Computer Jargon

F

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - a collection of common questions and answers on a particular subject.

File

A document or software program.

Filename extension

Commonly a three or four-letter extension on the end of a file name designating the file type. Eg html (Web page), .txt (text file), .gif (Graphics Interchange Format).

Firewall

Secures a PC from external access, notably from hackers.

Flame

An insulting message exchanged via email or within newsgroups. A series of flames are known as flame wars.

Forms

A form on a web page can be filled in by users and the information sent electronically to the relevant website.

Freeware

Software that is available for download and unlimited use without charge. Compare to shareware.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol - a set of rules for exchanging files between computers via the internet. An FTP Site is that which is provided by a company or organisation as a depository for all kinds of files, which users may download.

G

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format - a common image format. Most images seen on web pages are GIF files.

Gigabyte

One gigabyte is a thousand megabytes.

H

Hacker

A skilled programmer who breaks into other computers or networks. Some hackers are harmless and just do it for a challenge, but others are just plain crooked.

Hard disk

The part of a computer which stores files and software programs, also known as hard drive.

Header

The part of an email message indicating who the sender is and some other brief details, such as the subject of the message.

Hit

A term used to describe when someone looks at a web page. For example: "My Web page got 15,000 hits yesterday".

Home page

The first page of a website. Also, the website that automatically loads each time you launch your browser.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language: a tagging language typically used in the development of web pages. Allows pictures and text to be combined to create web documents, and the most important feature - hypertext - making it possible for links to be made between different documents.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol - a set of instructions for communication between a server and a World Wide Web client.

Hyperlink

In web pages, hyperlinks are highlighted text or images which, when selected (usually by clicking the mouse button), follow a link to another page. Can be within the same document/page or two totally different documents.

I

Icon

A small graphic on the desktop or in a window (which you generally double-click on to open).

Instant messaging

High-speed chat program that lets you instantly exchange messages with friends or colleagues. Popular programs include Microsoft's MSN Messenger.

Internet

The collection of all the interconnected networks in the world, and is often simply referred to as the 'net'.

Internet Explorer

The worlds most popular web browser.

IP Address

Internet Protocol Address - every computer on the internet has a unique identifying number, like 191.1.24.2.

ISP

Internet Service Provider - the company which provides you with a connection to the Internet via either a Dial-up Connection or broadband connection. Supanet is one such company.

J

JPEG

(Joint Photographic Experts Group) a standard of image compression developed especially for use on the internet. Most photographic images can be highly compressed using this method, without greatly diminishing image quality.