This section provides short explanations of some of the more frequently encountered terms used about the Internet and World Wide Web.
Bookmark - A way of storing a website address (URL) in your browser so you can access the page quickly later.
Browser - A software program for visiting websites (it's what you're using now).
Cookies - These are small files created on your hard drive by certain websites. Cookies can, for instance, contain a list of the Web pages you have visited. You can instruct your browser not to accept them but, then, many sites will not let you access their full range of content.
Domain Name - A name that people can read and remember, identifying a website's address. These names are translated into numerical IP addresses (computer-readable) by the Domain Name System (DNS).
Encryption - The process of "scrambling" data so that if it is intercepted it cannot be read.
FAQ - A list of Frequently Asked Questions, together with their answers.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - A method of transferring files from one computer to another across the Internet, e.g. to publish Web pages on a server.
Flame - Internet slang for an abusive e-mail or chatroom comment.
Home Page - The "front page" of a website.
Hypertext Link - A word or picture which, when clicked on, instructs your browser to visit a different Web page.
Hypertext Mark up Language (HTML) - HTML codes (tags) on a Web page instruct browsers how to display the text and pictures etc.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) - Set of international standards used by browsers to download pages from Web servers.
IP Address - An address made up of four numbers (up to three digits each) which uniquely identifies a computer on the Internet.
Icon - A small picture used to represent something; these are usually clickable hypertext links.
Internet, The - The global network of computers in which information is passed from computer to computer until it reaches its intended destination. The Internet has no "centre" and no "owner" - any computer which can pass information to another computer on the network can be said to be "on the Internet".
Internet Service Provider (ISP) - A company providing access to the Internet. Many ISPs also offer extra services such as website hosting.
Log on - Connect to a server or Internet Service Provider, using a username and password. To log off is to disconnect.
Modem - A modem converts computer data into sounds for transmision across an analogue telephone line. Sounds received are likewise converted back into data.
Netiquette - A set of loose rules and customs to help people maintain good interpersonal relationships over the Internet.
Off-line - Not connected, eg to the Internet.
On-line - Connected, eg to the Internet.
Plug-in - A program which, when added to your Web browser, allows you to access a type of multimedia file that you could not otherwise access.
Search Engine - An on-line database or catalogue of websites. It will look for Web pages containing whichever keywords you type into it.
Server - A computer on which websites are housed (hosted); these have a permanent Internet connection, making websites available whenever they are visited.
Surfing - Browsing through websites on the World Wide Web.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) - The unique address used to access a specific page of information on the World Wide Web.
Web Page - A document written using HTML which forms part of a website.
Website - A collection of HTML-coded pages owned by a person or organisation, available across the Internet.
World Wide Web - The millions of pages of information in Internet websites. Because most sites are linked to other sites, they form a vast, cross-referenced "Web" of pages.
