glossary of internet terms - a

A COMPLETE LIST OF DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED THROUGHOUT OUR WEBSITE

Use the letters below to jump to a particular section or scroll down through the definitions.

misc A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Access point - Wireless communication hub that allows users to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

ActiveX - Technology for adding extra features to an application like a web browser. ActiveX components are usually downloaded automatically, or with minimal user interaction.

Add-in - Extra features available in most Microsoft applications, but usually requiring installation from the original CD-ROM. For example, Excel's AutoSave feature is an Add-in module, and is only installed upon request.

Address - In the context of the internet, an address is the information a web browser needs to locate a particular website. Microsoft's website address, for instance, is www. microsoft. com.

ADSL - Stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A technology that converts an ordinary household telephone line into an extremely fast internet connection -- around ten times faster than a regular 56K modem.

AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port. A PC interface (either an expansion slot or built-in) used for super-fast 3D graphics facilities. Ideal for handling the 3D worlds depicted in many of today's top games.

AI - Artifical Intelligence. The science of simulating or duplicating intelligence using a computer. AI is useful for situations where clear-cut decisions are not possible and for mimicing the behaviour of humans or animals.

Analogue - Signal whose value varies continuously over time. For example, when a person speaks, the sound wave is an analogue signal, varying smoothly as they talk. Analogue signal information differs from digital signals, which move sharply between fixed values. To help visualise this, consider the difference between an analogue watch face with sweeping hands and a digital watch display, which jumps from one number to the next.

Animated GIF - Stands for Graphics Interchange Format, a popular file format for storing graphic images, often for use on websites. An animated GIF is simply a string of these images, creating the illusion of moving pictures when played back.

Annotation - A comment or mark added to an image or a document, much like sticking a Post-it note on an office memo to highlight a point of interest.

Anti-virus software - An application designed to protect PCs from malicious computer code.

Aperture - In a camera, this is an opening that controls the amount of light passing through the lens.

API - Stands for application programming interface, a standard used by computer programmers to allow operating systems and software applications to understand one another.

Applet - Small utility program within Windows, like Calculator or ScanDisk.

Application - A computer software program that enables the user to perform specific tasks. For example, Microsoft Word is used for word processing, while Paint Shop Pro is designed for image-editing requirements.

APS - Advanced Photo System. A photographic film format capable of capturing three different picture sizes. APS-based cameras also benefit from the simplicity of slot-in-and-go loading of the film cartridges. Reprints can ordered from index prints, consisting of thumbnail representations of photos, and supplied with all developed film.

ASF - Advanced Streaming Format.A streaming file format from Microsoft.

Aspect ratio - A measure of the relative width and height of a display. Traditional television screens, for instance, have an aspect ratio of 4:3 (meaning four units wide by three units high), while modern widescreen sets have 16:9 proportions.

ATAPI - Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface. A control technology for devices like CD-ROM and hard disk drives.

ATRAC - Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding. Sony's proprietary audio file-compression system, similar to MP3 but with additional security features designed to prevent piracy of copyright material.

Attachment - A computer file, such as a word-processor document or spreadsheet, sent along with an email message.

Audio Format - In the context of Windows' Sound Recorder program, the choice of storing recorded audio in one of three quality settings CD, radio or telephone.

Autocorrect - A feature in a word processor that automatically corrects common spelling mistakes as they are typed.

Automatic document feeder - A facility of most printers and some scanners, enabling documents to be automatically fed through the print or scanner mechanism without user intervention.

Autoplay - A Windows feature that allows CD-ROM/DVD discs to launch or play as soon they're inserted into a drive.

AutoSum - A handy Excel feature that gives an at-a-glance total of a selection of figures.

Autotrace - A feature of some image-editing programs that identifies outline shapes in a bitmap graphics and attempts to trace them, resulting in editable vector paths.

Avatar - In computing context, a graphic or icon used to represent a person in an online chat-room or game. Avatars can usually be customised and range from simple images to complex three-dimensional shapes.

AVI - A type of video file used by windows and usuall played using Windows Media Player.
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