Glossary of Web Related Terms
Listed in alphabetical order.
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Audio/Video streaming - Audio/video streaming allows you to provide visitors to your site with a real-time sound or video experience.
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Backbone - The network of connections and high-speed lines that forms the infrastructure of the Internet. An important consideration in choosing a Web site host is that host's proximity to the backbone. The less intermediate network distance between your provider and the backbone, the faster and more reliable your Web site will be.
Bandwidth - The amount of data that can be sent through a network connection, measured in bits per second (bps).
Banner ad - Banner ads are one of the primary methods of advertising on the Internet. They are usually small graphics with a very brief advertising message.
Bulletin board - A computerized version of the bulletin boards found in stores and other public places, where people can leave messages and advertise things they want to buy or sell.
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CGI scripts - Programs that run on a Web server, in response to input from a browser. CGI scripts link the server and a program running on the system; for example, CGI scripts are used with interactive forms.
Chat room - A real-time electronic forum; a virtual room where visitors can meet others and share ideas on a particular subject. There are chat rooms on the Internet, BBSs, and other online services.
Common Gateway Interface (CGI) - A set of rules that describe how a Web server communicates with another piece of software on the same machine, and how the other piece of software talks to the Web server. Usually, a CGI program is a small routine that takes data from a Web server and does something with it, like putting the content of a form into an e-mail message, or turning the data into a database query.
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Database - A structured collection of records. A database allows you to store large amounts of information in a logical, ordered fashion.
Domain name - The unique name that identifies an Internet site. For instance www.idnlogic.com is the domain name for IDN Logic. Determining the domain name for a Web site reflects both a marketing and a technical consideration. In general, shorter names are preferred to longer names. They are easier to communicate, remember, and type.
Domain name registration - Most Web designers will offer to register your chosen domain name for you. Alternatively, you can choose to register your domain name directly through InterNIC. Regardless of the method you choose there is a standard charge for registration.
Drupal - An open-source platform and content management system for building dynamic web sites offering a broad range of features and services including user administration, publishing workflow, discussion capabilities, news aggregation, metadata functionalities using controlled vocabularies and XML publishing for content sharing purposes. Drupal is generally comprised of a mix of core and contributed modules.
Dynamic Site -Provides for a unit to conduct its "business" --instruction, research, administration, serv- ice-- via Web-enabled technology and to maintain two- way communication with con- stituents and site visitors. Significant requisite investment of human and technological resources must be allotted to meet the expectations and needs of the user. Requires continuous staffing to maintain currency and business flow, to enable communication, and to respond to user requirements.
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E-commerce - E-Commerce is short for Electronic commerce and refers to the exchange of goods or services via the Internet. E-Commerce sites provide a system where users conduct financial transactions by electronic means. E-Commerce often refers to purchases from online stores on the Web, known as E-Commerce Web sites, virtual- stores, or Cyberstores. E-Commerce can either be conducted business to business, or transactions can take place between businesses and consumers. Significant requisite investment of human and technological resources must be allocated to meet the expectations and needs of the user. E-Commerce Web sites require permanent, constant staffing to maintain currency and business flow, to enable communication, and to respond to user requirements. Other technical issues include, but are not limited to, server access outside of the main domain, speed of server, number of users allowed on the system, and others.
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Guest book - A guest book allows visitors to your site to give you their contact information (e.g. name, e-mail or postal address, telephone number, business). You may be able to use this information to send e-mail or direct marketing newsletters or simply collect marketing information about your customers.
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HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is the most basic of the coding language used to develop Web pages. It is used to format text and create hyperlinks from one page to another.
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Microsoft NT - The brand name for Microsoft's server operating platform. See also, Unix.
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Open-Source Software - Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in. (Definition: http://www.opensource.org/)
Operating System - Software that the rest of the computer depends to work. For example, Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, BDSD, and Windows XP..
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PHP - PHP Hypertext Preprocessor is a programming language allowing web developers to create dynamic content that interacts with databases. Syntax is similar to C. Embedded scripting language. Server-side code..
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Reference Site - Communicates information that changes on a regular basis and must be kept current in
order to serve the needs of constituents and site visitors. Requires the assignment of a
Webmaster within the unit or organization and must be kept current within reasonable
expectations. Requires a comthe identified Webmaster.
Restricted Access Site - Provides a validation system by which users can be authenticated, tracked, and given access to sensitive information. Significant requisite investment of human and techno- logical resources must be allotted to meet the expectations and needs of the user. Re- quires permanent, constant staffing to maintain currency and business flow, to enable communication, and to respond to user requirements. Other technical issues include, but are not limited to, server access outside of the Ohio State domain, speed of server, number of users allowed on the system, and others.
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Security functions - Securing areas of your Web site can allow visitors to your site to submit credit card payments online or access sensitive information (e.g. account information). For example, the processing of financial transactions over the Internet raises obvious security concerns. Although technical measures can be implemented to resolve many of those concerns, those measures can be difficult to set up and maintain, are not fool-proof, and inevitably attract hackers to the servers on which they are installed. Accordingly, sites needing online financial processing capabilities must use a secure, insured
financial processor to meet the expected security requirements.
Server - A computer/device which provides information, services, applications, or files to computers on a network. Hardware (and server software such as MS SQL Server).
Shopping cart - Shopping carts serve two functions: to manage your Web-based inventory and to help you design a browser interface for displaying your product or service line.
Static Site - Provides minimal information about the unit or organization that is not likely to change with regularity (i.e., mission, organization, contact information). Recommended for units that do not have resources available on an ongoing basis to maintain Web page infor- mation. Such sites can be created using templates and standard graphics that are available at www.osu.edu/resources. Requires a commitment to respond to inquiries di- rected to the page's identified Webmaster in an appropriately expedient manner.
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Unix - The name of a group of server operating platforms from Sun, RedHat, HP, and others. See also, Microsoft NT.
URL - Uniform Resource Locator (formerly Universal Resource Locator). An Internet address which tells a browser where to find an Internet resource. For example, the URL for IDN Logic is http://www.idnlogic.com.
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Web Server - The software component responsible for serving web pages. Examples are Apache and Microsoft IIS.
Web Site Security - Web server software needs to be secured. Also, it is important to be aware, if writing executable code or CGI scripts for Web applications, that there are inherent security risks. Knowledgeable programmers should be tasked with reviewing, if not writing of, such code to prevent security problems. Web server equipment and operating systems that Web servers run on must to be secured by knowledgeable network administrators.
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