Below is a collection of useful
definitions compiled by the university, this is however not and exclusive
list. If you cannot find what you are looking for, or simply wish to
browse through some more follow the links!
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B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N O
P Q R S T
U V W
Y Z
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| A
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ActiveX
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A programming methodology that was developed by Microsoft and
can be used to isolate software components and build functions using those
components. ActiveX can be used with a variety of programming languages and in
an Internet programming environment.
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Adapter
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A part that electrically or physically connects a device
to a computer or to another device.
A circuit board that adds function to a computer.
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Applet
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An application program, written in the Java programming
language, that can be retrieved from a Web server and executed by a Web browser.
A reference to an applet appears in the markup for a Web page, in the same way
that a reference to a graphics file appears; a browser retrieves an applet in
the same way that it retrieves a graphics file.
For security reasons, an applet's access rights are limited
in two ways: the applet cannot access the file system of the client upon which
it is executing, and the applet's communication across the network is limited to
the server from which it was downloaded.
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AppleTalk
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A network protocol developed by Apple Computer, Inc. This
protocol is used to interconnect network devices, which can be a mixture of
Apple and non-Apple products.
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ASCII
(American National Standard Code for Information Interchange)
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The standard code, using a coded character set consisting of
7-bit coded characters (8 bits including parity check), that is used for
information interchange among data processing systems, data communication
systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of control characters
and graphic characters.
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Authentication
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In computer security, verification of the identity of a
user or the user's eligibility to access an object.
In computer security, verification that a message has not
been altered or corrupted.
In computer security, a process used to verify the user
of an information system or protected resources.
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Backbone
|
A set of nodes and their interconnecting links that form
a central, high-speed network interconnecting other, typically lower-speed,
networks or client nodes.
In a local area network multiple-bridge ring
configuration, a high-speed link to which the rings are connected by means of
bridges or routers. A backbone may be configured as a bus or as a ring.
In a wide area network, a high-speed link to which nodes
or data switching exchanges (DSEs) are connected.
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Bandwidth
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The difference, expressed in hertz, between the highest
and the lowest frequencies of a range of frequencies.
In asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), the capacity of a
virtual channel, expressed in terms of peak cell rate (PCR), sustainable cell
rate (SCR), and maximum burst size (MBS).
A measure of the capacity of a communication transport
medium (such as a TV cable) to convey data.
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Basic
Input/Output System (BIOS)
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Code that controls basic hardware operations, such as
interactions with diskette drives, hard disk drives, and the keyboard.
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bit
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Either of the digits 0 or 1 when used in the binary
numeration system.
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bitmap
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A representation of an image by an array of bits.
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Broadband
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A frequency band broad enough to be divided into several
narrower bands, each of which can be used for different purposes or be made
available to different users.
A frequency band divisible into several narrower bands so
that different kinds of transmission (such as voice, video, and data) can occur
at the same time.
Transmission media and techniques that use a broad
frequency range, divided into sub-bands of narrower frequency, so that different
kinds of transmission can occur at the same time.
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Broadband
LAN
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A local area network in which data are encoded, multiplexed,
and transmitted with modulation of carriers. A broadband LAN consists of more
than one channel.
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Broadcast
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Transmission of
the same data to all destinations.
Simultaneous
transmission of data to more than one destination.
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Buffer |
A routine or storage used to compensate for a difference in
rate of flow of data, or time of occurrence of events, when transferring data
from one device to another.
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Bus
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A facility for transferring data between several devices
located between two end points, only one device being able to transmit at a
given moment.
A computer configuration in which processors are
interconnected in series.
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Button
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A mechanism on a pointing device, such as a mouse, used
to request or initiate an action or a process.
A graphical device that identifies a choice.
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byte
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A string that consists of a number of bits, treated as a
unit, and representing a character.
A binary character operated upon as a unit and usually
shorter than a computer word.
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Cache
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A special-purpose buffer storage, smaller and faster than
main storage, used to hold a copy of instructions and data obtained from main
storage and likely to be needed next by the processor.
A buffer storage that contains frequently accessed
instructions and data; it is used to reduce access time.
An optional part of the directory database in network
nodes where frequently used directory information may be stored to speed
directory searches.
To place, hide,
or store in a cache.
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Caching
proxy server
|
A proxy server that stores the documents that it retrieves
from other servers in a local cache. The caching proxy server can then respond
to subsequent requests for these documents without having to retrieve them from
the other servers. This can improve response time.
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Case-sensitive
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Pertaining to the ability to distinguish between uppercase
and lowercase letters.
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CD-ROM
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High-capacity read-only memory in the form of a compact disc.
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Central
Processing Unit (CPU)
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The part of a computer that includes the circuits that
control the interpretation and execution of instructions. A CPU is the circuitry
and storage that executes instructions. Traditionally, the complete processing
unit was often regarded as the CPU, whereas today the CPU is often a microchip.
In either case, the centrality of a processor or processing unit depends on the
configuration of the system or network in which it is used.
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Client/Server
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In communications, the model of interaction in distributed
data processing in which a program at one site sends a request to a program at
another site and awaits a response. The requesting program is called a client;
the answering program is called a server.
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Client
workstation
|
The client workstation depends on a server workstation to
provide it with views and status information.
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Clipboard |
An area of storage provided by the system to hold data
temporarily.
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Coaxial
cable
|
A cable consisting of one conductor, usually a small copper
tube or wire, within and insulated from another conductor of larger diameter,
usually copper tubing or copper braid.
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CODEC
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Pertaining to adapters that compress and decompress video
files. The letters "CODEC" represent
"compression/decompression"; in the past, they represented
"coder/decoder."
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Common
Gateway Interface (CGI)
|
A standard for the exchange of information between a Web
server and computer programs that are external to it. The external programs can
be written in any programming language that is supported by the operating system
on which the Web server is running. |
Compression
|
(1) The process of eliminating gaps, empty fields,
redundancies, and unnecessary data to shorten the length of records or blocks.
(2) Any encoding to reduce the number of bits used to
represent a given message or record.
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Computer
|
A functional unit that can perform substantial computations,
including numerous arithmetic operations and logic operations without human
intervention during a run. In information processing, the term computer usually
describes a digital computer. A computer may consist of a stand-alone unit or
may consist of several interconnected units.
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Connectivity
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The capability of a system or device to be attached to
other systems or devices without modification.
The capability to attach a variety of functional units
without modifying them.
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Cookie
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Information that a Web server stores on a user's computer
when the user browses a particular Web site. This information helps the Web
server track such things as user preferences and data that the user may submit
while browsing the site. For example, a cookie may include information about the
purchases that the user makes (if the Web site is a shopping site). The use of
cookies enables a Web site to become more interactive with its users, especially
on future visits.
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Coupler
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A device that connects a modem to a telephone network. |
Cursor
|
A movable, visible mark used to indicate a position of
interest on a display surface.
A visible indication of the position where user
interaction with the keyboard will appear. The keyboard cursors are the
selection cursor and the text cursor.
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Data |
A
re-interpretable representation of information in a formalized manner suitable
for communication, interpretation, or processing. Operations can be performed
upon data by humans or by automatic means.
Any
representations such as characters or analog quantities to which meaning is or
might be assigned.
A representation
of facts or instructions in a form suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by human or automatic means. Data includes constants, variables, arrays, and character strings.
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Database
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A collection of
data with a given structure for accepting, storing, and providing, on demand,
data for multiple users.
A collection of
interrelated data organized according to a database schema to serve one or more
applications.
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Database
Administrator (DBA)
|
A person who is responsible for a database system,
particularly for defining the rules by which data is stored and accessed.
Usually, the database administrator is also responsible for database integrity,
security, performance, and recovery.
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Data store
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A place (such as a database system, file, or directory) where
data is stored.
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Data
stream
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All information (data and control commands) sent over a
data link usually in a single read or write operation.
A continuous stream of data elements being transmitted,
or intended for transmission, in character or binary-digit form, using a defined
format.
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Data
transfer rate
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The average number of bits, characters, or blocks per unit
time passing between corresponding equipment in a data transmission system.
Notes:
1. The rate is
expressed in bits, characters, or blocks per second, minute, or hour.
Corresponding equipment should be indicated; for example, modems,
intermediate equipment, or source and sink.
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Decompression
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The inverse of compression.
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Decryption
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In computer security, the process of transforming encoded
text into plaintext.
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Desktop
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A graphical user interface (GUI) that enables a user to
interact with and perform operations on a computer system.
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Destination
address
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A code that identifies the location to which information is
to be sent.
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Dial-in
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Pertaining to the direction in which a switched connection is
requested by any node or terminal other than the receiving host or an NCP.
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Dialog
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The interaction between a user and a computer.
In an interactive system, a series of related inquiries
and responses similar to a conversation between two people.
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Dial-up
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Pertaining to a network connection that is established by
dialing a telephone number.
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Digital
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Pertaining to data that consist of digits.
Pertaining to data in the form of digits.
Contrast with analog.
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Digital
signature
|
In e-commerce, data that is appended to, or is a
cryptographic transformation of, a data unit and that enables the recipient of
the data unit to verify the source and integrity of the unit and to recognize
potential forgery.
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Direct
routing
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In Internet communications, the transmission of an Internet
Protocol (IP) datagram when the destination and the source reside on the same IP
network or IP subnet.
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Disk drive
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A diskette drive
or a hard disk drive as opposed to a CD-ROM drive.
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Display
panel
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In computer graphics, a predefined display image that defines
the locations and characteristics of display fields on a display surface.
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Display
station
|
An input/output device containing a display screen and an
attached keyboard that allows a user to send information to or receive
information from the system. |
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Document
type
|
The type of data in a particular Printing Systems Manager (PSM)
document. For example, a print file document contains only printable data, and a
print resource document contains only data such as fonts or form definitions
that are not printable.
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Document
type definition (DTD)
|
The rules that specify the structure for a particular class
of SGML or XML documents. The DTD defines the structure with elements,
attributes, and notations, and it establishes constraints for how each element,
attribute, and notation may be used within the particular class of documents. A
DTD is analogous to a database schema in that the DTD completely describes the
structure for a particular markup language. |
Domain
|
That part of a computer network in which the data processing
resources are under common control.
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Domain
controller
|
The domain controller is responsible for coordinating and
maintaining activities in the domain.
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Domain
name server
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In the Internet suite of protocols, a server that responds to
queries from clients for name-to-address and address-to-name mappings as well as
for other information.
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Domain
Name System (DNS)
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In the Internet suite of protocols, the distributed database
system used to map domain names to IP addresses.
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Domain
operator
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In a multiple-domain network, the person or program that
controls operation of resources controlled by one system services control point
(SSCP).
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Drag |
To use a pointing device to move an object. For example, a
user can drag a window border to make the window larger.
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Drag and
drop
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To directly manipulate an object by moving it and placing it
somewhere else using a pointing device (such as a mouse). |
Drive
|
A peripheral device, especially one that has addressed
storage media.
The mechanism used to seek, read, and write information
on a storage medium
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Dump
|
To record, at a particular instant, the contents of all
or part of one storage device in another storage device. Dumping is usually for
the purpose of debugging.
Data that has been dumped.
To copy data in a readable format from main or auxiliary
storage onto an external medium such as tape, diskette, or printer.
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E-business
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Either (a) the transaction of business over an electronic
medium such as the Internet or (b) any organization (for example, commercial,
industrial, nonprofit, educational, or governmental) that transacts its business
over an electronic medium such as the Internet. An e-business combines the
resources of traditional information systems with the vast reach of an
electronic medium such as the Internet (including the World Wide Web, intranets,
and extranets); it connects critical business systems directly to critical
business constituencies--customers, employees, and suppliers. The key to
becoming an e-business is building a transaction-based Web site in which all
core business processes (especially all processes that require a dynamic and
interactive flow of information) are put online to improve service, cut costs,
and sell products.
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E-commerce
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The buying, selling or exchanging of information, goods or
services via any an electronic medium such as the Internet.
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Electronic
mail (e-mail)
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Correspondence in the form of messages transmitted
between user terminals over a computer network.
The generation, transmission, and display of
correspondence and documents by electronic means.
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Encryption
|
In computer security, the process of transforming data into
an unintelligible form in such a way that the original data either cannot be
obtained, or can be obtained only by using a decryption process.
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Ethernet
|
A 10-Mbps baseband local area network that allows multiple
stations to access the transmission medium at will without prior coordination,
avoids contention by using carrier sense and deference, and resolves contention
by using collision detection and delayed retransmission. Ethernet uses carrier
sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD).
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Extensible
Markup Language (XML)
E
|
A standard metalanguage for defining markup languages that
was derived from and is a subset of SGML. XML omits the more complex and
less-used parts of SGML and makes it much easier to (a) write applications to
handle document types, (b) author and manage structured information, and (c)
transmit and share structured information across diverse computing systems. The
use of XML does not require the robust applications and processing that is
necessary for SGML. XML is being developed under the auspices of the World Wide
Web Consortium (W3C).
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Fiber
optics
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The branch of optical technology concerned with the
transmission of radiant power through fibers made of transparent materials such
as glass, fused silica, and plastic
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Field
|
An identifiable area in a window. Examples of fields are:
an entry field, into which a user can type or place text, and a field of radio
button choices, from which a user can select one choice.
The smallest identifiable part of a record.
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File
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A named set of records stored or processed as a unit
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File name
extension
|
An addition to a file name that identifies the file type (for
example, text file or program file).
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File
transfer
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The transfer of one or more files from one system to another
over a data link
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File
Transfer Protocol (FTP)
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In the Internet suite of protocols, an application layer
protocol that uses TCP and Telnet services to transfer bulk-data files between
machines or hosts.
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Firewall
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In communication, a functional unit that protects and
controls the connection of one network to other networks. The firewall (a)
prevents unwanted or unauthorized communication traffic from entering the
protected network and (b) allows only selected communication traffic to leave
the protected network.
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Folder
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A container used to organize objects.
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Font
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A family of characters of a given size and style; for
example, 9-point Helvetica. |
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Gigabit
(Gb)
|
For processor
storage, real and virtual storage, and channel volume, 230 or 1 073
741 824 bits.
For disk storage
capacity and communications volume, 1 000 000 000 bits
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Gigabyte
(GB) |
For processor storage, real and virtual storage, and
channel volume, 230 or 1 073 741 824 bytes.
For disk storage capacity and communications volume, 1
000 000 000 bytes. |
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Hardcopy
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A permanent copy of a display image generated on an
output device such as a printer or plotter, and which can be carried away.
A printed copy of machine output in a visually readable
form; for example, printed reports, listings, documents, and summaries.
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Hard disk
|
A mass storage medium for computers that is typically
available as a fixed disk (such as the disks used in the system units of
personal computers or in drives that are external to a personal computer) or a
removable cartridge.
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Home page
|
The initial Web page that is returned by a Web site when a
user specifies the uniform resource locator (URL) for the Web site. For example,
if a user specifies the URL for the IBM Web site, which is http://www.ibm.com,
the Web page that is returned is the IBM home page. Essentially, the home page
is the entry point for accessing the contents of the Web site. The home page may
sometimes be called the "welcome page" or the "front page."
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Host
|
A computer that is connected to a network (such as the
Internet) and provides an access point to that network. Also, depending on the
environment, the host may provide centralized control of the network. The host
can be a client, a server, or both a client and a server simultaneously.
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Host ID |
In the Internet suite of protocols, that part of the IP
address that defines the host system on the network. The length of the host ID
depends on the type of network or network class (A, B, or C).
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Hub
|
In a network, a point at which circuits are either connected
or switched. For example, in a star network, the hub is the central node; in a
star/ring network, it is the location of wiring concentrators.
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Hypertext |
A way of presenting information online with connections
(called hypertext links) between one piece of information and another.
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Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML)
|
A markup language that conforms to the SGML standard and was
designed primarily to support the online display of textual and graphical
information that includes hypertext links.
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Hypertext
Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
|
In the Internet suite of protocols, the protocol that is used
to transfer and display hypertext documents.
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Icon
|
A graphic symbol, displayed on a screen, that a user can
point to with a device such as a mouse in order to select a particular function
or software application.
A graphical representation of an object (for example, a
file or program) that consists of an image, an image background, and a label.
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Installation
|
In system development, preparing and placing a functional
unit in position for use.
A particular computing system, including the work it does
and the people who manage it, operate it, apply it to problems, service it, and
use the results it produces.
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Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN)
|
A digital end-to-end telecommunication network that supports
multiple services including, but not limited to, voice and data. ISDNs are used
in public and private network architectures.
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Internet
|
The worldwide collection of interconnected networks that use
the Internet suite of protocols and permit public access.
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Internet
Protocol (IP) |
In the Internet suite of protocols, a connectionless protocol
that routes data through a network or interconnected networks and acts as an
intermediary between the higher protocol layers and the physical network.
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Intranet
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A private network that integrates Internet standards and
applications (such as Web browsers) with an organization's existing computer
networking infrastructure.
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IP address |
The unique 32-bit address that specifies the location of each
device or workstation on the Internet. For example, 9.67.97.103 is an IP
address.
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IP router
|
A device in an IP internet that is responsible for making
decisions about the paths over which network traffic will flow. Routing
protocols are used to gain information about the network and to determine the
best route over which the datagram should be forwarded toward the final
destination. The datagrams are routed based on IP destination addresses.
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Java
|
An object-oriented programming language for portable
interpretive code that supports interaction among remote objects. Java was
developed and specified by Sun Microsystems, Incorporated.
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JavaBeans
|
A platform-independent, software component technology for
building reusable Java components called "beans." Once built, these
beans can be made available for use by other software engineers or can be used
in Java applications. Also, using JavaBeans, software engineers can manipulate
and assemble beans in a graphical drag-and-drop development environment.
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Java
Development Kit (JDK)
|
A software package that can be used to write, compile, debug,
and run Java applets and applications.
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JavaScript
|
A scripting language that resembles Java and was developed by
Netscape for use with the Netscape browser.
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Java
Virtual Machine (JVM)
|
A software implementation of a central processing unit (CPU)
that runs compiled Java code (applets and applications).
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JPEG
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A standard format for storing compressed true-color images.
"JPEG" represents "Joint Photographic Experts Group," which
is the name of the committee that developed this standard format. |
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Kernel
|
The part of an operating system that performs basic functions
such as allocating hardware resources.
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kilobyte
(KB)
|
(1) For processor storage, real and virtual storage, and
channel volume, 210 or 1024 bytes.
(2) For disk storage capacity and communications volume, 1000
bytes.
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Local Area
Network (LAN)
|
(1) A computer network located on a user's premises within a
limited geographical area. Communication within a local area network is not
subject to external regulations; however, communication across the LAN boundary
may be subject to some form of regulation.
(2) A network in which a set of devices are connected to one
another for communication and that can be connected to a larger network. This can be connected in either an Ethernet or Token Ring.
A LAN contrasts with a MAN and WAN
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Log on
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To connect to a computer system or network. Some systems may
use the term "log in" or "sign on" for this concept.
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Mainframe
|
A computer, usually in a computer center, with extensive
capabilities and resources to which other computers may be connected so that
they can share facilities.
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Mapping
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The process of converting data that is transmitted in one
format by the sender into the data format that can be accepted by the receiver.
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Markup
|
The identification of the components of a document to enable
each component to be appropriately formatted, displayed, or used.
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Markup
language
|
A notation for identifying the components of a document to
enable each component to be appropriately formatted, displayed, or used.
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Megabit
(Mb)
|
For processor storage, real and virtual storage, and
channel volume, 220 or 1 048 576 bits.
For disk storage capacity and communications volume, 1 000 000
bits.
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Megabyte
(MB) |
For processor storage, real and virtual storage, and
channel volume, 220 or 1 048 576 bytes.
For disk storage capacity and communications volume, 1 000 000
bytes.
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Memory
|
All of the addressable storage space in a processing unit and
other internal storages that is used to execute instructions.
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Menu
|
A list of options displayed to the user by a data
processing system, from which the user can select an action to be initiated.
In text processing, a list of choices displayed to the
user by a text processor from which the user can select an action to be
initiated.
A list of choices that can be applied to an object. A
menu can contain choices that are not available for selection in certain
contexts. Those choices are indicated by reduced contrast.
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Menu bar
|
The area near the top of a window, below the title bar
and above the rest of the window, that contains choices that provide access to
other menus.
In the AIX operating system, a rectangular area at the
top of the client area of a window that contains the titles of the standard
pull-down menus for that application.
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Metropolitan
Area Network (MAN)
|
A network formed by the interconnection of two or more
networks which may operate at higher speed than those networks, may cross
administrative boundaries, and may use multiple access methods. Contrast
with LAN and WAN.
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Minidisk
|
In
VM, a direct access storage device or a logical
subdivision of a direct access storage device that has its own virtual device
number, consecutive virtual cylinders (starting with virtual cylinder 0), and a
volume table of contents (VTOC) or disk label identifier.
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|
Modem
(modulator/demodulator)
|
A functional unit that modulates and demodulates signals.
One of the functions of a modem is to enable digital data to be transmitted over
analog transmission facilities.
A device that converts digital data from a computer to an
analog signal that can be transmitted on a telecommunication line, and converts
the analog signal received to data for the computer. |
Monitor
|
A device that observes and records selected activities
within a data processing system for analysis. Possible uses are to indicate
significant departure from the norm, or to determine levels of utilization of
particular functional units.
Software or hardware that observes, supervises, controls,
or verifies operations of a system.
The function required to initiate the transmission of a
token on the ring and to provide soft-error recovery in case of lost tokens,
circulating frames, or other difficulties. The capability is present in all ring
stations.
Software that monitors specific applications or the
systems on which the applications rely. Monitors typically monitor information
such as available disk space or application errors and compare the information
to defined thresholds. When thresholds are exceeded, either system or network
administrators can be notified, or an automated response can be performed.
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Mouse
|
A commonly used pointing device that contains one or more
buttons with which a user can interact with a computer system. For example,
using a mouse button, a user can select objects or choices, initiate actions, or
directly manipulate objects.
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Multitasking
|
A mode of operation that provides for concurrent performance,
or interleaved execution of two or more tasks.
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Network
|
An arrangement of nodes and connecting branches.
A configuration of data processing devices and software
connected for information interchange.
A group of nodes and the links interconnecting them.
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| O
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Object
|
In object-oriented design or programming, a concrete
realization of a class that consists of data and the operations associated with
that data.
An item that a user can manipulate as a single unit to
perform a task. An object can appear as text, an icon, or both.
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Open
Database Connectivity (ODBC)
|
A standard application programming interface (API) for
accessing data in both relational and non-relational database management
systems. Using this API, database applications can access data stored in
database management systems on a variety of computers even if each database
management system uses a different data storage format and programming
interface.
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| Radio
button
|
A circle with text beside it. Radio buttons are combined to
show a user a fixed set of choices from which the user can select one. The
circle becomes partially filled when a choice is selected
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Random
Access Memory (RAM)
|
A temporary storage location in which the central processing
unit (CPU) stores and executes its processes.
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Read-only
|
Pertaining to data that can be read but cannot be modified.
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Read-Only
Memory (ROM)
|
Memory in which stored data cannot be modified by the user
except under special conditions.
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Relational
database
|
A database in which the data is organized and can be accessed
according to relations.
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Response
time
|
The elapsed time between the end of an inquiry or demand
on a computer system and the beginning of the response; for example, the length
of time between an indication of the end of an inquiry and the display of the
first character of the response at a user terminal.
For response time monitoring, the time from the
activation of a transaction until a response is received, according to the
response time definition coded in the performance class.
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Ring
network
|
A network in which every node has exactly two branches
connected to it and in which there are exactly two paths between any two nodes.
A network configuration in which devices are connected by
unidirectional transmission links to form a closed path.
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Route
|
An ordered sequence of nodes and transmission groups (TGs)
that represent a path from an origin node to a destination node traversed by the
traffic exchanged between them.
The path that network traffic uses to get from source to
destination.
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Router
|
A computer that determines the path of network traffic
flow. The path selection is made from several paths based on information
obtained from specific protocols, algorithms that attempt to identify the
shortest or best path, and other criteria such as metrics or protocol-specific
destination addresses.
An attaching device that connects two LAN segments, which
use similar or different architectures, at the reference model network layer.
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| Run time
|
The time period during which a computer program is executing.
A run-time environment is an execution environment.
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Scanner
|
A device that examines a spatial pattern one part after
another, and generates analog or digital signals corresponding to the
pattern. Scanners are often used in mark sensing, pattern recognition, or
character recognition.
For the 3725 communication controller, a processor
dedicated to controlling a small number of telecommunication lines. It
provides the connection between the line interface coupler hardware and
the central control unit. |
Scripting
language |
The programming language in which a script is written. |
Secure
Sockets Layer (SSL) |
A security protocol that provides communication privacy. SSL
enables client/server applications to communicate in a way that is
designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, and message forgery. SSL was
developed by Netscape Communications Corp. and RSA Data Security, Inc |
Segment
|
A portion of a computer program that may be executed
without the entire computer program being resident in main storage.
A group of display elements.
A section of cable between components or devices. A
segment may consist of a single patch cable, several patch cables that are
connected, or a combination of building cable and patch cables that are
connected.
In Internet communications, the unit of transfer between
TCP functions in different machines. Each segment contains control and
data fields; the current byte-stream position and actual data bytes are
identified along with a checksum to validate received data.
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Server
|
A functional unit that provides services to one or more
clients over a network. Examples include a file server, a print server,
and a mail server. |
SET
Secure Electronic Transaction |
A specification for securing payment card transactions over
open networks such as the Internet. SET was developed by Visa, MasterCard,
IBM, and other technology companies. |
Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) |
In the Internet suite of protocols, an application protocol
for transferring mail among users in the Internet environment. SMTP
specifies the mail exchange sequences and message format. It assumes that
the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is the underlying protocol. |
Socket
|
An endpoint provided by the transport service of a network
for communication between processes or application programs. |
Socket
address |
The address of an application program that uses the socket
interface on the network. In Internet format, it consists of the IP
address of the socket's host and the port number of the socket. The
application program is usually not aware of the structure of the address. |
SQL
|
A programming language that is used to define and manipulate
data in a relational database. |
Station
|
An input or output point of a system that uses
telecommunication facilities; for example, one or more systems, computers,
terminals, devices, and associated programs at a particular location that
can send or receive data over a telecommunication line. |
Storage
|
A functional unit into which data can be placed, in which
they can be retained and from which they can be retrieved.
The action of placing data into a storage device.
|
Subnet
|
In TCP/IP, a part of a network that is identified by a
portion of the IP address. |
Synchronous
|
Pertaining to two or more processes that depend upon the
occurrence of specific events such as common timing signals. Occurring with a regular or predictable time relationship. |
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Telnet
|
In the Internet suite of protocols, a protocol that provides
remote terminal connection service. It allows users of one host to log on
to a remote host and interact as directly attached terminal users of that
host. |
Timeout
|
An event that occurs at the end of a predetermined period of
time that began at the occurrence of another specified event.
A time interval allotted for certain operations to occur; for
example, response to polling or addressing before system operation is
interrupted and must be restarted. |
Title
bar |
The area at the top of each window that contains the
system-menu symbol, a small icon, a window title, and the maximize,
minimize, and restore buttons. |
Token-bus
network |
A bus network in which a token passing procedure is used. |
Token
passing |
In a token-ring network, the process by which a node captures
a token; inserts a message, addresses, and control information; changes
the bit pattern of the token to the bit pattern of a frame; transmits the
frame; removes the frame from the ring when it has made a complete
circuit; generates another token; and transmits the token on the ring
where it can be captured by the next node that is ready to transmit. |
Token-ring
network |
A ring network that allows unidirectional data transmission
between data stations, by a token passing procedure, such that the
transmitted data return to the transmitting station.
A network that uses a ring topology, in which tokens are
passed in a circuit from node to node. A node that is ready to send can
capture the token and insert data for transmission. |
Topology
|
In communications, the physical or logical arrangement of
nodes in a network, especially the relationships among nodes and the links
between them. |
Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP) |
A communications protocol used in the Internet and in any
network that follows the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards
for internetwork protocol. TCP provides a reliable host-to-host protocol
between hosts in packet-switched communications networks and in
interconnected systems of such networks. It uses the Internet Protocol
(IP) as the underlying protocol. |
Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) |
The Transmission Control Protocol and the Internet Protocol,
which together provide reliable end-to-end connections between
applications over interconnected networks of different types.
The suite of transport and application protocols that run
over the Internet Protocol. |
Tree
network |
A network in which there is exactly one path between any two
nodes |
Tree
structure |
A data structure that represents entities in nodes, with at
most one parent node for each node, and with only one root node. |
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Uniform
resource locator (URL) |
A sequence of characters that represent information resources
on a computer or in a network such as the Internet. This sequence of
characters includes (a) the abbreviated name of the protocol used to
access the information resource and (b) the information used by the
protocol to locate the information resource. For example, in the context
of the Internet, these are abbreviated names of some protocols used to
access various information resources: http, ftp, gopher,
telnet, and news; and this is the URL for the IBM home page:
http://www.ibm.com.
The address of an item on the World Wide Web. It includes the
protocol followed by the fully qualified domain name (sometimes called the
host name) and the request. The Web server typically maps the request
portion of the URL to a path and file name. For example, if the URL is
http://www.ibm.com/e-business/info/,
the protocol is http;
the fully qualified domain name is www.ibm.com;
and the request is /e-business/info/. |
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User
|
Any person or any thing that may issue or receive commands
and messages to or from the information processing system.
Anyone who requires the services of a computing system. |
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Virtual
address |
The address of a location in virtual storage. A virtual
address must be translated into a real address in order to process the
data in processor storage. |
Virtual
store |
An interactive simulation of a store on the World Wide Web.
|
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Visual
Basic Script (VBScript)
|
A scripting language that was developed by Microsoft for use
with the Internet Explorer browser. |
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Web
browser |
A client program that initiates requests to a Web server and
displays the information that the server returns. |
Webmaster
|
The person who is ultimately responsible for managing and
maintaining a particular Web site. |
Web
page |
Any document that can be accessed by a uniform resource
locator (URL) on the World Wide Web. A server that is connected to the Internet and is dedicated
to serving Web pages. |
Web
site |
A Web server that is managed by a single entity (an
organization or an individual) and contains information in hypertext for
its users, often including hypertext links to other Web sites. Each Web
site has a home page. In a uniform resource locator (URL), the Web site is
indicated by the fully qualified domain name. For example, in the URL
http://www.ibm.com/e-business/info/
the Web site is indicated by www.ibm.com,
which is the fully qualified domain name. |
Wide
Area Network (WAN) |
A network that provides communication
services to a geographic area larger than that served by a
local area network or a metropolitan area network, and that may use or
provide public communication facilities.
A data communication network designed to serve an area of
hundreds or thousands of miles; for example, public and private
packet-switching networks, and national telephone networks. |
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Zone
Information Protocol (ZIP) |
In AppleTalk networks, a protocol that provides zone
management service by maintaining a mapping of the zone names and network
numbers across the internet on the session layer. |
Zoom
|
In a user interface, to progressively increase or decrease
the size of a part of an image on a screen or in a window. |
