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`© Copyright 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1992, 1989, and 1986 by Barron’s Educational Series,
`Inc.
`All rights reserved.
`No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written
`permission of the copyright owner.
`
`All inquiries should be addressed to:
`Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
`250 Wireless Boulevard
`Hauppauge, NY 11788
`www.barronseduc.com
`
`ISBN-13: 978-978-0-764-18175-7 ISBN-10: 978-0-764-18175-7
`
`Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 2008044365
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Downing, Douglas.
`Dictionary of computer and Internet terms / Douglas A. Downing, Michael A. Covington, Melody Mauldin
`Covington.—10th ed.
`p. cm.
`ISBN 978-978-0-764-18175-7
`1. Computers—Dictionaries. 2. Internet—Dictionaries. I. Covington, Michael A., 1957- II. Covington, Melody
`Mauldin. III. Title.
`
`QA76.15.D667 2009
`004.03—dc22 2008044365
`
`PRINTED IN CHINA
`9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
`
`TO THE READER
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`Computers are no longer just for specialists. Today, computing is not just a profession
`and a hobby; it is also a tool used in virtually all human activities.
`That’s why we’ve compiled this book of background knowledge. Its purpose is to
`tell you the things other people think you already know.
`We design this book to have a convenient size so it can be easily carried around. In
`compiling a book this size, we have had to be selective. The quickest way to identify a
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`downstream
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`D I C T I O N A R Y O F C O M P U T E R A N D I N T E R N E T T E R M S
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`downstream (describing data transmission) in a direction from the server to the
`client, or from the main computer to the peripheral. Compare DOWNLOAD.
`Contrast UPSTREAM.
`downward compatibility the ability to work with older equipment and/or
`software than that for which a computer program or accessory was designed.
`Contrast UPWARD COMPATIBILITY.
`dpi (dots per inch) the number of pixels or printer dots per linear inch. The first
`generation of laser printers could print with a resolution of 300 dots per inch. 600-
`and 1200-dpi laser printers are now available. See RESOLUTION for further details.
`draft quality a printout in low resolution, unsuitable for CAMERA-READY COPY,
`but adequate for proofing the copy and checking the placement and alignment of
`graphics.
`drag to move an object by using a mouse. To do this, move the mouse pointer to the
`object, and then hold down a mouse button (usually the leftmost button if there is
`more than one), and move the mouse. The selected object will move with the mouse
`pointer, as if the pointer were dragging the object. When you are finished, drop the
`object by releasing the button.
`
` 
`drag and drop
`
`FIGURE 85. Drag
`
`1. the ability to move text or graphics by dragging it to a new location with
`the mouse.
`2. a method of opening an application program. Simply pick up a file icon
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`server a computer
`Library
`D I C T I O N A R Y O F C O M P U T E R A N D I N T E R N E T T E R M S
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`server a computer that provides services to another computer (called the client). On
`multitasking machines, a process that provides services to another process is
`sometimes called a server. For specific examples, see FILE SERVER; WEB SERVER;
`X SERVER.
`server-side application a computer program that runs on a network server rather
`than on the client PC. For instance, Java servlets are server-side applications; when
`you view a web page that contains a servlet, the computation is done on the server
`rather than on your PC. Contrast CLIENT-SIDE APPLICATION.
`service in Windows, a program that runs continuously, unseen by the user, such as a
`Web or FTP server, or a program with a more mundane function such as updating the
`system clock; the equivalent of a UNIX DAEMON.
`service bureau a business that provides services to computer users, such as high-
`quality color printing, disk format conversions, or the like.
`service pack a set of updates to a software package, delivered together or even
`delivered with the original software.
`Usage note: The phrase Windows XP Service Pack 2 can mean either “Service Pack
`2 for Windows XP” or “Windows XP with Service Pack 2 included.”
`service provider a company that provides computer or networking services to
`customers. See also ACCESS PROVIDER; INTERNET.
`servlet a Java program that runs on a web server. By contrast, an applet is a Java
`program running on a web browser client.
`session
`
`1. a period of time during which a person is using a particular computer
`service, such as a connection to the Internet.
`2. an occasion upon which data is written to a recordable CD-ROM.
`Multisession CDs have had data written to them more than once.
`
`set
`
`1. the input of a flip-flop that places it into state 1, as opposed to the reset
`input. See FLIP-FLOP.
`2. the command in Windows and UNIX, that stores information in the
`operating system’s environment area (see ENVIRONMENT).
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`upstream
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`upstream (describing data transmission) in a direction from the client to the server,
`or from the peripheral to the main computer. Compare UPLOAD. Contrast
`DOWNSTREAM.
`upward compatibility the situation in which a computer program or accessory
`works not only on the machine for which it was designed but also on newer models.
`For instance, programs written for the IBM PC in 1981 will still run (considerably
`faster) on present-day Pentium machines. Thus we say that the Pentium is upward
`compatible with the processor in the PC. Contrast DOWNWARD COMPATIBILITY.
`urban legend a story that is told by highly educated people as if it were true, but
`cannot be confirmed. Typically, it happened to a “friend of a friend” (i.e., a person
`who is almost, but not quite, identifiable), and it involves some improbable but highly
`amusing misadventure. The term was coined by Jan Harold Brunvand, who has
`written several books on the subject. The Internet is one of many means by which
`urban legends circulate. See also HOAX.
`URL (Uniform Resource Locator, Universal Resource Locator) a way of specifying
`the location of publicly available information on the Internet, in the form
`protocol://machine:port number/filename
`
`Often the port number and/or the filename is unnecessary. For example,
`
`means connect to port 80 of csam.uga.edu using Hypertext Transfer
`Protocol, and ftp://ai.uga.edu/pub/natural.language/Contents means to
`download a particular file from ai.uga.edu by File Transfer Protocol. A
`user name and password can be included thus:
`
`This is a handy way to access your web site on its server from your
`browser. See also FTP.
`The URL for a World Wide Web site often includes www, as in
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