Opportunity Wales eCommerce Glossary
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G
GIF
Graphic Interchange File format. A format that is commonly used for line drawings, and can only accommodate 256 colours at a time. However, GIF images can also be animated, and made transparent.
Google
One of the most popular search engines on the World Wide Web.
H
Hacker
1. A person who enjoys computer programming and furthering his/her knowledge of computing.
2. Used to describe person who use computers for malicious intent. The correct term to describe this is cracker.
Home Page
The main page of a Web site.
HTML (Hypertext Mark-Up Language)
HTML is the language which turns text and graphics into Web pages. HTML is based on SGML.HTML uses bracketed commands called tags that surround text and graphics, that tell the browser how they should appear on screen.
HTML Editor
A software tool to assist in the creation of Web pages.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The way in which Web content is transferred across the Internet.
HTTPS
The secure version of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol. URLs starting with HTTPS would be seen in secure environments such as on-line banking, and where financial details are submitted, such as shopping on-line.
I
ICT
Information and Communications Technology.
Instant Messaging
Software that allows you to talk to someone across the Internet in real time.
Internet
The Internet is a global network of computers using common standards and used by millions of users, all over the world
Internet Explorer
A Web browser, supplied by Microsoft and available for free. It is also bundled as part of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Intranet
An Intranet is a 'private Internet', not necessarily linked to the Internet itself, which provides a means of communication within a company or group, or specified group of people. It is based upon Internet standards and provide the means for an organisation to make resources more readily available to its employees on-line.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
ISDN is a system that operates over the standard telephone network, to significantly increase the rate at which you can transmit and receive information, for example when connected to the Internet. It is slower than ADSL/Broadband but faster than a normal telephone line.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
An ISP is a company that provides Internet access to companies and individuals.
IT
Information Technology.
J
Java
Java is a programming language used in creating more sophisticated and enhanced Web sites and applications.
JavaScript
A scripting language designed to allow Web pages to create dynamic content.
JPEG
A graphics format developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, and used widely on the World Wide Web. It is used mainly for high-quality images such as photography and allows for a great deal of file compression.
K
Kilobyte
A kilobyte is 1,024 bytes.
L
Linux
A free variant of the UNIX operating system. Various versions of Linux are available.
M
Mailing list
A list of eMail addresses .
Megabyte
A megabyte is one million bytes.
Modem
An electronic device which allows computers to communicate with each other over a 'phone line.
Mozilla
A public Web project to develop various items of Web software, including Web browsers and eMail clients.
MP3
A very popular file format for storing music, developed by the Motion Picture Experts Group.
MPEG
A popular file format for video, developed by the Motion Picture Experts Group.
N
Netiquette
A series of conventions, or rules, for people that use the Internet. It relates particularly to eMail and the way in which people compose messages and letters.
Net
Shortened form of Internet.
Netscape Navigator
A popular Web browser, now discontinued. Its development spawned the Mozilla project.
O
On-line Banking
A Web site that allows customers to access their bank via the Internet to view, pay bills, create standing orders even to check their balance.
On-line Mall
A Web site through which a collection of different and unrelated companies offer products for sale over the Internet..
On-line Selling
A term used broadly to a Web site that sells goods or services via a Web site.
On-line Services
Companies that provide special services just for their members, as well as Internet connectivity. A typical example would be America On-line (AOL).
Open Directory
A popular search directory owned by Netscape and syndicated by Google and many other Web sites.
Opera
A popular Web browser which claims to have a competitive advantage over its rivals of speed of page display.
Outlook
A popular piece of eMail software – an eMail client – from Microsoft. Outlook comes in two versions: a full version which is part of the Microsoft Office package, and a cut-down version (Outlook Express) which is free.
P
Payment Service Providers (PSPs)
These are companies who specialise in taking credit / debit card payments via the Web. An SME who uses a PSP would use the on-line facilities that are offered by the PSP for a fee, monies would then be transferred to the SMEs bank account.
PC
A format of computer that is now the most common available. PCs most often (but don’t have to) run the Microsoft Windows operating system. The term derives from the original brand name of the computer when it was produced solely by the IBM corporation in the 1980s. Now, a huge number of manufacturers produce PCs and peripherals for them.
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
Used to provide relevant computer functions to the individual without the overhead of a laptop or local computer. These now include eMail, contact information, paging, Web browsing and access to remote corporate applications.
PDF
Portable Document Format. A file format from Adobe which allows for the preservation of the originating document style. Adobe’s Acrobat Reader software, is available for free, and allows for the display of PDF documents on the Web. Creation of PDF documents can be made through the purchase of a PDF production package.
Plug-In
A small piece of software that adds features to a larger piece of software. Plug-ins are usually free and can be downloaded from the Internet.
Portal
A Web site which contains a number of services, and can be personalised. Many different types of portal is available, and can be for one particular business sector or user group (e.g. a manufacturing portal), a particular process (e.g. a procurement portal), or for many other definitions, including a public portal. Many of the larger Web sites can in themselves be seen as portals, as they allow personalisation of the site and its services. Yahoo’s service My Yahoo is one such example.
PNG
Portable Network Graphic. A popular image format that allows for high-quality imagery such as photographs. Now becoming popular as a substitute for JPEG.
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