CACHE MEMORY - A cache is a memory medium that provides faster access than the medium where the data is customarily stored.

CD-ROM - Compact Disk, Read-Only Memory. A form of data storage that uses laser optics rather than magnetic means for reading data.

CGI - Common Gateway Interface. These are programs that can be activiated by the viewer by clicking on the specific URL. CGI scripts are cross-platform and create interactivity on a web page. An example is a guest book.

CLIP ART - Graphic images or files that can be imported to word processing and desktop publishing documents are called electronic clip art. Clip art for computers, just as in the printing and art industry, is available in various graphics file formats.

CLONE - The term clone most often refers to a computer system that resembles one of IBM's personal computers. Shortly after IBM introduced the PC, clones appeared on the market claiming to be IBM-compatible.

CODE - Is often used as slang for program languages. It is often used by individuals that write HTML, but HTML is not a program language.

COM PORT - A COM port is a communications channel or pathway over which data is transferred between remote computing devices. Microcomputers operating under DOS or Windows can have as many as four COM ports, COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. These COM ports are actually serial ports most often used with a modem to establish a communications channel over the telephone lines. The COM ports are also used to send data to a serial printer or to connect a serial mouse.

CPU - Central Processing Unit. Every computer has a Central Processing Unit. The CPU is the portion of a computer where instructions are fetched, decoded, and executed. Today's CPUs for microcomputers are contained in chips small enough to fit easily in the palm of one's hand.

CRASH - The sudden, unexpected cessation of operation of a program or of the computer.

CRT - Cathode Ray Tube; an older term for the video display unit, or monitor.

CURRENT DRIVE - The disk drive currently accessed by your computer. It is displayed in the prompt, such as C> or A>. C stands for the first hard drive and A stands for the floppy drive (in most cases). (If the computer has two floppy drives, A represents the first drive and B represents the second.) UNIX names multiple drives, or can treat additional drives as sub directories of the first one.

CURSOR - A short blinking line or box that appears on the monitor either underneath or just in front of the space where the next character is to be typed or deleted.

DATABASE - A collection of information organized for easy retrieval. Databases are organized in to a hierarchy of files, records, and fields.

DEFAULT -A state assumed to be true by the computer unless contrary instructions are given.

DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP) - One of the fastest-growing applications in personal computing. Desktop Publishing software offers a relatively inexpensive way for a PC to generate typeset-quality text and graphics.

DEVICE DRIVER - A program loaded by the CONFIG.SYS file or AUTOEXEC.BAT file that controls devices such as a mouse or CD-ROM drive.

DIALOG BOX - An on-screen box found in graphical user interfaces which provides users with information and explains limited options.

DIRECTORY - A directory is an area on a disk for storing files. Directories consist of files and/or subdirectories. A directory listing will show the names of files and sub directories subordinate to that directory along with file sizes, creation dates and times. Each formatted disk contains a main directory also called the root directory. In DOS, the most common hard disk root directory is referred to as "C:/" or just "C:".

DISK DRIVE - the mechanical apparatus, consisting of a shaft and motor for rotating the disk, and a magnetizing head for reading/writing the disk.

DISKETTE - A flat piece of flexible plastic covered with a magnetic coating which is used to store data (also called a FLOPPY DISKETTE). The former standard for diskette size was 5.25 inch; they were truly flexible, hence the descriptor "floppy". Newer 3.5 inch diskettes are encased in a hard plastic coating (which makes them more durable).

DLLs - Dynamically Linked Libraries. DLLs are libraries of object files or executable code modules available to programmers writing code for the Microsoft Windows operating environment.

DNS - Domain Name System. The database for translating IP addresses in verbal format into numeric format.

DOS - Disk Operating System. Software that translates the user's commands and allows application programs to interact with the computer's hardware.

DRIVER - A software program that allows the operating system to work with a specific hardware device like a printer, a mouse, or trackball.

FILE - A collection of information treated as a unit by the computer; it may contain text, data, or executable programs.

FILENAME EXTENSIONS - In DOS, filenames are from 1 to 8 characters long and can be followed by an optional short tag called an extension. An extension starts with a period, has 1, 2, or 3 characters, and follows immediately after the filename. The following are examples of extensions used to identify the type of data or the format of data to be found in the file.

.EXE Executable program, used to run a program.

.COM Executable program, also usually used to run a program.

.BAT A batch file consisting of a series of commands.

.SYS A system file, often a device driver.

.TXT Usually a text (ASCII) file created with a text editor.

FLAME -A rude and usually largely personal negative response on a list serve or posting service.

FORMAT - To prepare a disk or diskette so it can store information. Formatting organizes the tracks and sectors that store information. When one formats a disk, any information already stored on it is erased.

FORTRAN - Formula translation. A high-level programming language, most widely used for scientific and engineering applications because it has excellent mathematical functions.

FTP - File Transfer Protocol. The standard for file transmission between computers using a TCP connection. Programs that accomplish the transfer are called FTP programs.

FUNCTION KEYS - Keys that act as shortcuts for performing certain functions, such as saving or printing data. These keys are labelled F1 through F10 (or F12) and they run across the top or down the side of the keyboard. Some keyboards allow you to program these keys for any application, but they are usually controlled by the software running.

GIF - Graphics Interchange Format Early in 1987, CompuServe's graphics engineers introduced this protocol as a standard for exchanging raster-based images among various computers. GIF can handle up to 256 simultaneous colors, and uses a sophisticated data compression method to reduce the file size to less than half, saving in download time. It is one of two standard formats for display of images on the World Wide Web. The other is .jpeg or .jpg.

GIGABYTE - One Gigabyte equals 1 kilobyte times 1 megabyte. 'Giga' is a binary equivalent to the U.S. decimal unit 'billion'.

GOPHER - A menu-based system for exploring Internet resources; so named both because it originated at the University of Minnesota, home of the Golden Gophers, and because one uses it to "go fer" stuff.

GUI - Graphical User Interface. Pronounced "gooey." A GUI is a user-friendly alternative to character-based interfaces such as DOS or UNIX. GUIs allow the user to point at a list of command options or click on an icon, instead of typing a character-based command. Two of the more popular GUIs for PCs are Microsoft(R) Windows and OS/2. UNIX has both X-Window and Open GL interfaces.

HARD COPY - Information on paper as opposed to a CRT or diskette.

HARD DISK - A data storage device for personal computers that consists of a rigid platter that is fixed inside a sealed case. A hard disk can store more information and retrieve data faster than a diskette.

HTML - HyperText Markup Language. The formatting language in which display pages for the World Wide Web are created. The formatting instructs the browser about how to display the information. In many ways, an HTML document resembles a word processed document from the days before WYSIWYG. For example, words to be italicized are preceded by <I> and followed by </I>.

HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol. The protocol (agreed-upon standard) describing how HTML documents are to be transmitted from one computer to another over the Internet.

ICON - A visual symbol used to represent programs or documents in a GUI. For example, in a DOS interface you see LETTER.DOC in a directory listing. In a GUI, you'd see a little picture (such as a piece of paper and pen) representing the same document.

INKJET PRINTER - This type of printer uses a print head which has a series of little nozzles. In each nozzle, the ink heats up, and bubbles. When the bubbles burst, ink sprays out onto the print surface.

INPUT - What goes into a computer.

INPUT DEVICES - A piece of computer hardware (the keyboard and the mouse being the most popular examples) that is used to enter and manipulate information on a computer. Other input devices include, but are not limited to, Light Pens, Graphics Tablets, and trackballs.

INTERNET - Millions of computers all around the world sending information to each other.

IP ADDRESS - The identifier for a site on the Internet. It is expressed as a multiply dotted number (e.g., .111.58.95)

ISP-Internet Service Provider has a very fast connection to the internet which you can log on to. This is not to be confused with online services.

JAVA - A programing language created by Sun MicroSystems. A good example of this is the Lake Applet. The advantage of Java is it is cross platform. As long as you have a browser that is java enabled any type of computer will be able to see it.

JAVASCRIPT - A programing language that makes it possible to create interactivity on a web page. This was developed jointly between Sun Microsystems and Netscape.

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group. This is the best graphics format to use for photographs. JPEGs support many more colors than GIFs.

JOYSTICK - When connected to a computer via a cable, it can provide positional information for the movement of the cursor on a video display screen. Primarily used by video games.

KB - KILOBYTE - A unit of measure for computer memory or storage equivalent to approximately one thousand (1,024) bytes. Image file sizes are referred to in KBs.

LAN - Local Area Network - When two or more computers are linked together for the purpose of sharing information and/or peripheral devices, a network is created. When the network is confined to a geographically restricted area, such as within the same building or perhaps on a college campus, it is referred to as a Local Area Network. There are three types of data transmission media used on most of today's LANs: a twisted-pair of wires, coaxial cable, and the newest, fiber optical cable.

LASER PRINTER - A computer printer that uses the electrophotograhic method of printing with a laser beam as the light source.

LINKS - Words in a web page that act as pointers to more information. Links are sometimes underlined and a different color.

LOAD - To transfer information from mass storage (disk) into memory.

LOOP - A section of a program that is executed repeatedly until some condition is met.

MAINFRAME - Large computers are referred to as mainframes. More precisely, the mainframe is the piece of equipment on large computers that contains the CPU. The term 'mainframe' is really a holdover from the days when most computer systems occupied the space of several rooms. There really was a main frame, and several secondary frames or large rack and panel cabinets that held thousands of vacuum tubes.

MASS STORAGE - Non-memory storage for data. Floppies are mass storage.

MB - MEGABYTE, A unit of measure for computer memory or storage equivalent to approximately one million (1,048,576) bytes.

MEMORY - The area where your computer stores data. Data can be permanently stored in ROM (Read Only Memory) or stored temporarily in the computer's RAM (Random Access Memory). A computer's RAM storage space is emptied when the power is turned off; whereas ROMs will retain information with no power.

MENU - A list of available services or functions provided by an application program. One selects an option by using a mouse or arrow key to highlight it, and clicking the mouse or pressing Enter. Most menus are pull-down menus located at the top of the screen, and the options for a particular heading appear when that category is selected.

MHz - megahertz is a unit of frequency measurement. One Hertz (Hz) is equal to one cycle per second. 1 Megahertz is one million electrical vibration cycles per second.

MICROPROCESSOR - A single large-scale integrated circuit containing all of the central processing functions of a computer.

MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface. An interface card or adapter board for connecting a musical instrument to a microcomputer is called a MIDI Adapter.

MIME - Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. An encoding scheme for allowing non-ASCII data, such as word processor formatting, to be included in an e-mail message.

MODEM - Modulator-demodulator. A piece of computer hardware that allows a computer to communicate with other computers via a telephone line.

MONITOR - the part of the computer containing the video display unit; so called because it allows you to monitor processes visually. Previously referred to as a CRT

MOTHERBOARD - The printed circuit board that is the foundation of a PC or workstation system. This board contains the computer's CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory) chips and expansion slots that enable one to add more functions/features to the machine.

MOUSE - A device about the size of the palm of your hand that one rolls around on a flat, smooth surface to move the computer's cursor (pointer) quickly over the screen. As the mouse moves, a plastic ball on the bottom creates signals that move the cursor on the screen. Clicking the buttons on the mouse sends signals equivalent to those that are generated by various keyboard combinations. For example, clicking the left button rapidly twice in succession usually is equivalent to pressing the Enter key. So named because its slender connecting cable reminded someone of a mouse's hairless tail.

MOUSE-OVER - The effect that occurs when you move your mouse over an image on a web page. To create this effect you need to employ javascript.

MULTIMEDIA - The presentation of information on a computer using a combination of sound, still graphics, animation and video.

NETWORK - When two or more computers are linked together for the purpose of sharing information and/or peripheral devices, a network is created.

ONLINE SERVICE - A dial-up service that provides news, information and discussion. It is easiest to think of online services as mini communities. Examples are: AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe.

OPERATING SYSTEM - The master control program that translates the user's commands and allows application programs to interact with the computer's hardware. The most common operating systems are Windows/DOS, OS/2 and UNIX.

OUTPUT - What comes out of a computer or program.

PARALLEL PORT - A parallel port is an electrical channel to which a peripheral device, such as a printer, can be connected.

PATH - The route that tells DOS or UNIX where to search for a program or batch file if it is not found in the current directory.

PORT - Either a number that identifies a particular Internet application with which communication is desired, as in "telnet to port 1000"; or an actual physical input/output channel on the computer.

PROMPT - A request by the computer for input.

PROTOCOL - A protocol is a set of rules governing the communication and the transfer of data between two or more devices.

RAM - Random Access Memory. Also referred to as dynamic or volatile memory, in that data is stored in RAM only temporarily. A computer's RAM storage space is emptied when the power is turned OFF.

ROM - Read-Only Memory - Also referred to as permanent or non-volatile memory, in that the data stored in ROM is permanent or not effected by a power loss. The computer's BIOS is stored in ROM.

ROOT DIRECTORY - The root directory is the base level of the directory structure. Branching from the root are various sub directories, each of which can contain one or more files and sub directories of its own. Individual files can also reside at the root directory level. In DOS, the root directory of every disk drive is identified with the back slash character (/) and is the main directory on that drive. For example, C:/ represents the root directory of drive C:.

SCANNER - A scanner is a peripheral device for capturing graphic images from a page and converting the data into a binary code. Once captured, the image can be edited with a painting program, pasted into a desktop publishing document, or sent over the telephone lines with a facsimile device.

SCREEN RESOLUTION - Generally refers to the resolution of most monitors. 72 dpi is a generally agreed upon average.

SERIAL PORT - A serial port is a communication channel to which a peripheral device such as a modem, a printer, or a mouse, can be connected.

SERVER - Software that allows a computer to offer a service to another computer, such as the ftp server that allows ftp downloading by client software. Also applied to the computer on which the server software runs.

SHAREWARE - Shareware is a distribution method for software programs developed by independent programmers or authors. It is a marketing technique rather than a type of software. It allows the author to market the program with minimal start-up expenses while encouraging feedback from the users. Programs acquired through the Shareware method may be freely copied and passed on to others, but each user is expected to register with the author and pay a usage fee. The fee may include some or all of the following: printed documentation, the latest version of the program on disk, telephone support, free updates, and commissions, but most importantly a legal license to continue using the software.

SHELL - On a UNIX computer, software that accepts and processes commands, and interfaces the user to UNIX.

SIG - Short for signature. A small file inserted at the end of e-mail messages to identify the sender; at a minimum, it should contain the sender's real name and an e-mail address. A snail-mail address and voice address (telephone number) also are good. Very elaborate sigs, containing graphics and mottos are considered uncool, since they use "bandwidth" without conveying information.

Smiley Face- Face formed from keyboard characters, used to indicate emotions in e-mail and list serves. The original is: :-) signifying humor or happiness. Here are a few more:

:-) smile :-> sarcastic ;-) wink :-))) double chin :.-) laughing tears ;-)=) grin :-D laughing :-} wry smile :-( sad, angry :-< sad :-i indifferent/sad :.-( weeping :-ii angry :-@ angry :-x mute :-() talking :-o surprised/shocked =:-) shocked

O:-) halo :-3 has eaten a lemon :-/ skeptical :-Z sleeping :-x kissing :-* sorry, I didn't want to say that ?-( sorry, I don't know what went wrong %-) stared too long at monitor X-) unconscious :-Q smoking (:-) bald [:-] robot ::-) wearing glasses .^) side view _O-) aquanaut {:-) wig (-: left-handed :o) boxer's nose

SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The set of standards specifying the format of electronic mail messages that an SMTP client on one computer can use to send those messages to an SMTP server on another computer.

SNAIL-MAIL - The U.S. Postal Service.

SOFTWARE - A general term for all types of programs used to manage a computer's operations. Software is essentially a set of instructions the computer uses to perform a task. The commonly seen phrase "software program" is redundant, and should not be used.

SUBDIRECTORY - A directory located within another directory (called the Parent directory). The ROOT directory (C:/>, A:/>, or B:/>) is the only directory which is not also a subdirectory.

SVGA - Super Video Graphics Array provides for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Its predecessor, VGA, gave a resolution of 640 x 480 pixel, still the most common PC screen resolution.

TELNET - A terminal emulation protocol that allows one to log on to remote computers and issue commands; a program that uses the telnet protocol to communicate.

TIFF - Tagged Image File Format. TIFF provides a way of storing and exchanging digital image data.

URL - Uniform Resource Locator. An address that identifies a resource on the Internet. For example, the URL http://www.whatever.com is the Internet address of a Web page that gives you access to the Whatever Home Page. In this example, http names the protocol, HyperText Transport Protocol, used to access the page; www stands for World-Wide Web; whatever is the name of the domain and .com signifies company (as opposed to .gov for government, .org for nonprofit organization, or .edu for educational institution).

VGA - Video Graphics Array - The VGA is an analog video controller. It handles color in much the same way as a TV receiver. The VGA produces a signal that can vary in small increments over a large spectrum of colors. The VGA requires an analog color monitor. The VGA provides a text mode with a 9-by-16 dot box for characters, it emulates the EGA modes and the two graphics modes of MCGA, and it provides its own graphics mode with 16 colors and 640-by-480 pixel resolution.

VIRTUAL MEMORY - When a program requires more space than is available in main memory, a direct access (mass) storage device can be used to hold program segments until needed in memory. The swapping of information between actual memory and virtual memory is transparent, so that the program utilizing virtual storage appears to be held entirely in memory.

VRML - Virtual Reality Modeling Language. A graphics programming language for creating three-dimensional scenes, through which one can seem to move on screen.

WWW-World Wide Web. A collection of richly formatted hypertext "pages" located on computers around the world and logically linked together by the Internet. Users can access different Web pages by clicking highlighted words on their screen. Each click activates a hypertext link, connecting the user to another Web location identified by a URL.

WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get. WYSIWYG, pronounced "wizzy-wig", or "wissy-wig", describes computer programs, such as Frontpage, PageMill, and numerous others that generate screen images that are identical in position and type appearance to the final document. The problem with these programs is they often put unnecessary coding in.