Acrobat Reader Adobe's software package for storing and displaying electronic documents so that they retain their formatting. It is now a standard method of storing and viewing certain documents on the Internet.

Alta Vista A popular and free search engine on the World Wide Web.

Applets Small programmes incorporated into Web pages for various special visual and/or aural effects.

ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) In 1969 the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency created an experimental network called ARPANET. This network provided a test-bed for emerging network technologies.

ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

Auto-responder A software package that enables a standard message or file to be sent back in response to an e-mail message. Auto-responders are very useful for reducing the workload of sending out standard messages and forms.

Bookmark A feature of a Web browser that saves a Web page's address in a log. Permits quick reference to frequently visited or favourite sites.

Browser A software programme used for viewing and reading documents on the World Wide Web.

Bulletin Board System (BBS) Electronic services designed to meet the needs of people with shared interests or who want easy access to shareware and to exchange general news and information.

Chat A telecommunications system that permits two or more people to use their keyboards to communicate in 'real time' and engage in written conversations viewed on their monitor.

Common Gateway Interface (CGI) A standard method of integrating software packages such as databases and spreadsheets with World Wide Web pages.

Counter A software programme that tracks the number of accesses or hits to a web page.

Cyberspace The virtual space in which electronic communication by computer takes place, including the physical and metaphysical residence of e-mail, websites, and other Internet communications methods.

Domain name The part of the Internet address that identifies the specific organisation being communicated with.

Download To copy or move a file from a computer on the Internet or computer network to your computer.

E - mail (electronic mail) A method of sending text messages and other computer files from one computer to other computer via the Internet or a computer network.

Encryption Disguising messages for security purposes which permit only the sender and receiver to read them.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) A list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions posted to Internet related documents to assist new participants.

Flame An electronic message that contains abusive, denigrating, threatening, or inciting language, and is often directed to those deemed by the sender to have violated the informal rules of Internet conduct.

Frames An HTML technique for displaying independent multiple areas within a Web page.

Freenet A type of Bulletin Board Service (BBS) that provides free (usually), community-based information and downloadable files, and inexpensive or free access to the Internet and e-mail.

Freeware Software programmes that are available free for public use.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) A standard for exchanging files over the Internet.

Gateway A computer or computer system which acts as a link between two different computer networks enabling file exchange between them.

GIF (Graphic Image File) The Most popular format for graphics files on the World Wide Web.

Gopher A text-only, menu-based system that helps find files, programmes, and other resources on the Internet.

Hit A count each time someone visits a Web page. The term also refers to the number of matches a search engine accesses in response to a search term.

Home Page The default World Wide Web page that is loaded when the browser is first started.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) A Programming language for World Wide Web pages which consists of coded tag pairs using symbols form the ASCII character set, formatting documents for the World Wide Web.

Hyperlink Part of a Web page that is written so that clicking on it takes the viewer to another Web Page.

Internet The system in which millions of computers world 'wide are linked for the purpose of electronic communication and information retrieval and exchange.

Internet Explorer The World Wide Web browser provided by Microsoft.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) An on-line version of citizens band radio that permits real time communication over the Internet.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) A business that makes the Internet accessible to consumers.

Intranet An internal computer network within an organisation which uses Internet tools and programmes for private use and restricted access only.

IP address The Numerical address that is unique to a computer and forms the basis of its domain name, which is converted from the IP address.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) A type of telecommunications cable that permits data transfer at several times the speed of conventional modems.

Java A programming language that supports animations and other sophisticated special effects on World Wide Web pages.

JPEG(Joint Photographic Expert Group) A format for World Wide Web page graphics.

Leased line/dedicated line A private telephone line that is permanently connected to the Internet. This differs from a dial-up link which uses the line only for the duration of the telephone call.

Link A reference to a file or Web page placed in an HTML document that, when clicked on using an Internet browser, takes the viewer directly to that Web page or file.

Lycos A popular, free search engine on the Internet.

Mailing Lists A system that permits Internet users to subscribe to an e-mail discussion group that is topical, and to post a message that will be automatically sent to all other subscribers of that list.

Majordomo A software programme that runs a mailing list.

Microsoft Network (MSN) Microsoft's on-line service, renamed as the 'MSN Internet Online Service'.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) A protocol which specific how non-textual messages can be sent using e-mail.

Mosaic The first World Wide Web browser.

Netiquette Internet etiquette comprised of set of mostly informal rules that have developed in the Internet culture and serve as rules of conduct.

Netscape Navigator One of the most popular World Wide Web browser used on the Internet.

Network Solutions The organisation currently responsible for the assignment of .com, .org, .edu and .net domains.

Newsgroup Topic specific discussion groups on the Internet, where people of similar interests share their opinions.

Newsreader Software that enables you to access newsgroup.

NSF (National Science Foundation) Federally funded group which supported the development of the Internet outside the confines of the ARPANET, it has now withdrawn financial support from the Internet backbone, turning it over completely to commercial entities.

PoP (Point of Presence) A connection point to your Internet Service Provider.

POP (Post Office Protocol) A standard method of storing e-mail on your Internet Service Provider's server until you connect to your ISP and the e-mail is automatically downloaded.

Post Send a message to a Usenet newsgroup.

PPP (Point to Point Protocol) A standard method by which a computer can connect to the Internet using a telephone line and modem.

Protocol A set of technical standards that permit two different types of computer systems to interconnect.

Public Domain Intellectual property that is not copyright and can freely copied and distributed, without obtaining permission from or paying royalties to the creator.

Search engine An interactive index or directory of the Web which is searched to find keywords or phrases entered by the user.

Shareware Computer programmes that are made available free charge on a trail basis with an address to send a fee, if the user wishes to continue using it.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) An Internet protocol electronic mail service.

Spams/spamming An on-line version of junk mail.

Surf Navigating through the World Wide Web by following interesting links.

Telnet A protocol that permits computers to access a remote computer using telephone lines.

UNIX A computer operating system used mainly by mainframe computers.

URL (uniform resource locator) A unique address on the Internet for each Web Page.

Usenet A huge group of computer systems that exchange discussions on thousands of topics called 'newsgroups' amounting to a global messaging or bulletin board system.

Uuencode A programme that allows the coding of binary data as text so that it can be included in electronic mail, it then has to be uudecoded once it is received.

Virus A computer programme designed as a prank or as deliberate sabotage, uploaded by deception, which then modifies or destroys the victim's computer capabilities.

WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) A methods of searching across databases via the Internet.

Web Page An individual file or document at a website which has a unique address and can be accessed by typing the address into a browser or by clicking on the hypertext link for that address.

Website A collection of related and linked web pages stored on a server which represents information on a company, organisation or other group or interest.

Webmaster The individual who designs or administers a website.

Whois A programme for searching for e-mail addresses.

World Wide Web/www/web A hypertext based system for storing and retrieving information in text, graphic, sound and/or video form which can then be presented and accessed by using a web browser or individual website address.

Yahoo! A popular Internet search engine and directory

Zip A common file format for compressing computer files for storage, they must be unzipped before they can be used