ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange: computer codes (A$^%+|~, etc.) that stand for the characters on your screen.

DNS - Domain Name System: establishes a hierarchy of domains or groups of computers on the Internet (gov, nasa, com, net, etc.)

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

FTP - File Transfer Protocol: the most common way to transfer files from the Internet to your computer (downloading) or transfer files from you computer onto the Internet (uploading).

HTML - Hypertext Markup Language: language containing commands that tell your browser how to display text, graphics, and multi-media files, commands for linking your home page to other home pages and other Internet resources.

HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol: programme which defines the way the Web browser and Web server commuinicate with one another.

IP - Internet Protocol: handles routing of data on the Internet.

IRC - Internet Relay Chat: keyboard "conversations" on the Internet.

ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network Lines: special digital telephone lines that allow dialling into the Internet at very high speeds.

ISP - Internet Service Provider: commercial com mpany that provides Internet access for a fee.

LAN - Local Area Network

NAP - Network Access Point: routes data from one regional network to another.

PKZIP - File compression software for downloading very large files.

POP - Point of Presence: local access number for a service provider.

PPP - Point to Point Protocol: newer protocol allowing more error-free connection to the Internet.

SLIP - Serial Line Internet Protocol: older software protocol allowing Internet connection.

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol: Transmission Control Protocol breaks up information and messages into packets for transmission on the Internet and re-assembles them at the other end. Internet Protocol makes sure the packets are sent to the right destination.

URL - Universal Resource Locators: names for Web locations (addresses). The first part "http://" details what Internet protocol to use. Next, the "www" is the type of Internet resource being contacted. The third part "sols.on.ca" identifies the web server to be contacted.

WWW or W3 - Globally connected networdk, the fastest growing part of the Internet. Uses hypertext links (words you can click on to move to other places on the web). Works on a client/server model in which client software (browsers such as Netscape, Internet Explorer) launches a search.

WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get

ZIP - Compressed files having a ".zip" extension, requiring software such as PKZIP to decompress.