Web Hosting & IT Jargon Explained

 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Aliases
An "alias" is a unique email address, but being redirected to an existing email account (or POP3 account)

Apache
The Linux based "webserver"

ASP
Stands for "Active Server Page" A scripting environment for Windows based systems in which you can combine HTML, scripts to create dynamic web pages.


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Backbone
A network connecting "ISP's" to the outside world.

Bandwidth
The volume of "traffic" allowed to a location, normally restricted by physical

Byte
A unit of digital (computer) information


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CGI (and Cgi-bin)
Stands for Common Gateway Interface. This is the interface allowing a person to run programs with a variety of applications - such as feedback forms, search facilities etc. The "cgi-bin" is the area in which the "CGI" scripts are stored

.co.za / .com / .net extension
An area defining extension to a "domain name" - although by the very nature of the internet these are no longer being only used in their specific areas - for instance someone in South Africa can "register" and "host" a .com.au (Australian commercial domain) "domain" in South Africa


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Dial Up account
The account you use to access the Internet with - typically with a modem

DNS
Stands for Domain Name System, the process by which computers use to find each other on the Internet, and more specifically to know where to look for any http or www address

Domain (name)
A domain is broken down and defined by virtue of it's structure. For instance the "domain" www.afrihost.co.za is broken down as follows. The "za" part indicates the "Zuid Afrika" (South Africa) domain, which is a very broad description. The "co" part refines the description to the commercial sub structure. The AfriHost is then the first unique part of the name - indicating your business. The "www" is a further refining process, separating the Internet part of the domain from the mail and "ftp" parts

Download
The process of getting a file off the Internet or a server of some description


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Email
Electronic mail, is exactly what is sounds like, written messages received or sent electronically. I.E. via computer


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Forwarding
If a "website" already exists that you want your new "domain" to point to, then we can forward all requests to the correct address

Front Page Server Extensions
Software on a "webserver" that allows the fancy features designable in "Front Page" to be supported - such as "counters", "feedback forms", etc

FTP
Stands for File Transfer Protocol. The process used to "upload" your "webpages" or "website" to the Internet to be viewable


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Gb
Stands for Gigabyte - 1 million million or billion bytes

GIF and JPG
Both Gif and JPG or Jpeg are types of pictures most often found on "webpages". They are typically used because they are fairly small in "byte" size but retain good quality.


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HTML
Stands for "Hyper Text Markup Language"

HyperLink
A text based link to another location "(URL)" on the Internet or email address


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IP
Stands for Internet Protocol. The language computers use to talk to each other on the Internet or network

ISP
Stands for Internet Service Provider. Any company who provides some form of hosting service


K                                    TOP

Kb
Stands for Kilobyte - 1 thousand bytes


L                                     TOP

Linux
An Open Source operating system and server operating system

Logging
Similar to "statistics" - this is just the actual process of capturing the visits


M                                     TOP

Mb
Stands for Megabyte - 1 million bytes

META tags
Briefly described "META Tags" are language used to define certain things in a "webpage". Amongst these can be the ability to get high rankings on "search engines"

MySQL
This is the Semi-freeware distribution of a "SQL" database for Unix based and Windows based systems


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Network
The Internet on a small scale! More than two machine / printers / peripherals connected together via some form of networking

NT
A windows based server operating system.


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Open Source
This is where the original source language is made available to the world for everyone to submit improvements and suggestions

Operating system
The software that allows you to run programs on your computer. It is the base on which all your programs are based


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Parking
The process of "registering" a "domain" but not making it immediately available to the world. This ensures that the name is reserved but you don't incur the cost of hosting it straight away.

PHP
Stands for "Personal Home Page" or "Personal Hypertext Protocol" . A scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. PHP is Open Source software

POP3
POP - stands for Post Office Protocol, and as it might imply deals with E-mail. When service providers talk about POP3 mailboxes, they mean that they are providing a space on their "server" to store your mail, i.e this is a protocol to receive mail They generally give you login credentials to get your mail. POP works on port 110.


R                                     TOP

Registrations
The process of securing your "domain name" on the Internet


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Search engines
Electronic "Yellow pages" with search facilities. These "websites" allow you to enter search criteria and search on it. The "search engine" will then return a result with prioritised rankings based on the structure of the page, and the nature of the search

Server
A computer who's primary function is to serve at some level. It can be web pages, files, etc

Site Statistics
Every time a person visits your page they leave a log, these logs can be turned into comprehensive statistics that allow you to see where the people have come from, etc

SMTP
Stands for "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol". This is the reverse of POP mail. SMTP is the process of sending mail. It operates on port 25

SQL
Stands for "Structured Query Language". This is not Microsoft specific and in fact is a type of language that is spoken to databases.


T                                    TOP

Technical Support
Giving help on technical issues

Traffic
The flow of data to and from your "website"

Traffic Limit
In some instances the "traffic" to and from your site is restricted and the overflow is charged for at a specified rate

Transfer of domain
The process of moving the responsibility of "hosting" your "domain" to another "ISP"


U                                     TOP

Unique FTP
A unique FTP account is merely having unique credentials to log into your own "webspace"

Upload
The process of putting a file onto the Internet or a server of some description

URL
Stands for "Universal Resource Locator". It is the acronym for the method of finding or browsing to an Internet address. For instance www.afrihost.com is a URL


V                                     TOP

VAP program
Stands for "Value Added Partner". AfriHost's program giving any person the ability to sell products for a recurring income


W                                    TOP

Web design
Designing a "website" or "webpage"

Webhosting
Enabling a "website" to be connected to the Internet 24 hrs / day

Web maintenance
Stands for "Universal Resource Locator" - A statement used chiefly for moving from site to site on the "World Wide Web".

Web page
A document viewable on the Internet (normally with extension .htm(l))

Web promotion
The process of promoting a "website" to "search engines" and / or other media

Webserver
A computer who's only job is to provide access to your "website"

Website
A collection of "webpages"

Webspace
Similar to the "memory" space on your home computer, you get allocated "webspace" on a "webserver" for your "website". This is simply the amount of space you have for your "website"

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