Download Internet Terms for Internet Class PPLS (1025/12dsg) :// -

Internet Terms for Internet Class PPLS (1025/12dsg)
:// -- the expression for 'this is a computer protocol'. We add these 3 characters in a Web address to denote
which set of computer lanaguage rules affect the document you are viewing.
A bookmark or favorite is a marker that you can place on web pages and files. You would bookmark
something that you return to frequently.
Add-ons -- are custom software modifications. Users optionally install add-ons to improve the power of their
Web browsers or office software. Examples include: a custom eBay toolbar for your Firefox browser, a new
search feature for your Outlook email. Most add-ons are free, and can be found and downloaded from the
Web.
Apps and Applets -- Apps and applets are small software applications. They are designed to be much smaller
than regular computer software, but still provide very useful functions. Lately, apps are very popular with
cellphone and mobile platforms; specifically: with the Apple iPhone and the Google Android phone.
Examples of apps: rangefinder GPS for golfing, song identification software, restaurant reviews, pocket video
games, language translators for traveling.
Bookmarks – The address of a Webpage to which you might want to return. Most browser let you store a list
of bookmarks (also called favorites.
Browser -- free software that lets you view web pages, graphics, and most online content. Browser software
is specifically designed to convert HTML and XML into readable documents. The most popular web browsers
in 2012 are: Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
Computer network -- is a group of computers connected to each other electronically. This means that the
computers can "talk" to each other and that every computer in the network can send information to the others
using the same protocol.
Directory – a Web site that specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those link. A web
directory is not a search engine and does not display lists of web pages based on keywords; instead, it lists
web sites by category and subcategory. Most web directory entries are humans.
Download
Downloading is a broad term that describes when you make a personal copy of something you find on the
Internet or World Wide Web. Commonly, downloading is associated with songs, music, and software
files. The larger the file you are copying, the longer the download will take to transfer to your computer. Be
warned: downloading itself is fully legal, as long as you are careful not to download pirated movies and music.
Favorites – A list of files or Webpage addresses you plan to use regularly. Internet Explorer lets you store
these within the browser. The same idea as bookmarks.
Firewall -- software and/or hardware protecting you from hackers and viruses.
Home Page – The entry page or main page of a Web site. Type PlanoLibrary.org into the browser and you will
arrive at the Plano Library System home page. It also refers to the page that you have selected as the page
that you arrive at when you open your browser. Your browser allows you to select this page.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) -- is the language that web pages are written in. HTML commands
your web browser to display text and graphics in orderly fashion. HTML uses commands called HTML tags.
http “hypertext transfer protocol. -- The protocol or language on the Internet that identifies the data being
transferred as belonging to the Web portion of the Internet.
http and https (hypertext transfer protocol and hypertext transfer protocol secure) -- these are the
languages of the Web.
http://www.planotx.org/Pages/
https is 'hypertext transfer protocol SECURED'. This means that the web page has a special layer of
encryption added to hide your personal information and passwords. Whenever you log into your online bank or
your web email account, you should see https at the front of the page address.
Internetwork—, sometimes called a Wide Area Network (because of the wide distance between networks)
connects two or more smaller networks together. The largest internetwork is called the Internet.
IP Address (Internet Protocol address) is a four-part electronic serial number. An IP address looks
something like '202.3.104.55', complete with dot separators. Every computer, cell phone, and device that
accesses the Internet is assigned at least one IP address for tracking purposes. Wherever you browse,
whenever you send an email or instant message, and whenever you download a file, your IP address acts like
a type of automobile license plate to enforce accountability and traceability.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) This is the private company or government organization that connects you to
the Internet. It could be your employer. It could be a company like Verizon or Time Warner. They charge a fee
for this service. Your ISP will offer varying services for varying prices: web page access, email, hosting your
own web page, hosting your own blog, and so on. ISP's will also offer various Internet connection speeds for a
monthly fee. (e.g. ultra high speed Internet vs economy Internet).
Links – A hypertext connection that can take you to another Web document anyplace on the Web or to
another place on the same document.
Local area network -- (often called a LAN) connects two or more computers, and may be called a corporate
network in an office or business setting.
Plugins -- a special kind of web browser add-on. Plugins are essentially required add-ons, if you wish to view
very specialized web pages. Examples include: Adobe Flash or Shockwave player, Microsoft Silverlight
player, Adobe Acrobat pdf reader.
Router -- is the hardware device that acts as the traffic cop for network signals into your home. A router can
be wired or wireless or both. Your router provides both a defense against hackers, and the redirection service
of deciding which specific computer or printer should get which signals in your home. Today many routers are
actually router modem combinations.
Search Engine – A program on a Web server that allows you to search for information on the Web. The most
popular one is Google, Bing and Yahoo are three of the most successful, but there are 1, 000s of them.
URL (Uniform Resource Locators) -- the web browser addresses of Internet pages and files. URL's
commonly use three parts to address a page or file: the protocol (which is the portion ending in '//:'); the host
computer (which sometimes ends in .com); and the filename/page name itself. For example:
Virus – a malicious program that attacks a computer.
Web Portal refers to a Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail,
forums, search engines, and online shopping malls. The first Web portals were online services, such as AOL,
that provided access to the Web, but by now most of the traditional search engines have transformed
themselves into Web portals to attract and keep a larger audience.
Web vs. the Internet -- The Internet is a vast interconnection of computer networks that span the globe. It is
comprised of millions of computing devices that exchange information. Desktop computers, laptops,
mainframes, routers, switches, GPS units, cell phones, car alarms, video game consoles, and even soda pop
machines are connected to the Internet.
The Internet contains many layers of information. These different layers are called protocols. The most
popular protocols are the World Wide Web, FTP, Telnet, instant messaging, and email. Think of a protocol as
a language used by the devices on the Internet. They must all speak the same language. There are several
languages. E-mail has its own language.
The World Wide Web, or 'Web' for short, is the most popular portion of the Internet. The Web is viewed
through web browser software. The Web uses the http and https protocol.
Thus all Web addresses starts with http:// or HTTPS://. This tells the computer and the browser that this is an
address to a Web page or Website.
No single organization owns or controls the Internet. The Internet has grown into a giant organism that is
growing and changing all the time. There are many participants: non-profit, private sector, government,
entrepreneurial and individual users.
Website – A collection of Web pages stored on a Web server. The Web pages can belong to an individual or
an organization.
Wi-Fi -- short for wireless fidelity Used for connecting devices like PCs and Smartphones to the internet
without wires, through a wireless network. Wi-Fi technology is becoming popular as an alternative to a wired
LAN at the home or in the office.
Webpage – a document available on the World Wide Web. It will be written in HTML or XTML so that it can be
read and translated by a browser. Anyone can write a Web page using a text editor.
XML (Exensible Markup Language) -- a cousin to HTML and serves the same function.