Gary Bray Web Design

Jargon Buster

Anti Virus

Anti Virus is a type of software designed to help detect programs that have the potential to harm your computer. These programs are normally sent to your machine by email and through internet downloads.

Brochure

A website known as a brochure is a form of website that gives information rather than an e-commerce website which refers to the buying and selling of goods or services. 

Browser ( Internet )

A software program that allows the user to look at web pages and organise files. Popular browsers include Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

Cookies

Cookies are used to store information about you and your activities when you visit some websites. Cookies are used to remember information about you the next time you visit the site such as login or registration information.

Dialogue Box

A small window that pops up to display or request information. In Windows, Menu options that end with an '�' always open a dialogue box.

Domain Name

A domain name is a specific web site address.  A domain name is a way to identify and locate computers and resources connected to the Internet. For example mine is www.garybray.co.uk

Download

Download describes the process of copying files or information from the internet to a computer.

E-commerce

E-commerce is short for electronic commerce. It refers to the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet.

Ethernet

Ethernet is a coaxial cable used to connect computers, hubs, switches, routers and other computer peripherals. A common method of linking computers into a Local Area Network (LAN).

File

A file is a collection of information that is stored within a computer system. Files can contain many different types of information, including pictures, music, documents and web pages.

Firewall

A system that prevents unauthorised access to a computer over a network, such as the Internet. Firewalls can be either built into a routers hardware, or software installed on a computer.

Folder

A folder is an electronic ‘container’ that allows you to store your files together, making it easier to organise your information on a computer.

Internet

The internet is a global network that connects millions of computers from all over the world.

Java

A special language used to create advanced effects on websites, such as animated sequences and interactive buttons and menus.

Keyword

A word of particular importance on a web page that cab be used by search engines to identify it.

Mailing List

A service provided by special interest groups that sends regular email updates to its (usually free) subscribers.

Network

A way of connecting several computers and printers so that they can share data.

Operating System

A crucial piece of software which is so important that it loads automatically when you switch on a computer. Windows 98, 2000 and XP are operating systems, as is Mac OSX, Linux, and Palm OS5 (for the Palm handheld computer) Operating systems govern the way the hardware and software components in a computer work together.

PCI

An expansion slot for desktop PCs.

Phishing

A form of internet fraud that tries to trick you into revealing personal details.

Right Click

Most actions in Windows are performed by clicking the left mouse button. However, since the arrival of Windows 95, many programs and Windows itself make use of the right mouse button click to display a pop-up menu with special functions.

Search Engine

A site on the net that indexes the names and addresses of other sites. It enables you to search for sites containing certain keywords, or sometimes even to ask a question in normal language.

Server

A computer that delivers information and software to other computers linked by a network.  A host computer on a network that holds information ( e.g., Web sites ) and responds to requests for information from it ( e.g., links to another Web page ). The term server is also used to refer to the software that makes the act of serving information possible.

Spam

Junk email sent to large groups of people offering such things as money-spinning ideas, holidays, and so on.  Slang name for Unsolicited Commercial Email ( UCE ).

Spyware

Software installed to monitor and report back on a computer's use.

Upload

To transfer a file from a desktop computer onto a web server or to transmit a file of data from your computer to another computer.

USB

A standard that enables connection of external peripherals such as storage devices, printers, scanners to your PC or laptop.

Web Hosting

While web pages are designed and developed on a single computer, they must be transferred to a server, or host, so that they are available to the rest of the world over the Internet. A host is simply a computer that has a constant, high speed connection to the Internet.  We can provide web hosting for our customers.

Wi-Fi

A name for the 802.11b or 802.11g standards for wireless networking devices.  Wireless Fidelity.

Windows

The operating system found on virtually all modern PCs. It allows you to control your computer and to run programs that let you perform particular tasks.