Archie - A search tool for files stored on FTP servers.
Archive - A file that contains copies of one or more other files. An archive, which is often used for backup purposes, may or may not be compressed.
Bit - The smallest unit of binary information, represented as a one or a zero.
BITNET - Because It's Time Net, an alternative public network that has steadily become more tightly connected to the Internet.
Browser - Any program used to search the World Wide Web, such as Netscape or Mosaic.
Byte - A group of bits used to represent a character or command, usually eight bits.
Compressed file - A file that contains a compressed copy of one or more other files. Compressed files, which usually have a ZIP, Z, gz, sit or cpt extension, conserve disk space and take less time to download.
DNS - Domain Name System (or Server), translates text-format computer names into their IP addresses.
Download - Transferring files from a remote (host) to a local (client) computer.
EFF - Electronic Frontier Foundation, a membership organization that lobbies for basic freedoms on electronic networks.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions, a suggested-reading document maintained by most mailing lists and newsgroups to avoid repeating old news for each newbie.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol, a common file transfer format used on the Internet.
Fidonet - A hobbyist BBS network with an E-mail gateway and other links to the Internet under development.
Finger - An internet service that checks a user's personal identification.
Firewall - A device or program that acts as a barrier between the Internet and a company's local area network to guard internal data security.
Flame - Extremely nasty e-mail responses that often become long and vehement "flame wars".
GIF - Graphics Interchange Format, a compressed file format promoted by CompuServe as a means of using graphic images across several different computing platforms.
Gopher - A storage and retrieval protocol for file archives on the Internet, a program to "go for" the files. Also named after the mascot of the University of Minnesota, where it originated.
Home page - A Web document at the top of an individual hierarchy.
HTML - HyperText Markup Language, a simple text-based generic markup language for representing the design and contents of documents that World-Wide Web browsers can display.
HTTP - HyperText Transport Protocol, a fast, stateless information retrieval protocol designed to distribute information quickly to as many users as possible. Address for documents on the World-Wide Web often begin with http:// before the server's computer name, as in http://www.whitehouse.gov
Hypertext - Documents that cross-reference each other via graphical cues.
InterNIC - Internet Network Information Center, a repository of information about the Internet.
IP address - Internet Protocol address, the unique numeric address assigned to a computer on the Internet.
IRC - Internet Relay Chat, an Internet service that lets users exchange typed messages in real time.
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network, a fast digital technology designed to replace less efficient analog telephones and modems. ISDN "modems" are actually called TAs (Terminal Adapters) and can transmit information at 64K to 128K bits per second.
ISDN TA - Terminal Adapter, an interface between your computer and an ISDN connection. TAs can be internal or external devices. Think of a TA as a cross between a network card and a modem.
ISP - Internet Service Provider, a commercial reseller of Internet connectivity.
JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group, who defined a compression format designed to compress either full-color or gray-scale images. (Sometimes known as JPG.)
Kb - Kilobits, a measurement that represents 1024 bits of information in digital systems.
KB - Kilobytes, a measurement that represents 1024 bytes of information in digital systems.
Kbps - Kilobits per second, a measurement that represents the transfer of 1024 bits of digital information per second, as in a 28.8 Kbps modem.
Listserver - A file server that automatically mails information to mailing list subscribers.
Newbie - A new user.
NII - National Information Infrastructure, a Washington proposal for federal control of the Internet.
PGP - Pretty Good Privacy, a public domain program that provides PC users on the Internet with the ability to encrypt e-mail messages for privacy and security.
Ping - An Internet service that determines if a specific connection is in operation.
PKZIP/PKUNZIP - PKZIP is a popular DOS-based shareware program that archives files and compresses them to a fraction of their original size. You can identify such a file by its ZIP extension. The PKUNZIP program restores the information in a ZIP file to its original uncompressed state. PK stands for Phil Katz, the programs' creator.
PPP - Point-to-Point Protocol, an improved protocol for connecting serial communications lines (like modems) to the Internet. It is somewhat improved over SLIP.
SLIP - Serial Line Interface Protocol, a protocol for connecting serial communications lines (like modems) to the Internet. It is being superseded by PPP.
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, standard format for exchanging e-mail messages on the Internet.
Snail mail - A derogatory term for United States Postal Service mail delivery.
Spam - E-mail that is indiscriminately sent to man users not known by the sender, especially mailing list subscribers (the Internet's junk mail).
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol over Internet Protocol, the basic communication program that runs on all computers connected to the Internet.
Telnet - A method that allows a user to connect to a terminal or computer that's running a communications package to a remote UNIX host computer. The user can then run and control applications on the host.
UNIX - The operating system used by most central Internet servers.
Upload - Transferring files from a local (client) to a remote (host) computer.
URL - Uniform Resource Locator, a pointer to a file or resource available on the Internet. The Internet's shorthand for directions to Internet-bound resources, used most often with World-Wide Web browsers such as Mosaic and Netscape. It begins with a protocol code, followed by a location, such as http://www.wustl.edu.
UUCP - Unix-to-Unix Copy Program, an alternative to TCP/IP that enables computers to connect to the Internet on an as-needed basis.
Uuencode/uudecode - The uuencode program converts binary information into a text file, and uudecode converts that text back into a binary file. These programs are designed to allow people to send and receive, via e-mail, program files and other binary data such as spreadsheets and graphics. These would ordinarily be garbled by e-mail programs because the eighth bit is stripped from each character.
Veronica - A search tool for files stored on Gopher servers. Yes, both Archie and Veronica are named after comic book characters.
WAIS - Wide Area Information Server, a document database format that is similar to Gopher but less popular.
Whois - An Internet server that finds a user's e-mail address.
WWW - World-Wide Web, a popular and easy way of navigating the Internet using hypertext links and protocols. Popular software for browsing the WWW includes Mosaic and Netscape.
