Archie A program used to search files at FTP sites; there are currently about 30 Archie servers in the world.

Baud Rate (Same as BPS--Bits Per Second). A unit used to measure the number of data bits a modem can transfer in one second. One baud is how many signals a modem can handle in one second. Information is measured in bits, and bits come in the signal. Higher baud modems can send and receive more signals in a second, and the faster speeds also cram more bits into a signal.

Bookmark (also known as "Hot List"). Most Web browsers give you an option of adding a URL to a "Hot List" or by marking it with a "Bookmark". By doing this, you can store the linking information (the URL) to any Web pages you plan to revisit. That way, if you decide to go back to a Web site, its URL is already catalogued and at your fingertips for easy reference. (Spry Mosaic uses "Hot Lists", for example, and Netscape Navigator uses "Bookmarks". Other Web browsers may use those terms, or may call their URL-saving feature something else.)

BPS Bits Per Second. Refers to the speed at which a particular modem can transmit data. Divide the bits per second by 10 to get an approximate idea of how many characters per second a modem is transmitting data.

Client Any program you use to access a server. For example, "http://www.glasscity.net" is a server, and Netscape is a client.

COMM port (Communications Port). A plug-in socket in back of the computer for hooking up devices such as modems. communications software Also referred to as telecommunications software, this software allows one computer to connect with other computers across telephone lines (via modems) and share information. Communications software transmits instructions to your modem that directs it to make connections, transfer files, and carry out other procedures.

Connect time The period during which a user is signed on, usually for a fee, to an online service, bulletin board system, host computer, or Internet service provider.

Domain The name and type of site you use. I use glasscity.net, a network domain. Microsoft (microsoft.com). Portland State University (pdx.edu) is an educational domain. Others use xxx.gov, which are government domains. There are other types as well.

Domain name The unique name of a collection of computers connected to networks such as the Internet. On the Internet, domain names typically end with a suffix denoting the type of site (see "domain" above).

DNS (Domain Name Server) The computer that distributes domian names to other computers dialing in or attached to it.

Download To receive a file sent from another computer via modem (compare "upload").

Dumb terminal A terminal that doesn't contain an internal microprocessor. It responds to simple control codes, and usually displays only characters and numerals.

Electronic mail (e-mail) The most frequently used communications tool on the Internet. E-mail allows you to communicate with one or thousands of users in less time and for less money than it takes to communicate with another person via traditional phone or mail services.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). A collection of questions and answers about a particular topic.

File compression This makes computer data smaller so less is needed to represent the same information and, consequently, the information takes up less disk or file space and may be transmitted in less time.

File server A file-storage device on a local area network (LAN) that is accessible to all users on the network. It is sophisticated, also serving as a manager of sorts, maintaining order as users request files and make changes to them.

Finger A program used to find out if someone is online -- it may also reveal their full name and their plan and project files.

Firewalls Special computers that are set up on a network to prevent intruders from stealing or destroying confidential files.

Flame To heap written abuse on someone or to excessively criticize them for their ideas, spelling, grammar, etc. Flaming is considered impolite, juvenile behavior, but is not uncommon in some newsgroups.

Freeware Software made available free for public use by the author (compare "shareware").

FTP (File Transfer Protocol). The principle of FTP is simple. You logon to a site (using your FTP software), then you choose a file to transfer. All FTP activity requires you to log on to the remote computer with a user name and password. To get to files shown on the map, it's important to understand the concept of anonymous FTP. Here, you log on to the machine as a guest rather than as an authorized account holder. In this situation, type "anonymous" as the user name and your full e-mail address as the password. Once you log on, you'll be able to access specified directories as an anonymous user. You can also access FTP sites with your Web browser. In the location or dialog box, type ftp://xxx.xxx.xxx, then click from directory to directory. But be warned: this procedure doesn't always work, and Web browsers tend to be much slower at file transfers than dedicated FTP clients.

Gopher A menu-based system that allows a user to access information from a remote computer. Menu items point to a file or directory item, which may be located on the same computer or on a different one. Gophers essentially point to other gophers on remote machines. Through gopher, you can telnet to remote computers and perform searches on searchable databases.

Helper applications Additional software occasionally needed to help a Web browser program deal with an unusual file on the Internet. When an unusual file is downloaded, a helper application takes over for the Web browser to open and run the file. An example of a helper application is Netscape's "naplayer". It opens and plays sound files when they are encountered on the Internet.

Home page A sort of introductory WWW page or Web server at a Web site that provides hyperlinks to other Web pages.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). A system of marking up, or tagging, a document so it can be published on the World Wide Web. An author incorporates HTML markup in his or her document to define the function (as distinct from the appearance) of different text elements. The appearance of these text elements is not defined at the authoring stage; formatting is applied when a browser decides how it is going to display the text elements. An author incorporates HTML markup in his or her document to define the function (as distinct from the appearance) of different text elements. The appearance of these text elements is not defined at the authoring stage; formatting is applied when a browser decides how it is going to display the text elements.

HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol.

Hyperlink A connector that jumps you to different documents on the WWW when you select (and click on) highlighted words.

Internet A non-commercial, self-governing network devoted mostly to communication and research with roughly 20 million users worldwide. The Internet is not an online service and has no real central "hub." Rather, it is a collection of tens of thousands of networks, online services, and single-user components.

Internet access providers Otherwise known as Internet service providers (ISP). These organizations allow other computer users to dial-in and connect to their Internet connection for a fee.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat). The place on the Internet where people go to talk to each other in real time. To access this feature, you need an IRC client.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Special connections that use ordinary phone lines to transmit digital instead of analog signals. US West does a great job explaining its capabilities.

ISP Internet Service provider

LAN (Local Area Network). A group of computers located in a relatively limited area (like an office building) and connected by a communications link that allows them to interact with each other.

Login The process of identifying yourself to your computer or an online service.

Mailing list Electronic discussion groups that link a relatively small group of people together by common interests and that are distributed throughout the Internet via its global e-mail system. If you belong to a mailing list, you receive every message that is posted to that list.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions). A standard Internet format for encoding files that are attached to electronic (e-mail) messages.

Modem (MOdulator/DEModulator). A device that allows a PC to communicate and exchange information with other modem-equipped computers via telephone lines.

Newsgroup Collection of information and users who get together to communicate about one particular subject.

NNTP News Network Transfer Protocol

OLE (Object Linking and Embedding). A capability introduced with Windows 3.1 that gives all Windows applications a standard way of incorporating objects (i.e., text, graphics, or sound) created in other Windows programs. When you link an object between two documents, changes made to that object in one document automatically will be made in the other.

Online Refers to the successful connection with another computer via telephone lines or through a network.

Online service A dial-up service that provides news, information, and discussion forums for users with modem-equipped PCs and the access software provided by the service. (Examples include: America Online, Prodigy, CompuServe, Genie, Delphi, and Global Network Navigator.)

PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol). One way computers can communicate with each other over the Internet (compare "SLIP"). PPP connections let you communicate directly with other computers on the network using TCP/IP connections.

Protocols Languages that computers use to talk to each other. A set of standards that assures that different network products can work together. Any product using a given protocol should work with any other product using the same protocol.

Script Also known as calling script. A record of keystrokes and commands that can be played back in order to automate routing tasks, such as logging on to an online service.

Search engine A WWW site that serves as an index to other sites on the Web. Some of the more popular search engines are "Starting Point", "Yahoo", and "Lycos". Search engines are relatively easy to use. Normally, they contain references to common subject areas that you can point-and-click to connect to other links, that connect to other links, and so on. They also give you the opportunity to type in key words (by themselves, or in combination) to begin a search.

Server A computer that provides information or a service to other computers on a network.

Shareware Software that is sold by individuals or companies for a nominal fee (compare "freeware"). Typically the software is downloaded and tried out before buying and registering it.

Shell account An entry-level Internet access account. Instead of linking your computer directly to the Internet, you use your modem to dial in to an Internet-connect host computer operated by an Internet service provider (ISP).

SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol). One way computers can communicate with each other over the Internet (compare "PPP"). SLIP connections let you communicate directly with other computers on the network using TCP/IP connections.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). Set of explicit steps that must be used by one Internet computer to connect to another computer to transmit a message to its next stop.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). A set of protocols used on the Internet. This includes SLIP and PPP. A language governing communication between all computers on the Internet. TCP/IP is a set of instructions that dictates how packets of information are sent across multiple networks. Also included is a built-in error-checking capability.

Telnet A program that lets you log onto a remote computer. terminal emulation A technique in which one computer imitates a terminal while communicating with another computer, such as a mainframe, by using special software.

Thread A message and its responses in a newsgroup. Together, threads form a conversation of sorts as people add responses, or they may start a new message, which, in turn, will have its own "thread" of responses.

Upload To send or transmit a file from one computer to another via modem (compare "download").

URL (Universal Resource Locator). A Web site's address. Examples are: http://www.netscape.com (Netscape's homepage), and http://www.glasscity.net (Glasscity.net's homepage).

Usenet Refers mostly to the newsgroups, but also to e-mail. Usenet travels on the Internet, but also over modems and satellites.

Uuencoding A common Internet formatting standard for encoding files attached to electronic mail messages. See also MIME, Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions.

Veronica (Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Netwide Index to Computer Archives). A program that lets users search "Gopherspace" by keyword.

WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers). An Internet multimedia search-and-retrieve tool offering more than 500 databases. WAIS (pronounced "ways") lets users look through the full text of the document.

Web browser A software application (either text-based or graphical) that lets you browse the world wide web (WWW). Examples are: Spry Mosaic, Netscape Navigator, and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Winsock application. Any program designed for use with Windows sockets.

WWW (The World Wide Web). One of several features of the Internet. This is the place that people are raving about. It contains colorful graphics, video, sound bites, real audio, and much, much more. The World Wide Web (also known as WWW, W3, or the Web) is fast becoming the predominant tool for accessing and storing information on the Internet. Like gopher, it is a menu-based system. Unlike gopher, menu items are actually hypertext links which allow the user to jump among menu pages, directories, files, and documents, and other Internet (FTP, gopher, and Telnet) sites.