Glossary

The following definitions are not inclusive, but provide a good starting point for terminology related to hosting technology, e-commerce and domain management.

Internet Terminology

Domains - E-Commerce - General

Area	Definition
Computing	.MIL - The top-level domain reserved for use by the United States military. This TLD is maintained by the Department of Defense Network Information Center.
Computing	Adware- A type of software that often comes with free downloads. Some adware displays ads on your computer, while some monitors your computer use (including websites visited) and displays targeted ads based on your use.
Computing	Anti-virus Software- Protects your computer from viruses that can destroy your data, slow your computer's performance, cause a crash, or even allow spammers to send email through your account.
Computing	Bandwidth- A measure of the "speed" of an Internet connection.
Computing	Bizopps- Shorthand for "business opportunity;" some schemes involve extravagant and unfounded earnings claims and are actually fraudulent business ventures.
Computing	Bookmark- A web browser feature that allows you to save the addresses of interesting or frequently used websites, so that you can readily revisit them.
Computing	Browser- A program that allows a user to find, view, hear, and interact with material on the Internet.
Computing	Browser Hijacker- A common spyware program that changes your web browser's home page automatically, even if you change it back.
Computing	Cache- A form of computer memory that allows you to access stored information, such as web addresses you've recently typed into your browser, more quickly. Pronounced "cash."
Computing	CAN-SPAM Act- A law that prohibits senders of unsolicited commercial email from using false or misleading header information or deceptive subject lines, and requires they identify each email as an advertisement, among other provisions.
Computing	Chat Room- The name given to a place or page in a website or online service where people can type messages which are displayed almost instantly on the screens of others who are in the "chat room."
Computing	Cookies- A small text file that a website can place on your computer's hard drive to collect information about your activities on the site or to allow other capabilities on the site.
Computing	Cyberspace- Used to distinguish the physical world from the digital, or computer-based world.
Computing	Domain- A segment of Internet space, denoted by the function or type of information it includes; current domains include ".com" for commercial sites, ".gov" for governmental ones, and ".org" for non-commercial organizations.
Computing	Download- To copy files from one computer to another; to view a website or other web material with a browser.
Computing	Drive-by Download- Software that installs on your computer without your knowledge when you visit certain websites. To avoid drive-by downloads, make sure to update your operating system and Web browser regularly.
Computing	DSL- Digital Subscriber Line: A means of accessing the Internet at high speed using standard phone lines.
Computing	Encryption- The scrambling of data into a secret code that can be read only by software set to decode the information.
Computing	End User Licensing Agreement (EULA)- A provider's legal terms. You, as the "end user," may be required to "click" to accept before you can download software.
Computing	Exposure- When sensitive data is released to someone without authorization.
Computing	Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID)- The name a manufacturer assigns to a router. It may be a standard, default name assigned by the manufacturer to all hardware of that model. Users can improve security by changing to a unique name. Similar to a Service Set Identifier (SSID).
Computing	Filter- Software that screens information on the Internet, classifies its content, and allows the user to block certain kinds of content.
Computing	Firewall- Hardware or software that helps keep hackers from using your computer to send out your personal information without your permission. Firewalls watch for outside attempts to access your system and block communications to and from sources you don't permit.
Computing	Gigabyte- A measure of computer memory equaling 1,024 megabytes.
Computing	Hacker- Someone who uses the Internet to access computers without permission.
Computing	Hardware- The mechanical parts of a computer system, including the central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as well as other equipment like printers and speakers.
Computing	Hidden Dialers- Programs that you may unknowingly download that can use your computer to silently dial expensive phone calls which later show up on your phone bill.
Computing	HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)- The standard language that computers connected to the World Wide Web use to communicate with each other.
Computing	Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)- A coding language used to create documents on the Internet and control how web pages appear.
Computing	ICANN - Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers. The non-profit organization under U.S. Government contract that manages the domain name system, accredits and oversees domain name registrars, and manages root servers.
Computing	ICANN Regulatory Fee - The ICANN Regulatory Fee relates to a mandatory fee that ICANN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers) assesses on each domain name.
Computing	IMAP (see Internet Message Access Protocol)
Computing	Internet - A "network of networks" linking millions of computers worldwide for communications purposes. The Internet was originally developed in 1969 for the U.S. military and gradually grew to include educational and research institutions. Today commercial industries, corporations, and residential users all communicate using the Internet. The World Wide Web is a collection of interactive documents accessible via the Internet.
Computing	Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) - A protocol that allows users to access and manipulate e-mail messages on a mail server. IMAP lets you create, delete, and rename mailboxes as well as check for new messages, remove messages, and search through existing messages. IMAP does not specify a particular means of writing or sending mail; this function is handled by a mail transfer protocol such as SMTP.
Computing	Internet Service Provider (ISP) - A company that enables companies or individuals to connect to the Internet. ISPs often provide e-mail capability, Web hosting, and other services in addition to connectivity. Large ISPs include America Online, Excite@Home, and Earthlink.
Computing	InterNIC - Internet Network Information Center. Formerly, the cooperative activity between the U.S. government and Network Solutions that was responsible for registering and maintaining the ".com," ".net," and ".org" top-level domain names. Many of the InterNIC's functions have now been taken over by ICANN.
Computing	IP Address (Internet Protocol Address) - The numeric address of a computer on the Internet. An IP address is written as a set of four numbers separated by periods (each number can range from 0 to 255). An example of an IP address is 123.123.4.5.
Computing	ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - A telecommunications technology that allows for digital voice, video, and data transmission. ISDN replaces the slow and inefficient analog telephone system with a fast digital network that can transmit data at up to 128Kbps.
Computing	ISP (see Internet Service Provider)

Additional:

General: A Record to Expired Domain | Forwarding to Root Server | Secondary Name Server to Zone File

Domains: Adware to ISP | Local Name Server to Sub-Domain | T1 to Zone File

E-Com: Application-to-Application to XML