All You Need To Know About Internet Talk!
(The A, B, Cs)

Ever wonder what people are talking about when they're jabbering in "web language"? Do you feel lost and even embarrassed when everyone else talks about those computer "things" using words you don't understand? Do you have trouble explaining your computer and Internet problems to everyone - including your computer tech?

Now you can sound like a pro (and know what you're talking about) when you use all the words that today's "techies" use. You can start by just studying these Internet definitions. You'll find everything you need to know about bits and bytes, megabytes, gigabytes, RAM and ROM, bandwidth and bookmarks. You'll have the knowledge you need to speak intelligently when you need to buy new computer parts or call for repairs or tech support.

Once you read through this list, you'll probably want to pass this information on to your friends and family members who use computers and the Internet. After all, you'd want them to share good ideas and good information with you, wouldn't you?

Take a few minutes to read though Part 1 of this list and familiarize yourself with the most common computer and Internet terms. Then send an email to your friends and family and give them the opportunity to become an Internet Techie too!

Address
A web address is the place where a web site "lives" on the Internet. It's the location where the web site resides on the server that puts it out to the world. A web address is also called a URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator. For example, http://www.nypwh.com is a web site address.

An e-mail address is the one-of-a-kind identifier you need to receive e-mail. It includes the name you choose to be called by your email friends, and the identifier for the Internet Access Provider you use. For example, tinkerbell@nypwh.com is an email address.

Attachment
An attachment is a file document, audio clip, graphic, or photograph that is attached to an e-mail message. You'll recognize an attachment when you receive one by the little paperclip that comes along with it. Be extremely careful opening attachments from people you don't know. Computer viruses are generally spread through email attachments. It is recommended that you don't open an email attachment unless someone you know has called to tell you to expect it.

Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the difference between the high and low frequencies of an Internet connection (measured in Hertz). This term refers to the amount of information that can flow over a single connection for a specific duration. Like a lot of things relating to the Internet, you only think about bandwidth when you don’t have enough of it.

Bit
A bit holds a single piece of binary information, either a one or a zero, on or off, yes or no. It's the smallest chunk of digital information.

Bps
Bits Per Second, the measure of a modem's signaling speed. Usually modem speeds are listed in Kbps, for kilobits per second — as in 56Kbps.

Bookmark
Your web browser allows you to use placeholders so you can easily return to particular URLs or Web addresses. Netscape’s browsers call these "Bookmarks," while Internet Explorer calls their placeholders "Favorites." Bookmarks and Favorites perform the same function, and should be used so you can remember, and quickly return to, Web sites you use often.

Browser
A browser is software that lets you see pages on the Web. Most people use Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser or the Netscape Navigator browser. Browsers interpret and "read’ the HTML pages that make up the Web.

Buffer
The buffer in your computer is a sort of holding tank for information. If your computer has lots of memory acting as a data buffer, it won’t have to keep replenishing its tiny "tank" and your programs will likely run more efficiently. Printers also have buffers so that they can hold the information waiting to be printed.

Byte
A byte is a string of eight bits that represents a single element of data. In text files, each letter is typically represented by a single byte. (In other words, the letter q would look like a series of eight 1s and 0s in a particular order that denotes "q." Bytes usually describe file size and data storage, as in kilobyte.

Cache
Pronounced "cash." When you visit a Web page more than once during the same session, you’ll notice that the page loads much faster the second and third times. That’s because your cache is a part of memory that stores Web pages you’ve already seen. If your browser asks to see those things again, the computer has them on hand and doesn’t have to go back to the Internet to get them.

This is great for static pages that don’t change often, but if you return to sites that change a lot, like say an online auction, you’ll want to click "Reload" to get a fresh, updated page. You can set your browser to "dump" or clean out your cache several times during a session or once a day. You’ll want to keep a healthy balance between keeping things in the cache and yet not taking up too much memory with tons of pages.

Cookie
Cookies are small pieces of information that Web sites send to your computer to "keep" until it’s time for the site’s server to read it. For example, the cookie made while you shop around a Web site contains a list of goodies you’ve put in your virtual shopping cart. When you prepare to checkout , the site reads the cookie file on your hard drive to see what you’re buying.

CPU
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, your computer’s "brain". Often referred to as the processor or "the chip".

That's it for the A, B, Cs of the Internet. Stay tuned for the D, E, Fs, coming shortly.