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Abort
A procedure to terminate execution of a program when an unrecoverable error or malfunction occurs.
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Absolute URL
The full Internet address of a page or other World Wide Web resource. The absolute URL includes a protocol, such
as "http", network location, and optional path and file name. For example, http://example.microsoft.com/
is an absolute URL. See also URL.
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Access Time
The time lag between a request for information stored in a computer and its delivery.
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Active/Passive Devices
In the Current Loop applications, a device capable of supplying the current for the loop is active and a device
that must draw its current from connected equipment is passive.
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ActiveX control
A component that can be inserted in a page to provide functionality not directly available in HTML, such as animation
sequences, credit-card transactions, or spreadsheet calculations. ActiveX controls can be implemented in a variety
of programming languages from Microsoft and third parties.
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Adapter
A device that serves as an interface between the system unit and a device attached to it, such as a SCSI Adapter.
Often synonymous with expansion card, card, or board. Can also refer to a special type of connector.
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Address
An HTML paragraph style used to render URLs on a page or to supply signatures or other indications of authorship.
Address paragraphs are usually displayed in italics and are sometimes indented. In Web browsers, an Internet address
is also called a URL or a network location.
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ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line service)
ADSL (ANSI standard T1.413) is commonly used for downstream transmissions like Internet access in homes or businesses.
Its downstream/upstream transmission rates range from 9 Mbps/640 kbps over short distances to 1.544 Mbps/16 kbps
over longer distances.
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Adware
These programs are free to the end user and won't cost you a penny. The developers support their programs by
placing advertisements inside their programs. If you appreciate the work done by these dedicated authors, do them
a favor and check out their sponsors. The majority of adware authors will have a advertisement-free version of
their available for a small fee. The ads serve as a revenue source for the author. It allows them to stretch their
program and update more frequently. There are a few companies that you will see often associated with Adware programs,
namely Cydoor, Radiate, Web3000, and Aureate. If you need help detecting and removing Adware software from your
computer then check out Ad-Aware that is a free removal tool that detects and removes Adware components that are
sometimes left on your system after uninstalling Adware programs. There is a free program called Ad-Aware available
from http://www.lavasoft.com/ to remove Adware programs.
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Alias
A type of nickname (usually short and easy to remember) that refers to a type of network resource. Aliases
are used so you won't have to remember the long and difficult names.
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Analog
A transmission mode in which data is represented by a continuously varying electrical signal. Compare with
digital.
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Anchor
An anchor is a type of link that is used to mark specific locations within a Web page.
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Anonymous FTP
A file transfer (FTP) service in which any user can copy files by logging on with the name "anonymous."
See also FTP. By using the word "anonymous" as your user ID and your email address as the password when
you login to an FTP site, you ca An applet is a mini-application, usually created in Java so that it runs on a
variety of operating systems. A small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page. Applets differ
from full-fledged Java applications in that they are not allowed to access certain resources on the local computer,
such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, etc.), and are prohibited from communicating with most other
computers across a network. The current rule is that an applet can only make an Internet connection to the computer
from which the applet was sent.
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ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
Sometimes known as a client or an "app" it's a program that performs a specific function. FTP, Mail,
Gopher, Mosaic, and Telnet clients are the most common examples of Internet applications.
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Anti-Virus
Software that detects, repairs, cleans, or removes virus infected files from a computer.
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API (Application Program Interface)
Code in one computer program that allows it to work with others. As a result of API, application program interfaces,
users can use one set of procedures to operate a variety of different programs. A set of common functions and/or
subroutines used to implement a particular feature. Microsoft has several APIs including the Windows API, Win32
API, OLE API, MAPI, and Telephony API.
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Applet
Applet is a small computer program that can be transmitted from a server to a client computer and executed on the
client, a small program written in Java and included in a HTML page. It is independent of the operating system
on which it runs. An applet can be used to display scrolling text in a specific area, or animations. So, it is
an application, written in Java, which can run inside a web page, but is not limited by the functionality of HTML.
Because applets are separate programmatic objects, they often do not work with accessibility aids, although features
are becoming available in the Java language to permit this.
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AppleTalk
AppleTalk is Apple Computer's network protocol originally designed to run over LocalTalk networks, but can also
run on Ethernet and Token Ring.
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Application
A program that enables users to employ the computer in the performance of daily job functions. Applications have
been designed for diverse industries and functions, with examples that range from engineering design, airline reservations,
and banking, to word processing and desktop publishing. Application programs are developed for both mainframe and
personal computers.
Sometimes known as a client or an "app" it's a program that performs a specific function. FTP, Mail,
Gopher, Mosaic, and Telnet clients are the most common examples of Internet applications.
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Application Layer
Provides services software applications need. Provides the ability for user applications to interact with the network.
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Archie
You'll usually hear this term referred to in the phrase "archie search." Archie is a way of automatically
gathering, indexing and sometimes even retrieving files on the Internet. Most good archie clients are able to FTP
files once you've found the information you're looking for.
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Archive
A collection of files stored on an Internet machine. FTP sites are known as archives.
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ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network)
A pioneering long-haul network funded by what's now-called DARPA (formerly known as ARPA). It was the foundation
on which the Internet was built.
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ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Exchange)
The predominant method for encoding 7-bit characters on a Personal Computer so ASCII is a binary data code consisting
of 7 data bits plus 1 bit for parity or special symbols; established by ANSI for compatibility between data services.
HTML tags and URLs must be in ASCII. It is the standard method for encoding characters as 8-bit sequences of binary
numbers, allowing a maximum of 256 characters. Text files are customarily called "ASCII files".
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Asynchronous Transmission
Transmission mode in which time intervals between transmitted characters may be of unequal length. Transmission
is controlled by start and stop bits at the beginning and end of each character. Compare with synchronous transmission.
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ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
High-speed cell-switching network technology that handles data and real-time voice and video. ATM is defined
in the Broadband ISDN (BISDN) standard and provides "bandwidth-on-demand" by charging customers for the
amount of data they send. Data rates are scalable, starting as low as 1.5 Mbps with intermediate speeds of 25,
51, and 100 Mbps, to high speeds of 155 or 622 Mbps and up in the OC (Optical Carrier Network). It is most often
used to interconnect two or more local area networks.
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AU (.au)
A UNIX sound file format. On the Net you may come across the option to hear a sound clip. The file which is
downloaded to your computer when "clicked on" might be in the au format (if the sound file was originally
captured on a UNIX system or converted from another platform). Your helper applications or browser plugins need
to be configured to know what to do with this type of file.
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AUI (Attachment Unit Interface)
Network interface used with standard Ethernet (10BASE5); it is a 15-pin socket. So, AUI Connector is a 15 pin
connector found on Ethernet cards that can be used for attaching coaxial, fiber optic, or twisted pair cable.
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Authentication
Any process that ensures that users are who they say they are. When you type your name and password, you are
authenticated and allowed access.
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Autosensing
Automatically adjusts to different operating conditions. For example, an autosensing power supply will provide
the correct power level whether it is plugged into 115- or 230-volt power.
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AVI (Audio Video Interleave)
A Windows platform audio/video (multimedia) file. A common format which you will find on the Internet for small
movies and videos. These files are usually pretty large and would require a connection of 28.8 or better to download
in any kind of reasonable time. A 20 second movie clip in AVI format could be as much a 3MB in size and could take
on average about 15 minutes to download on your computer. Some other types of video files found on the Internet
include: MOV, MPEG, and ASF.
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