Web Glossary
This is an alphabetical list of Web Building Glossary Terms.
Access
A database system from Microsoft. A part of Microsoft Office. Mostly
used on low traffic web sites running on the Windows platform.
ADO (ActiveX Data Object)
A Microsoft technology that provides data access to any kind of
data store. ADO can be studied in our ADO tutorial.
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
A special type of DSL line where the upload speed is different from
the download speed.
Apache
An open source web server software. Mostly for Unix, Linux and Solaris
platforms.
ASP (Active Server Pages)
A Microsoft scripting technology allowing the insertion of server
executable scripts in HTML Pages. ASP can be studied in our ASP tutorial.
Browser
A software program used to display web pages. Internet Explorer
and Netscape are the two most common browsers.
Netscape
The browser Netscape from the company Netscape. The most popular
browser for many years. Today IE has the lead. You can read more about browsers
in our Browser Section.
CGI (Common Gateway Interface)
A set of rules that describes how a CGI Program communicates with
a Web Server.
CGI Bin
The folder (or directory) on a Web Server that stores CGI Programs.
CGI Program
A small program that handles input and output from a Web Server.
Often CGI programs are used for handling forms input or database queries.
ColdFusion
Web development software for most platforms (Linux, Unix, Solaris
and Windows).
DB2
A database system from IBM. Mostly for Unix and Solaris platforms.
DBA (Data Base Administrator)
The person (or the software) who administers a database. Typical
task are: backup, maintenance and implementation.
Domain Name
The name that identifies a Web Site. (like: W3Schools.com)
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
An Internet connection over regular telephone lines, but much faster.
Speed may vary from 128 kilobit per second, up to 9 megabit per second.
Firewall
Software that acts as a security filter that can restrict types
of network communication. Most often used between a LAN and Internet.
FrontPage
Web development software for the Windows platform.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
One of the most common methods for sending files between two computers.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
A compressed format for storing images developed by CompuServe.
One of the most common formats on the Internet.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
The language of the Web. Used to add elements and attributes in
text files, to define content, layout and formatting. HTML can be studied
in our HTML tutorial.
HTTP (Hyper Text Transport Protocol)
The standard set of rules for sending text files across the Internet.
It requires an HTTP client program on the one end, and an HTTP server program
in the other end.
HTTP Client
A computer program that requests a service from a Web Server.
HTTP Server
A computer program providing services from a Web Server.
HTTPS (Hyper Text Transport Protocol Secure)
Same as HTTP but provides secure Internet communication using SSL.
(see also SSL)
IE (Internet Explorer)
See Internet Explorer.
Internet Browser
See browser.
Internet Explorer
A browser by Microsoft. The most commonly used browser today. You
can read more about browsers in our Browser Section.
Intranet
A private (closed) Internet, running inside a LAN (Local Area Network).
IP Number (Internet Protocol Number)
A unique number identifying every computer on the Internet (like
197.123.456.789)
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
Someone that provides access to the Internet and Web Hosting.
Java
A programming language from SUN. Mostly for programming web servers.
Java Script
The most popular scripting language on the internet, developed by
Netscape.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Group)
The organization that promotes the JPG and JPEG graphic formats
for storing compressed images.
JPEG and JPG
Graphic formats for storing compressed images.
JScript
Microsoft's version of Java Script.
JSP (Java Server Pages)
A scripting language for creating dynamic web pages. JSP is based
on Java. Mostly used on Linux, Unix and Solaris platforms.
Linux
Open source computer operating system based on Unix. Mostly used
for servers and web servers.
LAN (Local Area Network)
Computers connected together in a small local network, like inside
the same building, usually connected via local cables. See also WAN.
MySQL
Open source database software. Mostly for Unix and Linux platforms.
Netscape
The browser Netscape from the company Netscape. The most popular
browser for many years. Today IE has the lead. You can read more about browsers
in our Browser Section.
Opera
The browser Opera from the company Opera. You can read more about
browsers in our Browser Section.
OS (Operating System)
The software that manages the operating of a computer.
PHP
A scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. Mostly for
Unix, Linux and Solaris platforms.
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)
A standard for connection multiple disks to the same server for
higher security, speed and performance. Often used on web servers.
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)
A standard protocol for letting applications communicate with each
other using XML. SOAP can be studied in our SOAP tutorial.
Solaris
Computer operating system from SUN.
SQL Server
A database system from Microsoft. Mostly used on high traffic web
sites running on the Windows platform.
SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
Software to secure and protect web site communication using encrypted
transmission of data.
Unix
Computer operating system. Mostly used for servers and web servers.
VB (Visual Basic)
See Visual Basic.
VB Script
A scripting language from Microsoft. Mostly used with ASP for programming
web servers. Can also be used to program Internet Explorer. (See also ASP).
Visual Basic
A programming language from Microsoft.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A private network between two remote sites, over a secure encrypted
virtual Internet connection (a tunnel).
VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language)
A programming language to allow 3D effects to be added to HTML documents.
W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
The organization responsible for managing standards for the WWW.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
Computers connected together in a wide network, larger than a LAN,
usually connected via phone lines. See also LAN.
Web Browser
See browser.
Web Host
Someone that provides Web Site space to companies or individuals.
Web Page
A document (normally an HTML file) designed to be distributed over
the Web.
Web Server
A computer providing Web Services to other computers.
Web Services
Software components and applications running on web servers. Web
services provide data services to other computers, browsers or individuals,
often using XML as the communication protocol.
Web Site
A collection of Web Pages belonging to a company or an individual.
Windows 2000, Widows NT, Windows 95/98
Computer operating systems from Microsoft.
WWW (World Wide Web)
Well, if you don't know what it is..........
WWW Server
The same as a Web Server.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
The standard way to address (or identify) a resource on the Internet
(like: http://www.w3schools.com/)