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Web Terms G - L
A - F
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- Z
G | H
| I | J | K | L
G
garbage -- 1. A string of unwanted, meaningless, or unintelligible characters produced by error.
2. Incorrect input to a computer. See GIGO.
Get a real computer! -- An imperative issued as a response to someone who is complaining about not being able to get work done on an obsolete, single-tasking, graphical, or otherwise lame computer. Generally, UNIX systems are considered to be real computers in opposition to Windows-based systems.
GIF -- See Graphics Interchange Format.
GIGO -- Acronym for Garbage In Garbage Out. Usually said in response to complaints that a program didn't "do the right thing" when given bad or flawed input. See garbage.
glitch -- A small malfunction.
Golden Rule of Netiquette -- "Remember the Human", the rule upon which all Netiquette is based. Often in electronic communications, it is easy to forget that you are communicating with real people, not just networks of computers. See Netiquette.
Gopher -- A menu-driven program developed at the University of Minnesota that helps you locate and retrieve information on the Internet.
go word -- The word associated with a forum or area on a commercial online service that allows you to get to that place quickly.
Graphics Interchange Format -- (abbreviation: GIF)
A file format for storing images, commonly used on the web.
grep -- 1. To rapidly scan a large volume of information looking for a particular string or pattern.
2. A UNIX command used to scan a file or group of files for a matching search string or pattern.
GUI -- Abbreviation for Graphical User Interface. A set of screen presentations and metaphors that utilize graphic elements such as icons in an attempt to make an operating system easier to use. Unlike UNIX and DOS, which feature a command line interface, the Windows and the Macintosh operating systems present graphical environments for input and output.
guru -- An expert who acts as a knowledge resource for others and who is generally venerated by the people whose problems he or she solves.
H
hacker -- An expert programmer who likes to spend a lot of time figuring out the finer details of computer systems or networks, as opposed to those who learn only the minimum necessary. See also cracker.
handle -- A nickname used in online communications.
hang -- 1. An unexpected halt of a computer, usually while running an application program. A hung machine is characterized by a total lack of response from the mouse and keyboard. The user can almost never effect a recovery except by turning the computer off and restarting it.
2. In the construction "hang off", to attach a peripheral device to a computer via a cable. "I'm going to hang another hard drive off my home box."
hardwired -- A function or capability that is hardcoded into a system. Generally, anything that can not be modified or customized.
Hello World! -- The classic first demonstration program used when teaching a new language. The goal of a "Hello World!" program is simply to print the words "Hello World!" to the screen. See also BASIC, C, Java, and Perl.
hit -- A single user accessing a single file from a web server. A unit of measure often used erroneously to evaluate the popularity of a web site.
holy wars -- Ubiquitous online disputes that never end. Common holy wars are fought over Macintosh vs. Windows, UNIX vs. Windows NT, and everyone vs. Microsoft, as well as over societal issues such as abortion, gun control, and pornography. See also flame war.
home page -- A web page that is topically the main source of information about a particular person, group, or concept. Many people on the web create home pages about themselves for fun; these are also known as vanity pages.
hosed -- To be totally destroyed or otherwise unusable, as in "my hard drive is hosed" or "the network is totally hosed."
host -- 1. A computer that allows users to communicate with other host computers on a network.
2. A chat term for someone who is managing a chat. Hosts often act as referees and have the power to turn participants into spectators and vice versa.
HotBot -- An Internet search engine at http://www.hotbot.com
HTML -- See Hypertext Markup Language.
HTTP -- See Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
hype -- Marketing messages that overstate the truth (as in "Don't believe the hype!").
hyperlink -- A highlighted word or picture within a hypertext document that when clicked takes you to another place within the document or to another document altogether.
hypertext -- Text that includes links or shortcuts to other documents, allowing the reader to easily jump from one text to related texts, and consequentially from one idea to another, in a non-linear fashion. Coined by Ted Nelson in 1965.
Hypertext Markup Language -- (abbreviation: HTML)
The tag-based ASCII language used to create pages on the World Wide Web. See also hypertext.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- (abbreviation: HTTP)
The protocol used by the World Wide Web to transfer HTML files.
I
icon -- A small graphic image that represents a file or application and when clicked upon produces a programmed result. Use of this mnemonic convention originated at Xerox PARC and was subsequently popularized by the Apple Macintosh. Producing an effective icon is non-trivial because of size and color restraints. See iconographer.
iconographer -- A skillful designer who elevates icon design to an art form.
identity hacking -- Posing as someone else. Posting anonymously or pseudonymously, usually with the intent to deceive.
IMHO -- Abbreviation for In My Humble Opinion.
inbox -- A folder where you receive incoming mail.
infobahn -- A variant of information superhighway.
information superhighway -- An unimplemented proposal by Vice President Al Gore to wire the US for hundreds of cable television channels. Now synonymous with the Internet.
Infoseek -- An Internet search engine at http://www.infoseek.com
install -- To load and configure a piece of software on a computer.
Integrated Services Digital Network -- (abbreviation: ISDN)
A technology offered by telephone carriers that allows for the rapid transfer of voice and data.
Internet -- A worldwide network of networks that all use the TCP/IP communications protocol and share a common address space. First incarnated as the ARPANET in 1969, the Internet has metamorphosed from a military internetwork to an academic research internetwork to the current commercial internetwork. It commonly supports services such as email, the World Wide Web, file transfer, and Internet Relay Chat. The Internet is experiencing tremendous growth in the number of users, hosts, and domain names. It is gradually subsuming other media, such as proprietary computer networks, newspapers, books, television, and the telephone. Also known as "the net", "the information superhighway", and "cyberspace". See also ARPANET, domain, and Domain Name Service.
Internet Explorer -- A free web browser application from Microsoft.
Internet Relay Chat -- (abbreviation: IRC)
A chat network that operates over the Internet. Originally evolved from the UNIX talk program, IRC is similar to the chat systems found on commercial online services.
Internet Service Provider -- (abbreviation: ISP)
- A business that delivers access to the Internet, usually for a monthly fee. PSI, UUNET, and Netcom are examples of established ISPs but there are thousands of smaller ones all
Around the world.
- Any business that provides Internet services such as web sites or web site development.
Internet Society -- (abbreviation: ISOC)
To quote its home page at http://info.isoc.org: "The Internet Society is a non-governmental International organization for global cooperation and coordination for the Internet and its internetworking technologies and applications. The Society's individual and organizational members are bound by a common stake in maintaining the viability and global scaling of the Internet. They comprise the companies, government agencies, and foundations that have created the Internet and its technologies as well as innovative new entrepreneurial organizations contributing to maintain that dynamic."
InterNIC -- The InterNIC is the entity that controls the registration of most domain names on the Internet. The InterNIC is a cooperative activity between the National Science Foundation, Network Solutions, Inc. and AT&T. Its home page is at http://internic.net/
interoperability -- The ability of software and hardware on multiple machines from multiple vendors to communicate meaningfully.
intranet -- A private network that uses Internet-related technologies to provide services within an organization.
IP address -- A string of four numbers separated by periods (such as 111.22.3.444) used to represent a computer on the Internet. The format of the address is specified by the Internet Protocol in RFC 791. When a PC accesses the Internet through an ISP, it sometimes receives a temporary IP address.
IRC -- See Internet Relay Chat.
ISDN -- See Integrated Services Digital Network.
ISOC -- See Internet Society.
ISP -- See Internet Service Provider.
J
jack in -- To log in to a machine or connect to a network. Derived from cyberpunk fiction.
Java -- An object oriented programming language created by Sun Microsystems. Java is a device independent language, meaning that programs compiled in Java can be run on any computer. Java programs can be run as a free-standing application or as an applet placed on a web page. Applets written in Java are served from a web site but executed on the client computer. Java applets have a built-in security feature which prevents them from accessing the file system of the client computer. See also applet.
Here is the Java version of "Hello World!":
class HelloWorld {
public static void main (String args[]) {
System.out.println("Hello World!");
}
}
JavaScript -- A scripting language that allows lines of Java code to be inserted into HTML scripts.
Joint Photographic Experts Group -- (abbreviation: JPEG)
An image compression standard for still photographs that is commonly used on the web.
JPEG -- See Joint Photographic Experts Group.
K
Kermit -- A protocol used for transferring files over a dial-up connection that is commonly used on BBS systems.
kill file -- A file used by some USENET reading programs that filters out unwanted messages, usually from a particular author or on a particular subject. If you add someone to your kill file, you arrange for the person to be ignored by your news reader. Originally from Larry Wall's rn program.
kluge -- A quick fix to a problem that places expediency over elegance. Pronounced "klooj". Variant spelling is "kludge".
knowbie -- A person who understands the finer details of computer networking. See also hacker, newbie, and power newbie.
knowbot -- A artificially intelligent computer program that automates the search for animation.
L
LAN -- See Local Area Network.
leased line -- A permanently established connection between computers over a dedicated phone line which is leased from a telephone carrier. See also dedicated line.
line noise -- Static over a telephone line that interferes with network communications.
link -- A highlighted word or picture within a hypertext document that when clicked bring you to another place within the document or to another document altogether. See also hyperlink.
list server -- An automated mailing list distribution system. List servers maintain a list of email addresses to be used for mass emailing. Subscribing and unsubscribing to the list is accomplished by sending a properly formatted email message to the list server.
Local Area Network -- (abbreviation: LAN)
A group of computers at a single location (usually an office or home) that are connected by phone lines or coaxial cable.
LOL -- Abbreviation for Laughing Out Loud.
loop -- A programming technique of creating a series of repeating actions. Usually, there is some event specified as part of the loop which triggers the ending of the repetitious action.
lurk -- To hang out in an area without directly participating. For example, when you're new to a discussion group or chat room, it's a good idea to lurk and become familiar with its scope and general rules before posting. Lurking is perfectly acceptable in cyberspace; the negative connotations of the standard English usage does not apply. See also "delurk".
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