Computer Terminology

Computer Terminology describes words and phrases that are used to describe computers, computer accessories and the Internet. While a lot of the words are also used in normal, everyday conversation, many are unique to the world of computing and the Internet. There are words we use in normal everyday language that have a whole new meaning in the computer world. An Internet cookie is certainly something you would not want to put in your mouth and, at the same time, a delicious chocolate chip cookie is not something you'd want in your computer.

Address - A series of letters and numbers that identify a location. On the Internet, typing an address into your browser allows you to receive information from (visit) a website. The address for this website is http://www.onlinelittlerock.com. It's not always necessary to type in the http://.

In essence, your computer is asking the "world of computers" for information. The address states that the information you want uses hyper text transfer protocol on the World Wide Web at the address onlinelittlerock found in the com domain.

Attachment - This is a file that has been added to an email. It could be something like a photograph or a document or a song clip or computer software of some kind. Caution should be used when you receive an email attachment. If you do not recognize the sender, it is best to not open the attachment because it could contain something harmful to your computer. If you are the super curious sort, don't open the attachment. Send a reply to the email and simply ask the sender to identify themselves.

Blacklisting Software - A form of filtering software that blocks only sites you specify as being ones you do not want to visit. You can add and remove sites from this "no-go" list. This method of filtering allows for more full use of the Internet, but is less efficient at preventing access to harmful material that is not on the list. See the article on Parental Controls.

Blocking Software - Computer programs that block access to web sites or other services available over the Internet. This differs from blacklisting software because you can choose categories or levels rather than specific websites.

Blog - An online journal. You can post stories about yourself or thoughts just like you would in a personal journal. Blogs have become a very popular way for people to exchange information on the Internet. Always remember that the Internet is a very public place. Be very careful about posting personal information. Never post your phone numbers, home address, logons or passwords. Be sure to read our Internet Password Protection Article.

Bookmark - A way to quickly access a favorite web site by saving it in your browser. AOL users can click on a red heart to bookmark a site. Internet Explorer users can click on the "Add to Favorites" item on the navigation bar at the top of the screen.

Browser - A program that allows users to view web pages. Firefox/Mozilla and Microsoft^® Internet Explorer are the most popular browsers. At Online Little Rock, over 95% of our site visitors use Internet Explorer.

Bulletin Board Service (BBS) - A place where people can post messages on a particular topic. This is an old term that has pretty much been replaced by the terms “forum”, "blog" and "group". Internet Chat Room is another term used. Parents should read the section highlighted below.

CD-ROM - It stands for "compact-disk, read-only memory." It is a type of disk that usually holds up to 750 megabytes of information. Most software that you buy come on CD-ROM to be put into your CD-ROM drive for installation. You can also save information to a CD-ROM in order to load it onto a different computer with a CD-Writer. Most modern computers have CD-Write capabilities. Some computer games are on CD, but most have moved to the newer DVD technology.

CDRW - This is used to describe a Compact Disk drive on your computer that has both Read and Write capabilities.

Chat - Real-time communication over the Internet. You type and send messages that appear almost instantly on the computer monitors of the other people who are participating in the chat. This is also called Instant Messaging. AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Messenger are two popular chat programs. See section highlighted above.

Chatroom - An interactive forum where you can talk in real-time. The chatroom is the place or location online where the chat is taking place. Many chatrooms are established so that people can discuss a common interest like music or movies. There are many, many adult related chatrooms and, of course, chatrooms have been identified as places where bad people lurk for children. Extreme caution should be used when visiting chatrooms. It is very easy for someone to embed a photo or sexually explicit advertisement in a chatroom message.

Cookie - A small file that is downloaded by some web sites to store a packet of information on your browser. These packets include information such as login or registration identification, user preferences, and online "shopping-cart" information. Your browser saves the information and sends it back when you return to that web site. Cookies can be used to customize the display you see through the browser or keep track of the different pages within the site that you visited. You can configure your browser to alert you when a cookie is being sent. You can refuse to accept cookies (not recommended) or erase all cookies saved on your browser. Refusal to accept cookies will severely hamper your ability to shop online More information about cookies can be found on the main Computer Help Desk page.

Cyberspace - This refers to all the computer networks on the Internet. There are hundreds of millions of websites in cyberspace. The term distinguishes the physical world from the computer-based world similar to the difference between a brick-and-mortar store and a cyberstore, or online store. It was cute in the beginning but most people now call the Internet...the Internet.

DVD – Digital Video Disk is able to hold more information than a CDROM, which enables the bigger files to produce better graphic quality. DVD movies can be viewed on your computer and your television. DVD games have taken game players to new heights. DVD drives have become commonplace on newer computers, and are also available with writing capabilities.

Discussion Group - A group of people who exchange information about a common topic. You will find discussion group members heavily participating in chatrooms, blogs, forums and groups provided by AOL, MSN and Yahoo. Many companies and industries make forums available for their members or customers.

Domain - This refers to specific areas of the Internet and will follow the domain name in the address line. COM, NET, ORG, GOV, INFO are the more popular ones. Each has a specific purpose. This site is http://www.onlinelittlerock.com.

Domain Name - This is the individual registered address of a website. Each website must have its own domain name address. For this site, the domain name is http://www.onlinelittlerock.com.

Download - Putting information on your computer that did not originate you. Downloading usually refers to getting something from the Internet. A family member sends you a photo attached to an email. You then download that photo to your computer. Most software today can be purchased online and downloaded immediately to your computer. The same is true for music, movies and ebooks (electronic books).

Email (electronic mail) - A service that allows people to send messages with pictures and sounds from their computer to any other computer in the world. To send someone an email message you need an email account and know the other person's email address.

Now you may think this information about email is pretty elementary but don't forget the television commercial of the woman asking her mailman if he had any email for her.

Emoticons - Animated faces that express different emotions you can send in emails, chat, and Instant Messaging. Emoticons are a way to show someone online how you are feeling. Remember the old days when people typed :) as a smiley face in their messages or ;) to wink at you. Well, yes, people still use the typed expressions but you can now insert a small picture.

Filtering Software - Filtering software is designed to prevent unwanted Internet content including whitelisting, blacklisting, monitoring activity, keyword recognition, or blocking-specific functions such as email or Instant Messages. See the Parental Controls article for more information.

Firewall - This is a computer program that creates a special "wall" between your computer and the Internet. The purpose of a firewall is to prevent viruses, worms, trojan horses and unwanted people like hackers from accessing your personal computer. Please refer to the article about protecting your computer from these attacks.

Flaming - Sending a deliberately confrontational message to others on the Internet. This is not a nice thing to do.

Flash - Refers to Macromedia Flash™. This is a program that allows website designers to create animated content for web pages. For the site visitors to see Flash content they must have this program on their computer. Flash content is growing more and more popular as personal computer technology improves. Faster processors (CPU) and increased amounts of RAM (random access memory) have improved flash performance.

Forum – An Internet message board where users can post questions or answers about specific issues.

Gamer - A person who plays online or computer games.

Hacker - A popular term for someone who accesses computer information they are not supposed to access. This can be done either legally or illegally. Usually, the term refers to the person who breaks into a site illegally.

Hard Copy - This is the printed or paper copy of a file from your computer.

Hardware - Components that help a computer work such as the keyboard, monitor, mouse, CDROM, DVD, printer, modem and the parts inside the computer box like the CPU.

Home Page - The web page you see when you access the Internet, or the main page of any web site.

Hyperlinks - An image or a portion of text that, when clicked, takes you to a another location in a document or website or to a different website. The "back to top" is a document hyperlink that takes you back to the top of the page you're viewing. Above in the left column is an internal link to Sitemap that takes you to a page that describes the different sections and documents of this website. The external link "Shop Target.com " takes you to a different website.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) - This is a coded format language used for creating Internet documents and controlling how they appear. Those documents could be a simple email message or a website. HTML is the basic language. XHTML is what you might call the new and improved version.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) - The standard method computers use to communicate on the Internet.

Icons - Small pictures that represent the programs on your computer.

Inbox - A file or folder in your email program that holds and lists the email you receive.

Instant Messaging (IM) - A service that allows people to send and get messages almost instantly. This was also discussed above in "chat". You've probably heard people say, "IM me about the party," or whatever. Or, "They're IMing me to death." "Message me," is another phrase that means the same as IM me.

Internet - A network of hundreds of millions of computers from all over the world. The Internet allows computers to trade information using telephone lines, fiber-optic cables, and satellite links. It is also referred to as the Net or Cyberspace.

Internet Predator - The most common usage of this term is to describe people who prowl Internet Chat Rooms looking for vulnerable young people whom they can befriend to the point of meeting (usually for sex). Be sure to read our Internet Predator Section.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) - A company that provides Internet access to customers. AOL, MSN and Comcast are three examples.

Intranet - A private network inside a company or an organization with which employees or customers can access information not available to the general public.

Java™ - A computer language used to create programs that can be viewed on the Internet and involves the use of applets. Javascript is a simpler form of Java™. The purpose is to make interactive features available on a web page like the Amber Alert on our Home Page. The Amber Alert information is fed directly to Online Little Rock from the national alert center automatically when an alert is issued.

Keyboard - A computer attachment with keys that you use to enter information into the computer. It should be cleaned regularly to prevent keys from sticking.

Keylogger - See article about Internet Password Protection.

Keyword - The word(s) you use when looking for information on the Internet using a search engine or directory such as Google, MSN or Yahoo. There are ways to get more satisfying results when you perform a search. Those are covered in the article, "Searching the Internet."

Modem - A hardware device that allows computers to communicate with each other by transmitting signals over telephone lines or cable. Modems come in different speeds. The most common dial-up modem runs at 56K bps (56,000 bits per second). Broadband modems like DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or Cable generally have two speeds: sending and receiving (aka uploading and downloading).

A typical sending speed (you sending to someone else) is 128K bps while a typical receiving speed is 512K bps (512,000 bits per second). A cable modem generally has an upload speed of 256K bps and a download speed of 3 million bits per second. The higher the speed, the faster the data transmission.

Each modem type has drawbacks. A dial-up modem either requires a second phone line into your house or, you cannot talk on the phone while on the computer. DSL allows you to do both on the same line but its performance degrades the further your house is located from the central phone network. A cable television company offers Internet access by designating a "channel" to it. So, instead of your computer seeing the evening news on Channel 10 you get Internet Access on Channel XX at the same megahertz processing as the TV channel. However, as more and more people on your cable sign up for Internet service, you find yourself sharing the channel with them which could slow down your Internet activity.

Monitor - Similar to a television screen, a monitor allows you to see information on your computer as long as it's plugged in and turned on. Before you call for service, make sure everything is plugged into an electrical outlet and turned on.

Monitoring Software - Software products that allow parents to monitor or track the web sites or email messages that a child visits or reads. In depth information about this type of software can be found at our Consumer Help Desk.

Mouse - A computer attachment that allows you to move the cursor (usually shaped like an arrowhead) and make selections on your computer screen.

MP3 - A digital music file. MP3s allow you to play music on your computer or MP3 player. Walkers, joggers, folks at the fitness center use MP3 players to take their mind off what they're doing to their bodies. Many musical artists provides MP3 samples of their music over the Internet. Development of MP3 music revolutionized the music industry.

Multimedia - A combination of different types of programs that allow you to see graphics, animation, and text at the same time. Modern computers are multimedia computers with sound and video cards built in. This is a technology that continues to get better and better which greatly increases the entertainment value of computers.

Navigate - The act of moving from page to page and website to website online. It is also called browsing or surfing. And it's very similar to navigating a car through traffic.

Network - A network is created when computers are connected, allowing people to share information. A network can be as small as two computers connected together or as large as the Internet.

Newsgroups - Internet discussion groups that are subject-specific. Participants in a newsgroup conduct discussions by posting messages for others to read. They also respond to the messages posted by others. It's like a community bulletin board where you can post comments or questions and get answers.

Online - Your computer is online if it is actively connected to the Internet. Otherwise, it is said to be offline. Both DSL and Cable connections allow your computer to be online all the time.

Outbox - This is a file or folder in your email program where all of the messages that you send are kept. It can also be called a Sent folder. You probably need to clean it out every once in awhile.

Password - The secret word you use when signing onto your computer, the Internet or an online service that helps to confirm your identity. Never give your password to anyone. Please read our Password Management Section to learn how you can better protect yourself and your family.

Photo Terms - We have a separate section that includes information about Internet photos: compression differences, formats, sharing with others and more. Click here for our Photo Help Desk.

Plug-in - A program that extends the capabilities of your browser. Flash, Java, Quicktime, Real Media, and Swish are examples of plug-ins. Do you need them? Yes. Can they make the Internet more fun? Yes.

Privacy Policy - Fair, honest, legitimate, above-board websites have a Privacy Policy posted that tells you what they do with any information they collect about you. It is illegal for any website to collect information about someone under the age of 13 without parental permission. Click here to see the Online Little Rock Privacy Policy.

Search Engine - A program that searches information on the World Wide Web by looking for specific keywords and returns a list of information found on that topic. There are hundreds of search engines available to use. Google is the best known, but I've found MSN and Yahoo to return more relevant results. Get more information from our Searching the Internet article.

Software - Programs that help your computer work. For example, Microsoft Word is a software program for document creation. Quicken is a financial management software program. Think of your computer without software as a car without an engine. Neither can operate without that additional part.

Spam - How to define spam? Actually there is an official definition espoused by the U. S. government in the CANSPAM Act of 2003 that became effective January 1, 2004. Then there's the definition of everyone who has an email account. We tend to think of spam in the same terms as telemarketing phone calls and vacuum cleaner salesmen knocking on the door. You and I think of spam as unwanted email trying to sell us something. You and I are incorrect, but I will not lay out the entire Act here.

Spyware - Read this article for more information.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL - called "earl") - The specific location or address of material on the Internet. See Address above.

U S B - Universal Serial Bus ports come on all modern computers. They were designed to end the headache of slower serial ports and parallel ports. Read the article about Universal Serial Bus Ports.

Virus - A computer program that can destroy files or make your computer "crash." Viruses can be sent via email or through other file-sharing programs. Read the article entitled Virus, Worm and Trojan Horse? for more information about how you can protect yourself.

Warez - Pirated or illegally distributed software.

Website - A collection of pages or files linked together and available on the Internet.

Webmaster - the person responsible for administering a website. Other people may actually build the site; still others may be responsible for the content.

Whitelisting - A form of filtering that only allows connections to a preapproved list of sites. You can also whitelist email addresses by adding them to your address book. Doing so prevents your email program from thinking it's spam.

Zip File - Large files that have been compressed to make them easier to send over the Internet. The receiver must download the file with a program that will unzip it, breaking it up into the individual files that were compressed together in order to view the files. For example, if you want to send a member of your family some photographs, you can zip them all together into one file to make it easier to send. Read our article about file compression and zipping and unzipping files.

Computer Terminology

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