Internet Terms Glossary

Need a brief explanation of a word used on the internet? We have your back.

A

Artificial intelligence: (AI) (machines performing tasks that normally require human intelligence).

Algorithm: An algorithm is a process for resolving issues in computer science.

Anti-malware: Software that shields computers and other devices from harmful software is known as anti-malware (known as malware).

Anti-spyware: A category of software intended to get rid of spyware, or software that eavesdrops on a user's online activity.

Anti-virus: Computer virus removal software is known as anti-virus.

B

Bandwidth: The entire number of frequencies, or capacity, that a network connection can handle at any given time is measured by bandwidth. More data can be sent across a particular network at once with increased bandwidth. This matters for figuring out how many devices can connect to the network at once.

Bluetooth: A wireless system for connecting close-range electrical devices.

Broadband: Broadband is your overall indicator of the speed of your internet connection because it informs you how quickly data can be transmitted. This is important for figuring up how quickly your internet can carry out specific tasks, like streaming a movie.

C

Cable internet: Coaxial cables are used to carry data when using cable internet.

Cache/caching: Data is cached or cached by a software component so it can be accessed more quickly in the future.

Capping: Data capping is another name for capping. When the amount of data you can utilize in a month is limited.

Cloud computing: The use of online data storage facilities.

Cookies: Text-based data files that contain information needed to identify a user's machine.

D

Data cap: A data cap is a monthly restriction on how much data a user may use to access the internet.

Dial-up internet: A sort of internet service that functions by intercepting an active phone line's signal and converting it from a voice to a data signal.

Download: Downloading is the process of getting data from a server and storing it on a device.

Download speeds: The rate at which files, including text, photos, videos, and audio, are downloaded from a server. When most people think about internet speeds, they picture this kind of speed.

DSL: A type of internet service known as DSL: Digital Subscriber Line transmits data over telephone lines.

E

E-commerce: Electronic commerce is referred to as "e-commerce." the online purchase and sale of products.

Encryption: Data is transformed into code using encryption to protect privacy.

Ethernet: A connecting link that enables PCs to join a Wi-Fi network.

Extender: Wi-Fi extender abbreviation: extender. a gadget that connects to your network (wirelessly or wirelessly) to help extend your internet signal into spaces that lack Wi-Fi due to walls, furniture obstructions, or normal spacing.

F

Fiber internet: An internet service that transmits data over fiber optic connections.

Firewall: A network security system called a firewall uses established security rules to regulate incoming and outgoing communication and prevent unauthorized access.

FTP: File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the procedures that computers use to move files between systems.

G

Gigabit: A gigabit is a measurement equal to 1,000 megabits per second.

Gigabit broadband: Broadband connections with up to 1 Gigabit of speed. These are some of the quickest speeds on offer.

H

High-speed internet: The FCC defines high-speed internet as having download and upload rates of at least 25 Mbps, though this definition is likely to change as technology develops.

HTTP vs HTTPS: The protocol used to send data over the internet and the first part of a website URL are both HTTP and HTTPS. Although HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is more widely used, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) offers greater security because it employs encryption.

I

IMAP: Web Message Access Protocol, or IMAP. Email communications are stored on a mail server using a common email protocol.

Internet of things: Smart home security systems are examples of physical objects that can collect and transport data via a wireless network without the intervention of a human.

IP Address: Your devices' distinctive string of digits used to identify them is known as an IP address. The IP address is frequently referred to as the internet's ZIP codes.

ISP: An Internet service provider or ISP is a business that offers internet services.

J

Jitter: Miniscule, sporadic delays experienced during data transfers.

K

KB/KBPS: Data transfer speed is measured in KB/KBPS, or Kilobits per second. The standard unit of measurement for internet speed is 1 Mbps, which is equal to 1,000 KBPS.

L

 Latency: Latency measures the delay in data transfer and provides information on how quickly data is transferred from a source to a destination.

Link: Another name for a hyperlink. When a visitor can click on a highlighted area to visit another website.

Log in: how users access their account is through logging in.

LTE: Short for Long-Term Evolution. The wireless device's broadband protocol. Currently, 4G LTE is the most widely used mobile broadband protocol.

M

Malware: Malicious software is another name for malware. Software created with the express purpose of damaging, disrupting, or gaining illegal access to a computer system.

Megabyte: A measuring unit. Megabytes per second are the standard unit of measurement for internet speeds.

Mesh Wi-Fi: A collection of gadgets placed all throughout a house that function as a single Wi-Fi network. The idea behind having numerous points is to improve coverage for more rooms in the house. Each device is known as a point.

Mobile broadband: Wireless internet access, often known as internet access provided through a mobile network, is another name for mobile broadband.

Modem: A modem translates signals received from your internet service provider so that your devices can utilise them.

MP3: A saved audio file is MP3 (only able to store audio and images).

MP4: A saved multimedia file is MP4 (able to store video, stills, subtitles, or text).

N

Net neutrality: The idea that ISPs should treat all online content equally, without preferring or blocking particular goods, websites, or content kinds.

Network: A grouping of two or more connected computers (or other devices) that can share resources. This could refer to the internet or a Wi-Fi network.

O

OSS: Open Source Software (OSS) when the owner of the software's copyrights, through licensing arrangements, permits users to use, alter, or distribute the software.

P

Phishing: A type of fraud in which a perpetrator assumes another person's identity online in order to get another person's personal information or to install malware on the victim's computer or another device.

Ping: A ping test is used to see if a server is reachable. A data packet is sent to the server as part of the test to see if the data returns.

Piracy: Unauthorized use, duplication, or distribution of a work protected by copyright.

POP3: Email users can download emails from a server's inbox to a PC using the POP3: Post Office Protocol protocol.

R

RAM: Working data is kept in short-term computer memory, or R RAM (random access memory). It is not kept on the hard drive of a computer because it is only temporary.

Remote desktop: A centralized server that gives users access to their profiles on other devices via remote desktop.

Router: Allows devices to connect to the internet wirelessly by converting the internet signals delivered by a modem into a Wi-Fi signal.

S

Satellite internet: An internet service type that uses satellites to transfer data into the home is satellite internet.

Search engine: A program that enables users to look up information in databases is known as a search engine. Google is the most well-known search engine.

SIM: International mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) numbers and other sensitive personal information are safely stored on a SIM card, which is put into a mobile device.

Spam:  is the term for unsolicited messages sent via the internet to a large number of recipients.

Spyware: is software that enables one to secretly gather details about the online activity of another person.

Static IP: An IP address that doesn't change over time.

Streaming: Media content that is immediately viewable or audible on any electronic device over the internet.

T

Throttling: When your internet provider restricts your bandwidth or reduces your connection to particular online activity once you've hit a monthly cap.

Traffic: Data flow across an internet network is referred to as traffic.

Trojan horse: Malware that installs on a computer pretending to be a piece of software.

U

Unique user: IP address and an additional identification make up a unique user.

Unlimited: When there are no data limits when using the internet.

Uploading: is the process of sending data from your computer to a server or another internet-connected device. Zoom, email, and live gaming are typical instances.

Upload speeds: This reveals how rapidly data from your network is transmitted to other networks.

V 

Virus: An evil program created to either completely destroy or steal data from a device.

VOIP: Voice over Internet Protocol, or VOIP, is a technological advancement that enables voice communications via the internet as opposed to a phone line.

VPN: A virtual private network, or VPN, enables authenticated users to connect to a private network that has been expanded across a public network in a secure manner.

W

WAN: When numerous networks connect with one another, it is called a wide area network (W WAN) (a network of networks). The largest WAN in the world is the internet.

Wearable: Physically wearable smart electronics

Web browser: Any software program that can access the World Wide Web is a web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.)

Wi-Fi: an abbreviation for wireless fidelity, is the technology that enables your devices to connect to the internet wirelessly.

WLAN: is a group of two or more devices that may connect to the internet wirelessly and are located close to one another (a home, school, library, etc.).

X

XML: Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a collection of codes or tags used to describe content in documents (ex: HTML).

Z

Zip file: One or more documents can be compressed into a single zip file using the Zip file format.