the task of reading and sending news through Usenet (newsgroups).

Packet:
The unit of data sent across a packet switching network. The term is used loosely. While some Internet literature uses it to refer specifically to data sent across a physical network, other literature views the Internet as a packet switching network and describes IP datagrams as packets.

PPP:
Point-to-Point Protocol. The successor to SLIP, PPP provides router-to-router and host-to- network connections over both synchronous and asynchronous circuits. (see SLIP)

Protocol:
A formal description of messages to be exchanged and rules to be followed for two or more systems to exchange information.

Resolve:
Translate an Internet name into its equivalent IP address or other DNS information.

Router:
A dedicated computer (or other device) that sends packets from one place to another, paying attention to the current state of the network.

SLIP:
Serial Line IP. An Internet protocol used to access an Internet provider over serial lines such as telephone circuits or RS-232 cables interconnecting two systems. SLIP is now being replaced by PPP. (see PPP)

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol):
The Internet standard protocol for transferring electronic mail messages from one computer to another. SMTP specifies how two mail systems interact and the format of control messages they exchange to transfer mail.

TCP/IP:
The communications protocol used for Internet communications.

TCP:
Transmission Control Protocol. The major transport protocol in the Internet suite of protocols providing reliable, connection-oriented, full-duplex streams. Uses IP for delivery.

Telnet:
A method of remote login to another computer over the Internet.

Terminal server:
A small, specialized, networked computer that connects many terminals to a LAN through one network connection. Any user on the network can then connect to various network hosts.

Upload:
Transferring a file from your computer to another computer.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator):
The address of a web document, usually in the form http://www.savatech.com. This is what you can type into a web browser program to visit a web page or site.

Usenet:
The community or mechanism for managing newsgroups.

Web Site, Web Page:
Documents that are available on the World Wide Web.

WWW (World Wide Web):
A system for publishing documents that are available to other users of the Internet. Web documents can have pictures, richly formatted text, may contain links to other documents, and may interact with the user by letting the users fill in forms.