Glossary of terms

ADSL: (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) - A method for moving data across regular telephone lines that is much faster than a regular telephone connection.AVI: (Audio/Video Interleaved) - A video file (.avi). These are large files, but are good quality when viewed at small screen resolution.

Bandwidth: The internet term for data transfer rate - the amount of data that can be carried from one place to another per second. Bandwidth is expressed as bytes per second (Bps). A link with a high bandwidth is one that may be able to carry enough information to sustain the sequence of images in video. The bigger the bandwidth, the more data that can be transferred at any one time.

Bit: (Binary DigIT) – This is the smallest amount of computerized data. Normally, bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second.

Browser: A software program that is used to view websites and other internet resources... examples include Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, Safari, Opera,Google Chrome.

Byte: A basic unit of measurement of computerized data.A Byte is made up of 8 bits. One Kilobyte is 1024 bytes, One Megabyte is 1024 Kilobytes.

Cache: The "cache" is where your temporary internet files are stored and it contains a record of the items you have seen, heard, or downloaded from the Web, including images, sounds, web pages, and cookies. Typically these items are stored in the Temporary Internet Files folder. Storing these files means the next time you go to a previously visited site; it will load quicker as page elements will already be saved in your Temporary Internet Files folder. From time to time you will have to empty this folder so that you are not viewing old versions of websites.

Cookie: A cookie is a piece of data (eg logins, passwords, online "shopping cart" items) that is sent to your computer via your web browser when you visit websites. - information like where you went on the site and what you did. Cookie files are a way for a website to remember you when you next visit.

Compression: To save space and cut down transfer times files available for upload and download are often compressed. Compressed files can include .zip and .tar.

Cyberspace: This term was coined by author William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer. Cyberspace is currently used to describe the whole range of information available through computer networks.

DNS: (Domain Name Server) - A computer whose sole purpose is to translate a domain name such as www.name.com into an IP address such as 192.168.0.1. Computers can only make use of IP addresses yet we humans can only use readable names since they are easier to remember than IP addresses. Without DNS, the internet would be a very complicated and confusing place!

Domain Name: A unique name that identifies an Internet site (eg www.yourname.com). A domain name is the Internet's way of translating a numeric IP address into an easy-to-remember combination of numbers and words.

Download: Transferring data from a one computer to another. When you copy a file from the Internet to your computer, you are "downloading" it.

Email: (Electronic Mail) - Messages sent from one person to another over the Internet.

Firewall: A piece of software that helps screen out viruses and hackers that try to reach your computer over the Internet.

FTP: (File Transfer Protocol) - A way to transfer files between two Internet sites. Most FTP sites require a password before files can be sent of retreived.

GIF: (Graphics Interchange Format) - An image file. Other image files are .JPGs. We recommend you use .GIFs for small images like logos, and .JPGs for photos and larger images on your Mr Site website.

Gigabyte: A thousand Megabytes.

Hit Counter: A computer software program that shows the number of visitors, or "hits", a particular webpage has received. Every time this web page is viewed, the number of "hits" go up by one.

Home Page (or Homepage): The first and main web page for any website. Host: A company or service that runs Internet servers, which allow you to get your website onto the Internet. Mr Site is your "host".

HTML: (HyperText Markup Language) – A computer language used to create websites.

HTTP: (HyperText Transfer Protocol) - The protocol used to request and transmit files and webpages over the Internet.

Internet: The Internet or World Wide Web is a worldwide collection of computer networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer.

IP Number: (Internet Protocol Number) - A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots. 123.45.678.9 could be an IP number. Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique IP number.

Internet Explorer: A web browser developed by Microsoft.

Internet Service Provider (ISP): A company that provides individuals or companies access to the Internet, examples include Sky, Talk Talk, BT, Be, Orange etc

JPG: An image file. Other image files are .GIFs. We recommend you use .GIFs for small images like logos, and .JPGs for photos and larger images on your Mr Site website.

Kilobyte: A thousand bytes.

LAN: (Local Area Network) - A computer network restricted to a limited area, usually the same building. Office computers are typically connected to a LAN.

Login: The account- or user-name allowing you "sign on" or gain access to a computer system.

Mailing List: A Mailing List is a collection of names and addresses used by a company or individual to send material to multiple recipients. A visitor to a website may be interested in subscribing to this mailing list in order to have the latest website news, updates, offers or newsletters emailed to them regularly.

Meta Data/ Meta Tag: Meta Data/ Meta Tags are sets of information used to describe the theme of the website. This data sits in the coding of a site using "meta tags" and is not visible to viewers. Although not as prominent as they once were, it is always worthwhile taking the time to compile as much unique Meta Data for each of your pages. There are two main types of Meta Data.

Meta Keywords: Meta Keywords are 10-15 key words that people will use to find your website via search engines such as Google. Keywords should be unique to this page and not generic (no need for 'clothing', 'services' etc). Misspellings should be included for terms that search engines may not know, however most of the popular search engines will correct for common misspellings.

Meta Description: Enter a 15 - 25 word simple summary description of the web page in question - approx 150 characters max including spaces. This description text should be 'on brand' and well written - it's the call to action click-though text that many users will see when using Google and other search engines. A well-written description tag with full names, locations and events can increase search visibility as well as click-through rates to your site

Megabyte: A 'byte' is a basic unit of measurement of computerized data. A 'Megabyte' is a million bytes or a thousand kilobytes.

MIDI: 'MIDI' is shorthand for 'Musical Instrument Digital Interface'. 'MIDI' data contains a list of events or messages that tell an electronic device such as a computer, mobile phone or synthesizer keyboard how to generate a certain sound. A 'MIDI' file is a high-quality audio file (.mid).

Modem: A 'Modem' is shorthand for 'Modulator-Demodulator'. A 'Modem' is a device that lets a computer transmit data over telephone or cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, but information transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves. A modem converts between these 2 forms. Modem speeds are measured in bits per second (bps) and sometimes as Kilobits (thousands of bits) per second.

MPEG: 'MPEG' is shorthand for 'Motion Picture Experts Group'. Video files found on the Internet are frequently stored in the MPEG format, offering good quality in a relatively small size file.

Multimedia: A combination of media types in a single document, for example, as audio, graphics, text and video.

Navigation: Navigation helps visitors to a website move from one page to another through a collection of links that make up the Website Navigation Menu. This is usually placed vertically or horizontally on a web page.

Netiquette: 'Netiquette', or 'net etiquette', refers to good etiquette or conduct on the Internet. For example, good 'Netiquette' means respecting forum rules, not irritating people by sending unwanted e-mails and spam and respecting other peoples' privacy.

Netizens: A person who frequently uses the Internet.

Net: 'Net' is an abbreviation of the word 'Internet'.

Netscape: Netscape is an internet browser similar to Google and Internet Explorer which allows you to search for information on the World Wide Web.

Network: If you connect two or more computers together so that they can share resources, you have a computer network. If you connect two or more networks together, you have an internet (small "i").

Newsgroup: A discussion group operated through the Internet and classified by subject matter, for example health, hobbies, music, celebrities. Newsgroups participants carry out discussions by posting messages for others to read, and replying to the messages posted by others.

Offline: When someone is not connected to the Internet, they are "Offline".

Online: When someone is connected to the Internet, they are "Online".

Online Profiling: The practice of collecting information about consumers' interests and preferences by gathering information online about their movements, actions and personal data in order to create a targeted advertisement.

Operating System: The main program that runs on a computer, which prevents unauthorized users from accessing the system and allows other software to run. Examples include Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Opt-in / Opt-out: An opt-in/ opt-out policy requires a website visitor to self-select the services they wish to subscribe to, and how any information they provide may be used.

Page: Information available on the Internet web is organized into 'pages'. A 'page' can contain video, audio files, graphics and text.

Password: A secret word or group of characters used to gain access to a web page. Good passwords should not be easily guessed words and should contain both letters and numbers.

PDF: 'PDF' stands for 'Portable Document Format' and is a file format for saving page layouts and contents (.pdf). Documents are saved in PDF format when users are likely to want to print information and will not need to alter the document. Viewing a PDF file requires Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free from Adobe.

Peer-to-peer (P2P): 'Peer-to-Peer' file-sharing lets users share files online through an network of computers running the same software. File-sharing can give you access to a huge amount of information, however it can be risky as you could download viruses or copyright-protected material without meaning to.

Phishing: A scam in which criminals send out spam that imitates the look and feel of correspondence from e-commerce sites, such as banks, ebay etc. The fake messages can link to websites which are similarly faked to look like the sites of these respected companies. On these websites, you are directed to enter your personal information for confirmation or authentication purposes. The information, when submitted, however, goes to the thieves, not to the "spoofed" company. The best way to avoid being scammed is to never reply to emails requesting personal information as most if not all legitimate companies will never ask for such information in this way.

Phrase: A 'phrase' is more than one 'keyword'. Adding keywords and phrases to your website can help boost your position on search engines like Google by helping people searching for information based on these keywords or phrases to find you.

Plug-in: A small piece of software that adds extra features or functions a larger piece of software.

Ping: A program that checks to see whether it is possible to communicate with another computer on the Internet. It sends a message to which the other computer automatically replys. If the other computer does not reply to the ping, it usually means you cannot communicate with it.

Pixel: Shorthand for "picture element", a pixel is the smallest unit of resolution on a computer or TV monitor. The picture on your computer screen is made up of lots of 'pixels' or coloured dots. The more 'pixels' used, the sharper and clearer your picture will be and the smaller everything will look on your screen.

POP3: Shorthand for "Post Office Protocol", this is system by which a mail server on the Internet (such as Yahoo Mail, Gmail or your Mr Site Mail) lets you grab your email and download it to your PC or Macintosh using programs such as Outlook or Thunderbird.

Protocol: This is the language that computers use when communicating with each other.

Pop-up: 'Pop-ups' are small windows that appear in the foreground or background when visiting a web page. They can appear when something on the screen is clicked upon or the mouse is moved over an section of a web page. Pop-ups can be used to display advertising, however, they can be integrated into web pages for other more practical purposes such as helping users to navigate a website.

Pop-up Blocker: A 'Pop-Up Blocker' is a program that prevents 'Pop-ups' from displaying in a user's Web Browser. One problem with 'Pop-up Blockers' is that they cannot always differentiate between an unwanted 'Pop-Up' window and one that is requested or needed by the user. Adjusting your anti-virus software settings can help with this.

Posting: Putting a message on a discussion group or other public message area on the Internet is called 'Posting'. The message is called a 'Post'.

Public Forums: A 'Public Forum' is a discussion area on a website. Website members can post discussions and read and respond to posts by other members of the Forum. A Forum can be about any subject and a sense of online community can be developed amongst forum members.

QuickTime: A video file format (.mov) created by Apple Computers. Video files found on the Internet are often in this format.

Remote Access: With 'Remote Access' you can access a computer that you are unable to see via a modem or computer network.

Resolution: The picture on your computer screen is made up of lots of coloured dots called 'pixels'. The more 'pixels' used, the sharper and clearer your picture will be and the smaller everything will look on your screen. This is called your 'Screen Resolution'. A few years ago, the most common monitor size was 15" with a default screen resolution of 800x600. At the moment, the standard is 17" monitors with a screen resolution of 1024x768, although this is growing rapidly. Web pages look different at different computer screen resolutions, however rest assured that your Mr Site website has been designed to look good in all different 'Screen Resolutions'.

Robot: A tool, also known as a 'spider', that is used by search engines to collect new data added to websites which is then added into the search engine index.

Router: 'Routers' decipher information that arrives through your broadband signal via a modem, and deliver it to your computer. Broadband routers can be used to connect two different computers or to connect two computers to the Internet. Wireless routers connect to your modem and create a wireless signal in your office or home so that any computer within range can connect to your wireless router and use your broadband. Be sure that you secure your wireless router or you will be susceptible to identity thieves or hackers.

RSS or RSS feeds: 'RSS' stands for 'Really Simple Syndication' and is a method of marking updates to a website/blog so that anyone subscribed to that feed is automatically notified of updates.

Search: You can search any web page using the CTRL-F command (CMD-F on a Macintosh). Some websites have search boxes, which let you search all the pages on the site, or records in its database.

Search engine: A search engine lets you look for information online by using keywords related to what you want to find out. A search engine uses spiders to index Internet sites based on page titles, keywords and the full content of files. The most popular search engine is Google, but there are many others, such as Yahoo, MSN Search and Ask.

Search engine optimisation (SEO): SEO is a way of making changes to your website to try to improve its listing in the results pages of search engines like Google. You could spend thousands getting someone to optimise your website for you however, you could do it yourself with Mr Site's Takeaway Website Pro.

Server: This is a computer connected to a network that provides (serves up) data. A Web server transmits Web pages over the Internet when it receives a Web browser's request to its IP address for a page, e-mail, file transfer or other service.

Security certificate: This is information used by the SSL protocol to establish a secure connection when making a transaction. A certificate contains information about its owner, issuer, valid dates, and an encrypted "fingerprint", which is used to verify the contents of the certificate. In order for an SSL connection to be created, both sides in a transaction must have a valid Security Certificate.

Service provider: This is a company that supplies Internet services to personal or business customers, who pay a set fee for the service. They provide access to the Internet, or somewhere you can put pages on the web.

Shareware: This is software that is available for all to use - to 'share'. This can be on a limited free trial basis, or it can be a fully-featured product. It is free to use the latter, but normally there is a request for donations to the developer.

Site: A site, or website, is the term given to a place where information can be found on the web. This is different from "web page", which is just one file, with one URL. A site, properly speaking, is a location for a collection of related pages.

SMTP: (Simple Mail Transport Protocol): This is the main protocol used to send email on the Internet. This protocol consists of a set of rules on how email is "routed" - how the programs sending and receiving the email should interact.

Software: This is a computer program that tells a computer what to do and how to do it. System software, such as Windows or MacOS, operates the machine itself. Applications software, such as a spreadsheet or word processing program, is used for these specific functions.

Spam (or Spamming): This is when a message or advertisement is sent to a large number of people who did not ask for the information, or when a message is sent repeatedly to a single person. It can also refer to inappropriate promotional postings to forums or groups.

Spiders: These are computer robot programs, sometimes called "crawlers". They are used by search engines to visit websites and databases, to keep the search engine's database of web pages up to date. Most big search engines operate several spiders constantly, but the Web is so huge that it can take months for them to cover the whole lot.

SQL: (Structured Query Language): This is a programming language for modifying and managing databases. It allows you to retrieve, insert, update and delete data from your database.

SSL: (Secure Sockets Layer): This protocol enables encrypted, authenticated communication across the Internet. A URL that begins with "https" instead of "http" indicates an SSL connection will be used.

Subscribe: To become a member of a mailing list, RSS feed, or other online service.

Surf: To search for information on the Web.

Tags: Tags are the basic formatting tool used in HTML, which show what should be displayed on the screen when the page loads. For example, if you want something to show up in bold on a Web page, you would tag the text. For example, the line "Mr Site's glossary is the best!" would show up as "Mr Site's glossary is the best!"

Tagging, a.k.a. social bookmarking: This is when people label websites or web pages with descriptive 'tags'. Content can then be grouped according to these tags in various formats, such as a ‘tag cloud', which gives people another way to navigate their way around websites.

Task Bar: This is the bar that spans the bottom of the screen, with the Start button on the left-hand side. It also generally includes the current time, and can hold shortcuts to programs to the right of the Start button. Most of the task bar, though, contains shortcuts to programs that are open on your computer.

Thread: This is the name for an ongoing conversation on a single subject in any online discussion forums message boards, emails etc.

Template: A template is the file that acts as a starting point for a new document: for example, you could have a template for a business letter, or an invoice. Templates can either come with a program or be created by you, so if you are looking to create similar-looking documents over and over again, it might be a wise to save one as a template.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): This image file format (.tif) can handle colour depths ranging from 1-bit to 24-bit. JPEG is the more commonly-used format because of its smaller file size and Internet compatibility.

Text Editor: This is a word processing program that you use to type and edit text. You can actually write HTML code and create HTML pages with a simple text editor: some of them even have built-in colour coding to make it easier for you to follow where you are in the document.

Tool Bar: A toolbar is a set of buttons that normally sits directly under a program's menu bar. For example, Web browsers have a toolbar for each open window, which have buttons such as Back and Forward, and an address field. Some browsers allow you to customize the items in toolbar by selecting "Customize Toolbar" from the browser preferences.

Trolling: This is when someone deliberately writes false or offensive information in an online forum or on a message board, in order to annoy others.

Torrent: A torrent is a file sent via the BitTorrent protocol. They are different from normal downloads because they are usually downloaded from more than one server at a time, which means different parts of the file are downloaded from different computers. This means that less bandwidth is taken up, which speeds up file transfers.

Trojan Horse: This is a software program that looks like a regular program, such as a game or even an antivirus program, but if it is run, it can damage your computer and corrupt your data. It should be noted that most proper antivirus programs can catch Trojan horses when scanning for viruses, and Trojan horses don't replicate themselves (unlike viruses).

Tutorial: Tutorials help people learn new skills. They are step-by-step processes, which you follow along at your own pace. Some tutorials provide tests, so you can see whether you've understood the material well enough; others might just be basic 'walk-throughs'. Most software development programs include a tutorial for creating a "Hello World!" program, which is the most basic program that can be created with the software.

Typeface: A typeface is a set of characters - including letters, numbers and punctuation marks all of the same design. Some popular examples include Arial, Helvetica and Verdana, but there are thousands of different typefaces available. Because they are vector-based, typefaces can be scaled very large and still look sharp. NB a typeface is not the same as font, which is a specific size and style of a typeface, e.g. Arial 12 bold.

Under Construction: when you see this on a website, it is to let you know that a Website, or a new section of a Website, is coming, but that it is not yet designed or programmed.

Unique User: this is a phrase often seen in web statistics packages; a unique user is an individual visitor to a Website, or an individual recipient of an e-mail.

Unsubscribe: This is when you remove your name and e-mail address from a mailing list or discussion group.

Unzip: This is when you open up, or decompress, a ZIP file using WinZip, or any file compression program.

Upgrade: To change a system or program, such as a web browser, to a newer version, with new features. Software is constantly being updated, so you will probably have received a request to upgrade the programs on your computer.

Upload: This is the process of transferring data from a local computer to a remote computer or server; it is the reverse of download. Most people do a lot more downloading than uploading.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator):

This is the standard way to give the address for any resource on the WWW. A URL looks like this: http://www.mrsite.com/products.asp. To use a URL, enter it in a web browser to access that page on the Internet.

USB (Universal Serial Bus): This is an external 'bus' designed for devices like keyboards, printers etc. Your computer will automatically recognise any USB device as soon as it's plugged in. Desktop computers typically have two four-pin USB ports (one for a keyboard and mouse, the other for all other USB devices.

User a.k.a. visitor: This refers to anyone who uses a computer to access the web.

User generated content: This means any contribution to websites from its users: this could be text (e.g. reviews), artwork, audio, video, music, or even comments and social networking profiles. The net is so interactive these days, and blogs and social networking sites are popular places for users to post their own content. A wiki is also generated by those who use it; although not all wikis are open to everyone, they are in many ways the most democratic example of user-generated content.

Username: A username is a name that uniquely identifies you on a computer system or website. E-mail services require you to choose a username in order to use their service. When you choose a username for an e-mail account, the part before the "@" is your username. The username is normally left up to you to choose

Virus: Like a biological virus, a computer virus is something you don't want to get! A computer virus is a program or script that can damage your computer in a variety of ways. Some viruses can duplicate themselves or attach themselves to programs: opening an 'infected' e-mail attachment is how most people get a virus.
There are many anti-virus programs available that scan incoming files for viruses before they can cause damage to your computer. It is a good idea to have one of these on your computer, and to make sure you allow updates, so that the program can check for all the latest viruses.

Visitor: see User.

VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): This is basically a telephone connection over the Internet, which uses the Internet Protocol (IP) instead of telephone lines. This is why it's also called Internet telephony, or IP telephony. You can talk to people around the world over the Internet, which means you don't have to pay international phone charges. In order to use VoIP, you need a computer, an Internet connection, VoIP software, and some sort of microphone or phone device that's compatible with your software and computer.

WAN: (Wide Area Network): This refers to a network that connects computers over long distances via telephone lines or satellite links.

WAV: (Waveform Audio): This is a common audio file format (.wav). A 'waveform' is an image that represents an audio recording. Most audio recording programs, such as Cubase, show you waveforms to give you a visual sense of what has been recorded.

Web 2.0: This term was introduced in 2004. However, it does not refer to any specific 'version' of the web - it's more a term for a collection of technological improvements, which allowed for features such as blogs, wikis, social networking sites and interactive web applications. Web 2.0 technologies allowed a level of interaction to be introduced that was not available before, so websites have become much more dynamic, allowing users to generate most of the content.

Web Designer: A web designer is someone who does more than just make your website look pretty! The design process can be as simple or as complicated as is required, but it involves more than just images: it is about defining the ‘look and feel' of a site, the way that users navigate and interact with a website. A web designer will normally provide a mock-up of their work in a program such as Photoshop, on which the owner of the website can give feedback.

Web Host: To get your website online, you need a Web host. The Web host stores all the pages of your website on its servers, and makes them available to computers connected to the Internet. Most websites sit on a "shared host," a single computer that can host several hundred Websites.

Web Page: Web pages are what make up the World Wide Web. A web page is a document that, along with its text, can contain hypertext links to other places within the same document or website, or to pages on other websites. It can also contain forms, photos, images, sounds and videos. These documents are written in HTML, and can either be static (show the same content each time they are accessed) or dynamic (have changeable content), and are accessed with a web browser. Dynamic pages are normally written in scripting languages such as PHP or ASP. The scripts in the pages run functions on the server, but all the information is returned as HTML code, so when the page gets to your browser, all the browser has to do is translate the HTML.
Please note that a Web page is not the same thing as a Website. A Website is a collection of web pages.

Web Ring: A Web ring links related websites, so that people can visit many similar websites by just following a link to the "Web ring" link. Most Web rings allow people to browse backwards or forwards through the sites in the ring, or choose to visit individual sites from a list. They are normally run from a main site, which keeps the ring up to date.

Webcam: A webcam broadcasts video on the Web (obviously!). A webcam can either be built into your monitor/laptop, attached to your monitor or it can sit on your desk. The maximum resolution of a webcam is much lower than most handheld video cameras, because the signal is compressed to save bandwidth. Most webcams are connected to your computer via USB, and come with software that to let you stream video on the Web. They can also be used for video chat sessions with other people.

Webmail: There are two main ways to check your e-mail -by using an e-mail program like Microsoft Outlook, or with a Web-based interface called webmail. Most free e-mail services, such as Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo! Mail, use webmail interfaces. If you own a domain name, many Web hosts also offer a webmail interface to use with your domain name or website.
Webmail is run from a server and your messages are saved on the server, so you can check your mail and browse old messages from any computer connected to the Internet connection. The downside is that you need that connection to use webmail.

Webmaster: The webmaster is the person in charge of maintaining a Website, which can include writing HTML files, responding to e-mails or setting more complicated programs up.

Website: A website, or Website, is not the same thing as a Web page. A website is a collection of Web pages. For example, Amazon.com is a website, but there are millions of Web pages that make up the site.

WHOIS: You can use WHOIS to find information about a domain name or IP address. This information is usually the name, address and phone number of the various contacts for the domain name. You can use WHOIS to check if a domain name is available, or if it has already been registered.

Wi-Fi: This is short for "Wireless Fidelity." It refers to a set of standards that were developed for the creation of wireless local area networks, based on the specifications known as 802.11. It was originally meant to be used by wireless devices and local networks, but it is now used for Internet access as well.

Widget: A widget is a small program that runs on your computer's desktop. Some common widgets include weather guides, flight trackers and calendars. Widgets are written to make an application or service perform in a specific way, and let you use these applications without an in-depth knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes. They are useful because the information is supplied to you, rather than you having to find it yourself.

Wiki: A wiki is a website that allows you to add and update content through your browser. In general, they are created and edited by a group of people, and are used for collaborative projects. A great example is the Wikipedia, a free encyclopaedia that anyone can edit. The term "wiki" comes from the Hawaiian phrase, "wiki wiki," which means "super fast."

Windows: Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system for personal computers. There are several versions around these days, including Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Vista (See below). All Windows platforms use a graphical user interface (GUI), but also offer a command-line interface for typing text commands.

Windows Vista: Windows Vista is the latest version of Microsoft's Windows operating system. The look of the interface has been updated, with a smoother, 3D feel to its windows, icons and toolbars. Other improvements include faster indexed file searching (which can locate text within files), built-in Web services, numerous security improvements, and more multimedia capabilities.

Windows XP: Windows XP was introduced in 2001. It is a stable operating system, and has a modern look, with an interface that is easier to navigate than previous versions of Windows. The letters "XP" stand for "eXPerience," which apparently means the operating system is meant to be a new type of user experience.

WinZip: This is a program for Windows that allows you to "zip" and "unzip" Zip files, as well as other standard types of archive files. This involves compressing large files, so they can be sent or downloaded quicker, at which point they can be uncompressed.

Wireless: This term can be quite ambiguous, but the two most common types of wireless capability you will come across are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Wizard: A wizard is a part of a software program that guides you through certain steps, to help you learn how to use the program.

Word Processor: A word processor does exactly what the name suggests: it processes words. It also processes paragraphs, pages, and whole papers. Microsoft Word is the most famous example of a word processing program. Modern word processing program have many wide and varied uses: for instance, they let you customize the style of the text, change the page formatting, or include headers, footers and page numbers. The most important aspect of word processing programs is that you can edit text extremely easily once you have written it.

Workstation: This refers to a computer (and often the surrounding area) that has been configured to perform a certain set of tasks, such as photo editing, audio recording or video production. Workstations are normally networked together, so they can send files back and forth to each other, which is very useful in media production.

Worm: This definition refers to a computer virus. A 'worm' virus is one that replicates itself, but does not alter any files on your machine. However, it can cause havoc by multiplying so many times that it takes up your entire computer's memory. Worms are hard to detect because they are typically invisible files, which go unnoticed until your computer begins to slow down or starts having other problems. Also, they can start without any action from you, so this is another good reason to have an antivirus program installed on your system that can detect and remove worms.

WWW (World Wide Web): This is not the same as the Internet. The Web consists of pages that can be accessed using a Web browser, while the Internet is actually the network of computers where all the information resides. For example, e-mail is part of the Internet, but not the World Wide Web.

WYSIWYG: pronounced "wizzywig", this stands for "What You See Is What You Get". WYSIWYG refers to an application that accurately represents what your work will look like when it is finally produced. For example, a program like Microsoft Word is a WYSIWYG editor, because it shows what your documents will look when printed. Mr Site uses a WYSIWYG editor, so that you don't have to code everything yourself. You can move text and images around the page to make it appear exactly how you want before publishing it.

Zip: This is a type of file format (.zip). Zip files are a very popular way to send files over the Internet, as they are compressed or "zipped", so that their storage space and transfer times are reduced.