Glossary of Internet Terms - Learn the Lingo! (A-C D-F G-L M-Q R-T U-Z)
Search directory - similar to search engines, this is a software application that groups Internet Web sites by categories for easy search by users. Users enter "keywords" to direct the application to list Web sites containing the desired information.
Search engine - a software application that allows users of the Internet to "search" or locate information available among the millions of Internet Web pages. By typing in "keywords," users can search for Web sites that contain the information desired.
Server - a large capacity computer or group of computers that stores information and/or software programs and makes them available to users through the Internet.
Server-based filter - filtering software at the server level which blocks out certain Web sites programmed by the server operator.
Software - A computer program that gives your computer operating system directions to perform a certain task or group of tasks. Computer programmers write computer code into the software programs to perform these tasks.
Spam - inappropriately unsolicited "junk" e-mail or other messages (and postings) from hackers, commercial advertisers, or adult Web site operators. Many times spam is sent to large blocks of e-mail addresses or through other online message systems.
Spider - A software program that "crawls" through the Internet, searching through millions of Internet Web pages and Web sites and indexing information in a database. Most search engines and search directories would use a "spider" to help users track down information on the Internet.
Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - A computer "language" that allows for transmission of information across the Internet.
