Glossary

Address

Code by which the Internet identifies you. The format is username@hostname, where username is your username, login name, or account number, and hostname is the name of the computer or Internet provider you use. The hostname may be a few words strung together with periods.

Anonymous FTP

A way to use the FTP program to log on to another computer to copy files when you don't have an account on the other computer. When you log on, enter 'anonymous' as the username and your 'e-mail address' as the password. This gives you access to publicly available files.

Applets

Java's advantage is in that it is composed of many smaller, re-usable chunks of programming code, called "applets" (short for "applications"). This allows for quicker transfer over the internet, meaning many new programs will now be able to become directly interactive, incorporating animation, sound, and more. (See also Java, ShockWave, and VRML)

Archie

A system that helps you find files located anywhere on the Internet. After Archie locates the file, you can use FTP to get it. Archie is both a program and a system of server computers that contain indexes of files.

ASCII

Acronym for AMERICAN STANDARD CODE FOR INFORMATION INTERCHANGE, a standard character set.

Asynchronous Communication

Communication that occurs at different times, between two or more individuals, in contrast to Synchronous communication. For e.g. e-mails, some conferencing systems, bulletin boards.

ATM

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is a networking technology that provides a guaranteed quality of service. Standard Internet connections are based on Frame Relay technology. The throughput of Frame Relay links can be drastically reduced under certain circumstances, just as a garden hose becomes less effective when stepped on or kinked. However, ATM links are like metal pipes-they always provide the same amount of throughput, regardless of the pressure exerted on them. Globats hosting facility has direct ATM connections to the major Internet hubs on both the East and West coasts (MAE-East, and MAE-West).

Authentication

Verifying the identity of a person or computer process.

Authoring Software

Computer programs that aid in creating HTML documents by inserting the code for tags. Trellix Web and MS FrontPage are examples of authoring software.

Auto-responder

Auto-responders allow you to automatically return a pre-set message whenever a selected mailbox receives a message. It will also notify a selected mailbox of the receipt and response.

 

Backbone

A high-speed line or series of connections that form a major pathway within a network. The term is relative, since a backbone in a small network will likely be much smaller than many non-backbone lines in a large network.

Backgrounds

These are images which are designed to to sit in the background of a web page so that all other information, (e.g.text, images) is seen to sit on top.

Bandwidth Information theory used to express the amount of information that can flow through a given point at a given time. Usually measured in bits per second (bps). Also referred to as data transfer.

Browse / browser

You get access to the WWW through an application called a 'browser', like Netscape or Mosaic. To 'browse' is to search the WWW for information.

Bulletin Board System (BBS)

A computer system that provides its users files for downloading and areas for electronic discussions.

Certificates: Secure or Digital

Issued by a Certificate Authority (such as Equifax, Thawte or VeriSign) , a Secure Certificate (also known as a Digital Certificate) is proof that a Web site is linked to a legitimate business, with a physical address and phone number. It is the job of the Certificate Authority to verify the identity of merchants and issue each a digital or authentication certificate.

Chatting

Talking in real time to other network users from any and all parts of the world.

CGI script

Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a standard for interfacing external applications with information servers, such as HTTP or Web servers. A CGI script allows a program to be run on your server which can output dynamic information. Some examples of cgi scripts are: hit counters, mail forms, search pages and guest book. Although Perl is the predominant language because of it's worldwide acceptance, CGI can be written in any number of programming languages such as, Unix SH, KSH, CSH, and C.

Client

A software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a server software program on another computer, often across a great distance. Each client program is designed to work with one or more types of server programs.

Com

When these letters appear in lowercase type at the end of an address, they indicate that the host computer is run by a company rather than a university or government agency. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.

Cookies

A mechanism for server-side connections to store and retrieve information on the client side.

Cross Platform

Different computing systems being able to share data.

Cyberspace

A virtual universe of computers, programs, and data.

Data Transfer

Data transfer (bandwidth) is the amount of information downloaded from a Web site. For example, let's assume all of the data (pictures, text, buttons) on your homepage totals 25KB (the size of Yahoo's homepage). If a thousand people viewed your homepage you'd have 25MB total data transfer for that month (25KB multiplied by 1000).

Disk Space

Disk space is the storage capacity of your Web site for pictures, HTML, graphics, etc. and is usually expressed in MB.

Download

To retrieve a file from another machine, usually a host machine, to your machine.

DNS

The Domain Name System. A system for translating computer names into numeric Internet addresses.

Domain Name

The unique name that identifies an Internet site. A given machine may have more than one domain name, but a given domain name points to only one machine. It is also possible for a domain name to exist but not be connected to an actual machine. This is often done so that a group or business can have an Internet e-mail address without having to establish a real Internet site. In these cases, an Internet service provider's machine must handle the mail on behalf of the listed domain name.

Domain Name Registration

Domain Name Registration is the process of registering your Web site address (i.e. www.sixthsenseinteractives.com) with an official Internet registrar.

Domain Transfer

When a domain name (Web site) is moved from one Internet address to another, the new address must be recorded by the domain registrar to allow Internet Domain Name Servers to point to the new location

Edu

When these letters appear at the end of an address (info@mit.edu), they indicate that the host computer is run by an educational institution. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.

E-commerce (electronic commerce)

The purchasing of goods and services over the Internet.

E-mail (electronic mail)

A communication system that allows you to send text, files and/or graphical messages over the Internet.

E-mail Autoresponders/Lists

An autoresponder will send a standard response e-mail message (based on a text file you specify) to anyone who sends an e-mail to a specific e-mail address (which you specify) at your domain.

Encryption

The translation of data into a secret code. Encryption is the most effective way to achieve data security. To read an encrypted file, you must have access to a secret key or password that enables you to decrypt it. Unencrypted data is called plain text; encrypted data is referred to as cipher text. Most e-commerce software applications utilize encryption technology.

Ethernet

A local-area network (LAN) protocol developed by Xerox Corporation in cooperation with DEC and Intel in 1976. Ethernet uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards. A newer version of Ethernet, called 100Base-T (or Fast Ethernet), supports data transfer rates of 100 Mbps. And the newest version, Gigabit Ethernet supports data rates of 1 gigabit (1,000 megabits) per second.

Extranet

An extranet is a private network that uses Internet protocols and public telecommunications lines. An extranet can be viewed as part of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company. The main purpose of an extranet is to share information with individuals or groups outside a company, such as suppliers, customers and partners.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions - the role of these is to answer the majority of questions commonly asked by newcomers. FAQs provide a means by which questions that are frequently asked can be collated into one document.

Forms

Forms add extra interactivity to Web sites. Questionaires can be created, that include text areas, check boxes and radio buttons which are then sent by the viewer to a specified mailbox, usually the manager of the Web site.

F.T.P

File Transfer Protocol. A method of transferring one or more files from one computer to another over a network or phone line.

Firewall

A filter for messages. A system that has a firewall lets only certain kinds of messages in and out from the rest of the Internet. If an organization wants to exchange mail with the Internet, but does not want other Internet members "Telnetting in" and reading those files, its connection to the Internet can be protected by using a firewall.

Forward (e-mail)

E-mail forwards redirect e-mail messages to another mailbox either within its domain or to an outside destination.

File Formats

The patterns and standards used to store a program on a disk. Examples are GIF, JPEG, AIFF.

File Server

A file server is a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on the server.

Form

HTML documents designed with fill-in text boxes, lists of options, and other elements that allow the user of the form to send information back to the web server. (E.g. registration form, order form, etc.)

Frame

An HTML tag introduced by Netscape to allow partitioning of the browser window into independent document display areas.

FTP/FrontPage access

You will have unlimited access to your account via FTP or FrontPage 24 hours a day in order to maintain your site. It is recommended that the majority of work on your site be done locally on your own system and then uploaded to our server. This affords you the most flexibility and safety in regard to backing up your data.

Gateway

A computer that connects one network with another when the two networks use different protocols. The UUNET computer connects the UUCP network with the Internet, providing a way for mail messages to move between the two networks.

Gb (Gigabit)

In data communications, a gigabit is one billion bits (1,073,741,824 bits to be exact). Bit - the smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit has a single binary value, either 0 or 1.

GB (Gigabyte)

In data communications, a gigabyte is one billion bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes to be exact). Byte - a group of eight binary digits processed as a unit by a computer and used especially to represent an alphanumeric character.

GIF

A popular type of image file format. Stands for Graphic Image Format.

Gigabytes

2 to the 30th power (1,073,741,824) bytes. One gigabyte is equal to 1,024 megabytes. Gigabyte is often abbreviated as G or GB.

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format. A platform-independent file format developed by CompuServe, the GIF format is commonly used to distribute graphics on the Internet.

Gopher

A system that lets you find information by using menus. To use Gopher, you usually Telnet to a Gopher server and begin browsing the menus.

Helper Application

This is an application that adds extra functionality to Web documents. e.g. If you download a movie clip the Web browser is unable to play the file but it can boot up a helper application, in this case it may be 'RealPlayer' (An audio/video player application).

Head

The HTML tag used to enclose the beginning elements in the HTML document, including the title.

Hits Counter

A hits counter is a tool that allows a Webmaster to determine how many times a particular page is accessed.

Home Page

The first page that you intend people to see at your web site.

Host Name

The name of a computer on the Internet, used to identify it in the URL naming scheme.

Hosting, Web Hosting

To provide the infrastructure for a computer service. For example, a company like yourdomain hosts web servers. This means that we provide the hardware, software, and communications lines required by the server, but the customer may control the content on the server.

Hits

This refers to the number of people who have visited a given Web Site or page.( e.g.10300 hits)

Host

A computer on the Internet you may be able to log on to. You can use FTP to get files from a host computer, and use other programs (such as telnet) to make use of the host computer.

Hypermedia

Computer applications that have the ability to link information to information created by another application, characteristic of Internet Applications.

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The method by which World Wide Web pages are transferred over the network.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language. A system used for writing pages for the World Wide Web. HTML allows text to include codes that define fonts, layout, embedded graphics, and hypertext links.

Hypertext

A system of writing and displaying text that enables the text to be linked in multiple ways, available at several levels of detail. Hypertext documents can also contain links to related documents, such as those referred to in footnotes. Hypermedia can also contain pictures, sounds, and /or video.

Internet Access

Internet access is usually made through a University Network or a commercial service provider.

Internet

The vast collection of interconnected networks that all use the TCP/IP protocols and that evolved from the ARPANET of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Internet connects roughly 60,000 independent networks into a vast, global Internet.

IP

Internet Protocol. The transport layer protocol used as a basis of the Internet. IP enables information to be routed from one network to another in packets and then reassembled when they reach their destination.

IP Address

A four-part number separated by periods (for example, 165.113.245.2) that uniquely identifies a machine on the Internet. Every machine on the Internet has a unique IP number; if a machine does not have an IP number, it is not really on the Internet. Most machines also have one or more domain names that are easier for people to remember.

IRC

Internet Relay Chat. A system that enables Internet users to talk with each other in real time over the Internet rather than in person.

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network. A way to move more data over existing regular phone lines. ISDN is only slowly becoming available in the USA. ISDN can provide speeds of 64,000 bits per second over a regular phone line at almost the same cost as a normal phone call.

Java

This programming code works in conjunction with HTML to allow dynamic programs to run and interact with your computer, where straight HTML is primarily linear information downloaded to your computer for static display. Java is a product created by Sun Microsystems. Watch for many new websites to start incorporating limitless graphics, sound, motion, programs, etc..

JavaScript

A proprietary scripting language by Netscape that adds author-specified user events to static pages.

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group. A group that has defined a compression scheme that reduces the size of image files by up to 20 times at the cost of slightly reduced image quality.

KB

Short for kilobyte. When used to describe data storage, KB usually represents 1,024 bytes. When used to describe data transfer rates, KB represents 1,000 bytes.

LAN

Local Area Network. A group of connected computers, usually located in close proximity (such as the same building or floor of the building) so data can be passed among them.

Links

By inserting hypertextual links into web documents it is possible to connect two documents together. These documents can be on different computers on opposite sides of the globe.

Listserv

A family of programs that manages mailing lists by distributing messages posted to the list, adding and deleting members automatically.

Locally

This term refers to information stored and viewed on your machine(local). As opposed to the information stored and viewed on other machines on the internet.

Login

A noun or a verb. Noun: The account name used to gain access to a computer system. Unlike a password, the login name is not a secret. Verb: The act of entering into a computer system; for example, "Login to the WELL and then go to the GBN conference."

Mailbox - E-mail

Also called POP accounts, E-mailboxes serve as a convenient way to manage messages sent to your domain.

Mail To

This enables e-mail contact to be written into a Web document

Message

A piece of e-mail or a posting to a newsgroup.

Mirror

An FTP server that provides copies of the same files as another server. Some FTP servers are so popular that other servers have been set up to mirror them and spread the FTP load to more than one site.

Modem

Modulator, DEModulator. A device that you connect to your computer and to a phone line to allow the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. Modems convert the computer's digital signals into analog waves that can be transmitted over standard voice telephone lines. Modem speeds are measured in bits per second (bps)--also sometimes expressed as Kilobits (thousands of bits) per second.

MySQL

MySQL is a relational database management system. A relational database stores data in separate tables rather than putting all the data in one big storeroom. This adds speed and flexibility. The tables are linked by defined relations making it possible to combine data from several tables on request. The SQL part of MySQL stands for "Structured Query Language" - the most common standardized language used to access databases.

My Account

It is an on-line interface that allows users to change and update their Domain/Email or hosting Details.

Net

Net is an abbreviation for the term Internet which stands for Interconnected networks. When these letters appear at the end of an address (info@globat.net), they may indicate that the host computer is run by a network but is more often used interchangeably with .com. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.

Netscape

Netscape is a WWW browser. An application that allows you to search for information on the World Wide Web and now other services such as Newsgroups and e-mail.

Network

Any time you connect two or more computers together so they can share resources, you have a computer network. Connect two or more networks together and you have an internet (small "i").

NNTP

Network News Transfer Protocol. A protocol defined for distribution, inquiry, retrieval, and posting of news articles.

Newsgroup

A distributed bulletin board system about a particular topic. Usenet News (also know as Netnews) is a system that distributes thousands of newsgroups to all parts of the Internet.

ODBC Support

Object Database Connectivity (ODBC) support allows ODBC compliant applications to connect to an ODBC database and extract data without requiring that the user have programming skills. For example, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and mySQL are ODBC compliant applications. Using ODBC and mySQL a user can import data directly into an Excel spreadsheet once mySQL ODBC drivers have been installed on the user's computer.

Off-Line

This is working on a computer that is currently not connected to the Internet.

On-Line

This is working on a computer that is currently connected to the Internet.

Packet

A chunk of information sent over a network. Each packet contains the destination address, the sender's address, error-control information, and data.

Page

A document, or collection of information, available by way of the World Wide Web. To make information available over the WWW, it is organized into pages. A page may contain text, graphics, video, and/or sound files.

Ping

A network management tool that checks to see whether you can communicate with another computer on the Internet. It sends a short message to which the other computer automatically responds. If the other computer does not respond to the ping, you usually cannot establish communications.

POP

Point of Presence. A physical site in a geographic area where a network access provider, such as UUNET, has equipment to which users connect. The local phone company's central office in a particular area is also sometimes referred to as their POP for that area. (As an example, AT&T's POP for the Seattle area is in downtown Seattle.)

POP

Post Office Protocol. A system by which a mail server on the Internet lets you grab your mail and download it to your PC or Macintosh. Most people refer to this protocol with its version number (POP2, POP3, and so on) to avoid confusing it with Point of Presence.

Pop Account

Same as an e-mail mailbox. A Pop Account is a mailbox that is set up to accept e-mail sent to a particular address.

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol. A scheme for connecting two computers over a phone line (or a network link that acts like a phone line). Similar to SLIP.

Posting Up

To send a message to a discussion group or mailing list.

Propagation

The process of disseminiating information throughout a system.

Example 1 - After registration, new Internet domain name information is propagated across the Internet when local DNS servers update their databases from a central file. Note: Not all local DNS databases are updated with the same frequency (hourly, daily, every other day, etc.). Example 2 - Password changes often must be made on several different servers and will not complete propagation until all affected servers update their databases. Updating (rehashing) a given server's database is usually an automated process that is performed at specific intervals.

Protocol A language Computers use when talking to each other.

Query

A request for information from a database. There are three general methods for posing queries:(1) Choosing parameters from a menu: In this method, the database system presents a list of parameters from which you can choose. (2) Query by example (QBE): In this method, the system presents a blank record and lets you specify the fields and values that define the query. (3) Query language: Many database systems require you to make requests for information in the form of a stylized query that must be written in a special query language.

Remote Access

When you access a computer that you are unable to see. This is done via a modem or computer network.

Rack Space

Physical storage unit for computers or network devices.

RAM

An acronym for Random Access Memory, a type of computer memory that can be accessed ra randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.

Real-Time

Occurring immediately. The term is used to describe a number of different computer features. For example, real-time operating systems are systems that respond to input immediately.

Remote Administration

Administering a computer or network from a remote location.

ROM

Pronounced rahm, acronym for Read-Only Memory, computer memory on which data has been prerecorded. Once data has been written onto a ROM chip, it cannot be removed and can only be read.

Root Directory

The top directory in a file system. The root directory is provided by the operating system and has a special name; for example, in DOS systems the root directory is called \. The root directory is sometimes referred to simply as the root.

Router

A device that connects two Local Area Networks. Routers are similar to bridges, but provide additional functionality, such as the ability to filter messages and forward them to different places based on various criteria. The Internet uses routers extensively to forward packets from one host to another.

Screen Resolution

The number of dots per square inch (dpi) displayed on a screen. The higher the number of dots, the better the resolution.

Search Engine

A software application found on-line which allows you to search for information, by key words, available on the Internet (e.g. web sites, newsgroups)

Server

A computer that provides a service to other computers on a network. An Archie server, for example, lets people on the Internet use Archie.

Service Provider

A service provider is a company who supplies Internet services to personal users or business. Among other things they provide access to the Internet or somewhere to place Web Pages making them available to the WWW. You pay the service provider a set fee.

Shockwave

Similar to Java, bringing enhanced multimedia to the Internet. ShockWave is a development tool created by the company Macromedia.

Shopping Cart Software

Software that permits users to set up an on-line store to sell merchandise via the Internet.

Site

A site is the term given to a place where information can be found on the World Wide Web. (i.e. A Web site)

SLIP

Serial Line Interface Protocol. A software scheme for connecting a computer to the Internet.

Socket

When your computer is on the Internet via a SLIP connection, a socket is a conversation your computer is having with a computer elsewhere on the net. You may have one socket for an FTP session, another socket for a Telnet session, and another socket taking care of getting your mail.

SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol A protocol used to transfer e-mail between computers.

SQL

Structured Query Language - a standardized language used to access databases. See MySQL.

Synchronous Communication

Communication that occurs at the same time, between two or more individuals, for e.g. telephone conversations, Internet Relay Chat, face-to-face communication.

TCP/IP

Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The system that networks use to communicate with each other on the Internet.

T-1

A dedicated phone connection supporting data rates of 1.544Mbits per second. A T-1 line actually consists of 24 individual channels, each of which supports 64Kbits per second. Each 64Kbit/second channel can be configured to carry voice or data traffic.

T-3

A dedicated phone connection supporting data rates of about 43 Mbps. A T-3 line actually consists of 672 individual channels, each of which supports 64 Kbps.

Tag

The basic unit of HTML coding, consisting of a word inside less-than (<) and greater-than (>) brackets.

TCP/IP

Acronym for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, the suite of communications protocols used to connect hosts on the Internet. TCP/IP uses several protocols, the two main ones being TCP and IP. TCP/IP is built into the UNIX operating system and is used by the Internet, making it the de facto standard for transmitting data over networks. Even network operating systems that have their own protocols, such as Netware, also support TCP/IP.

Telephony

The science of translating sound into electrical signals, transmitting them, and then converting them back to sound; that is, the science of telephones. The term is used frequently to refer to computer hardware and software that performs functions traditionally performed by telephone equipment.

Telnet

A method of logging onto remote computer systems using a terminal program or other applications using the Telnet protocol. You can use the Telnet application to run commands and programs on a remote computer. A telnet program connects your PC directly to your site's server. Unlike FTP access, the file transfer protocol you can use to download documents to your local hard drive for editing, a telnet connection allows you to modify your files and CGI scripts directly on the server.

Terminal

A device that allows you to send commands to a computer somewhere else. At a minimum, this usually means a keyboard and a display screen and some simple circuitry. Usually you will use terminal software in a personal computer--the software pretends to be ("emulates") a physical terminal and allows you to type commands to a computer somewhere else.

UNIX

A computer operating system (the basic software running on a computer, underneath things such as word processors and spreadsheets). UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time (it is "multiuser") and has TCP/IP built in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. The standard way to give the address of any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW). A URL looks like this: http://www.matisse.net/seminars.htm. The most common way to use a URL is to enter into a Web browser program, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

Upload

The transmission of a file from one computer system to another, usually larger computer system. In terms of web hosting, it would happen when a file is transmitted to the host's web servers.

Viewer

A program used by Gopher, WAIS, or WWW client programs to show files with contents other than text. You would use a viewer to display graphics or video files, or to play sound files.

Visitors/Users

People who come to a particular web site.

VRML

Virtual Reality Markup Language. A standard by which the internet uses for delivering 3-dimensional virtual reality over the the Web.

WAN

Wide Area Network. Any internet or network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus. (See also: Internet, LAN, network)

World Wide Web

The newest and most ambitious of the special Internet services. The World Wide Web provides full text and graphical access to documents created using Hypertext Markup Language(HTML). It is the first Internet service that incorporates many of the most popular platforms (e-mail, Gopher, FTP, Wais, Newsgroups). Attributed to the world wide success of the Internet. Often abbreviated 'WWW'.

Web

An abbreviated term for the World Wide Web.

WAN

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs). Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites. The largest WAN in existence is the Internet.

Web Business

An entity conducting commerce on the Internet.

Web Consultant

A person or company that can help you create or improve an online business.

Webmaster

An individual who manages a web site. Depending on the size of the site, the Webmaster might be responsible for any of the following: Making sure that the web server hardware and software is running properly, designing the web site, creating and updating web pages, replying to user feedback, creating CGI scripts, monitoring traffic through the site.

Web Operations

The operation of your web site, the server on which it is located, as well as its connection to the Internet.

Web Presence

A web site.

Web Server

A computer that delivers (serves up) web pages. Every web server has an IP address and possibly a domain name. For example, if you enter the URL http://Globat.com/ in your browser, this sends a request to the server whose domain name is Globat.com. The server then fetches the page named index.html or index.php and sends it to your browser.

Web Site Creation

A hase in creating a web presence, where the site navigation, images and content are determined and a developer writes the code.

Whois

An Internet utility that returns information about a domain name or IP address. For example, if you enter a domain name such as yourdomain.COM, whois will return the name and address of the domain's owner.

Wildcard

A special symbol that stands for one or more characters. Many operating systems and applications support wildcards for identifying files and directories. This enables you to select multiple files with a single specification. For example, in DOS and Windows, the asterisk (*) is a wild card that stands for any combination of letters.

Web Document

Is a collection of information stored on the World Wide Web (WWW) which has the benefit of using hypertext links to link to other documents on the (WWW).

Web Site

A collection of html files, graphic files and any other file types that are supported by the World Wide Web that can be viewed by using a World Wide Web browser.

Windows Socket

(WinSock). Windows Sockets is a standard way for Windows-based programs to work with TCP/IP. You can use WinSock if you use SLIP to connectto the Internet.

XML

Short for eXtensible Markup Language, a new specification being developed by the W3C. XML is a pared-down version of SGML, designed especially for web documents. It enables designers to create their own customized tags to provide functionality not available with HTML. For example, XML supports links that point to multiple documents, as opposed to HTML links, which can reference just one destination each.