INTERNET TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that are connected (networked) and are using the
communication method called TCP/IP. The Internet was named ARPANET in 1969 by the Advanced Research
Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense with just four computers connected together.
What is the World Wide Web?
Many people think that the internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing. While they are closely linked,
they are very different systems.
The internet is a huge network of computers all connected together. The World Wide Web (‘www’ or ‘web’ for
short) is a collection of webpages found on this network of computers. Your web browser uses the internet to
access the web. The World Wide Web was invented by Tim Bernes-lee in the CERN Laboratory in March 1989.
What is a Host?
A computer that is used to transfer data on the Internet.
What is Web Hosting?
To store and make web pages available and ready for inquiries, or a computer that has a consistent connection to
the Internet.
Difference between webserver and web client?
A web client is an application that communicates with a web server, using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
The basic objective of the web server is to store, process and deliver web pages to the users. Web browser is an
example of a web client. Web servers speak the HTTP protocol, so they are often called HTTP servers. These HTTP
servers store the Internet’s data and provide the data when it is requested by HTTP clients.
Web browser
A web browser is a software program that allows a user to locate, access, and display web pages. In common
usage, a web browser is usually shortened to "browser". Web browsers are used primarily for displaying and
accessing websites on the internet, as well as other content created using languages such as Hypertext Markup
Language (HTML) and Extensible Markup Language (XML). Browsers translate web pages and websites delivered
using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) into human-readable content. They also have the ability to display other
protocols and prefixes, such as secure HTTP (HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), email handling, and files.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a string of text that maps to a numeric IP address, used to access a website from client software.
In plain English, a domain name is the text that a user types into a browser window to reach a particular website.
For instance, the domain name for Google is ‘google.com’.
The actual address of a website is a complex numerical IP address (e.g. 103.21.244.0), but thanks to DNS, users
are able to enter human-friendly domain names and be routed to the websites they are looking for.
What is DNS?
DNS (Domain Name System) is a large database of domain names and their correspondent Internet (IP Addresses)
for example: www.widget.com corresponds to its unique number 207.168.6.12
What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique number used to identify a computer on the Internet. If you are
connected to the Internet, you must have a unique network number, which is an IP address. An example of an IP
address is: 207.168.6.12 there are four numbers separated by a dot, and are between 0 and 255. (version 4)
What is HTML?
Hypertext Markup Language is a coding language used to tell a browser how to place pictures, text, multimedia
and links to create a web page. When a user clicks on a link within a web page, that link, which is coded with
HTML, links the user to a specific linked web page.
What is Hypertext?
Hypertext is text on a webpage that links to another document or webpage. The hypertext link can be as small as
a letter or word, or as big as all the text on the page.
What is FTP?
File Transfer Protocol is a method of transferring files between two computers on the Internet. To access, upload
or download information on a server computer (or a computer that accesses a server computer), FTP software
makes the information access or transfer possible.
What is a home Page?
A home Page is the main or index page of a web site. For example, if a user opens Netscape or Internet Explorer
and types the URL, http://www.hcc.edu.pk, that would open the home Page of Hailey College of Commerce.
What is a URL?
Uniform Resource Locator is a web address used to connect to a remote resource on the World Wide Web. For
example: http://www.hcc.edu.pk/academic-regulations/
In the above example, http:// is a type of Protocol (communication rules and methods) followed by
www.hcc.edu.pk, which a host address.
What is Upload?
To upload is to transfer data from your computer to another computer.
What is Download?
To download is to transfer data from another computer to your computer.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a maximum amount of data transmitted over an internet connection in a given amount of time.
Bandwidth is often mistaken for internet speed when it's actually the volume of information that can be sent over
a connection in a measured amount of time – calculated in megabits per second (Mbps).
What Is an Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
The term Internet service provider (ISP) refers to a company that provides access to the Internet to both personal
and business customers. ISPs make it possible for their customers to surf the web, shop online, conduct business,
and connect with family and friends—all for a fee. ISPs may also provide other services including email services,
domain registration, web hosting, and browser packages.
Database Server
A database server is a machine running database software dedicated to providing database services. It is a crucial
component in the client-server computing environment where it provides business-critical information requested
by the client systems. A database server consists of hardware and software that run a database.
The software side of a database server is the back-end database application. The application represents a set of
memory structures and background processes accessing a set of database files. The hardware side of a database
server is the server system used for database storage and retrieval.
Webmaster

A person responsible for the creation or maintenance of a website especially for a company or organization.