Active Server Page (ASP)
This is a file that contains embedded server-side scripting that is executed on a server and sent to and displayed in a web browser as a standard HTML file. It enables web pages to be created dynamically. The file will usually have the extension .asp
Apache
The most widely used HTTP server on the Internet.
Bandwidth
This is the data transfer capacity of a transmission medium - the higher the bandwidth the faster the data can be transferred. In digital communications, the transfer capacity expressed in bits per second (bps) or megabits per second (Mbps).
CGI
Common Gateway Interface - This a server-side program or script.
cgi-bin
Where cgi scripts are normally placed on a web server.
Cold Fusion
Online database management software from Macromedia. Not all web hosts support this.
Cron Jobs
These are server commands or programs which are scheduled to run automatically on the server at specified time intervals. Not all web hosts support this.
Data Center
This is the building in which the web servers are located.
Database
This is a structured collection of data.
Data Transfer
This is the amount of data transfer that your web host allows your site to use each month.
Dedicated Hosting
Each website is hosted on a separate web server.
Disc Space
This is the amount of storage space you get on the web server.
DNS
Domain Name System - A hierarchical, distributed database that contains mappings of DNS domain names to various types of data, such as IP addresses. DNS enables the location of computers and services by user-friendly names.
DOS Attack
denial-of-service attack. An attack on a website in which the attacker exploits a weakness or a design limitation of the web server to overload or halt the service, so that the service becomes un-available for use.
Domain Names
A series of words separated by dots identifying an IP address. Example mysite.com
Domain Parking
Companies which register domain for you usually provide a nameserver for domains that do not yet have their own hosting.
Error Pages
These are the pages that are shown to your visitors when an error has occurred. For example when a page they requested cannot be found or they have tried to access a page that you do not want them to see.
Frontpage
A WYSIWYG HTML editor from Microsoft.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol - A fast, application-level protocol widely used for copying files to and from remote computer systems such as web servers. It also allows users to use FTP commands to work with files and folders. For example changing the attributes of files and folders.
GB
Gigabyte - 1,024 megabytes. Often used by web hosts to measure data transfer.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language - The main language used for documents on the web. HTML defines the structure and layout of a web document by using a variety of tags and attributes.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol - this is a standard protocol for transmitting web pages on the Internet.
HTTPS
This is a protocol which enables the secure transmission of web pages.
IIS
A web server from Microsoft.
IP Address
Internet Protocol Address - an IP address identifies a computer that is connected to the Internet. Every computer on the Internet is identified by a numeric address and each IP address has a corresponding DNS address. Example of a numeric address 80.44.100.01 - Example of a DNS address mysite.com
ISP
Internet service provider - A provider of internet access for things like electronic mail, chat rooms, or surfing. Some ISPs are multinational, offering access in many locations, while others are limited to a specific region.
Java
This is a programming language from Sun Microsystems. It is useful for providing interactivity such as games to a web page.
Javascript
A scripting language that can be used to add functionality to a web page, or to enhance the look of one. They can run on any type of client or server computer.
Keywords
Words or phrases entered by a visitor in a search engine to locate information or a website.
Load Balancing
A technique used by some web hosts to scale the performance of a web server by distributing its client requests across multiple servers within the cluster. Each server can specify the load percentage that it will handle, or the load can be equally distributed across all the servers. If a server fails, the load from that server is automatically redistributed among the remaining servers.
Local Folder
This is where your web sites files are stored on your computer. The remote folder is where tey are stored on your web server.
Managed Hosting
The hosting company manages the server administation for you.
Microsoft FrontPage
A program you can use to create and manage web sites without any programming knowledge. It is available with Microsoft Office or as a stand-alone product.
MIME
Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Extensions - this enables the exchange of different file types and formats over the internet.
MySQL
A multi-user, multi-threaded SQL database server. MySQL offers speed, robustness and ease of use.
Name Servers
These store and track DNS information.
ODBC
Open Database Connectivity - A standard method of sharing data between databases and programs.
PERL
PERL Practical Extraction and Report Language - A scripting language for used for developing CGI scripts.
PHP
Personal Home Page - this is a scripting language that is excecuted on the web server. Requires a PHP enabled web host.
POP3
Post Office Protocol 3 - this is a popular protocol used for receiving e-mail messages. This protocol is often used by Internet service providers (ISPs). POP3 servers allow only access to a single inbox.
Propagation Period
This is the time it takes for the name servers around the world to update information about a domain. Example, when you purchase a new domain name it can take over 24 hours for the information to propagate around the world. This is called the propagation period.
Protocol
This is a set of rules that defines a format for communication between computer systems.
read-only
A setting that allows a file to be read or copied, but not changed or saved.
Remote Folder
This is the folder on your web server that you upload your website files to.
Reseller Hosting
You can buy a reseller web hosting account from a larger web host and then re-sell the web space to other people.
reverse lookup
A DNS query for a resource record that resolves an IP address to its corresponding fully qualified domain name.
Root
This is the directory on your web server where your home page goes. Every other directory is under this one.
Shared Hosting
This is the most popular form of web hosting and also the least expensive. Your website files are hosted on the same server as a number of other websites.
Shell Access
This provides access to web servers via FTP, POP3 and SSH.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol - This is a protocol for sending email messages across the internet.
SQL
Structured Query Language - This is a database query and programming language widely used for accessing, querying, updating, and managing data in relational database systems.
SSI
Server Side Includes - These are often used to add external "common" pieces of code which are used on a number of pages such as headers or footers.
SSL
This is mostly used where confidential information such as credit card numbers are transferred from a browser to a server.
Sub-domain
These created under domain names. Many free webhosts you to use a sub-domain to host a website. Example you could create a sub-domain called "mine" on the domain mysite.com and it would become mine.mysite.com
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
Telenet
A protocol that enables an Internet user to log on to and enter commands on a remote computer linked to the Internet, as if the user were using a text-based terminal directly attached to that computer. Telnet is part of the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
TLD
Top Level Domain. Example .com or .net
Traffic
Basically, how many visitors you get to your website.
UNIX
A multi-user, multitasking operating system that exists in various forms and implementations, typically used on proprietary computer workstations. A Web servers run on UNIX systems.
Upload
To upload means to transfer files or other data from your computer to the web server that hosts your website.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator - An address that uniquely identifies a location on the Internet. Example http://mysite.com/page5.html
Virtual Hosting
When you are hosting multiple domains on a single server, each domain being hosted is referred to as a virtual domain. A single IP address is shared between multiple domains.
Virtual Private Server
This provides the features of a dedicated server even though the server is shared by other web hosting customers.
Web Space
The amount of disc space that you are allowed to use on the web server.
Webmaster
The person who is responsible for maintaining a website.
WHOIS
This is a central database which tracks new and existing domain name registrations.
WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get.
XML
eXtensible Linking Language - this is planned to be the successor of HTML.
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