WEB HOSTING TERMINOLOGY
Have a question about what something means in the web hosting world? Consult our web hosting glossary full of the most commonly used words in the industry.
AD ROTATOR:
Ad Rotator is an ASP COMPONENT. When a visitor requests a page from your site, ad rotator determines the appropriate ads and randomly or sequentially if specified, selects an ad to show to your site's visitors. All this happens within approximately 0.05 seconds.
ALIAS:
When referring to EMAIL ADDRESSES, an alias is simply an alternative address for an email box. For instance, you can set up the mailbox "bobp@domain.com" and then create "bpalmer@domain.com" to send all its mail to "bobp@domain.com". Bpalmer@domain.com is an alias.
ACTIVE SERVER PAGES (ASP):
ASP is a coding language developed by Microsoft. Using either a coding language or CGI scripts allows you to make your site interactive by including database results, EMAIL FORMS, guestbooks, bulletin boards, chat, etc. (FRONTPAGE also includes some of these capabilities). ASP is one of the most popular coding languages on the WINDOWS Platform.
ASPDB-FREE:
While you can use many methods to display database information on the web, the ASPdb-Free COMPONENT gives you options for the table layout and is relatively simple to use.
ASPDNS:
ASPDNS is an ASP COMPONENT that allows you to look up IP ADDRESSES and host names from a WEBSITE.
ASPEMAIL:
While you can always add a link to your email address on your website, the ASP COMPONENT ASPEmail allows you to have a form automatically send an email. The advantage of using ASPEmail as opposed to some other email COMPONENT is two-fold. First, you can send attachments with ASPEmail. For instance, if you have an option on your form to get more information about a specific topic, you can set ASPEmail to send an attachment based on the topic your visitor chooses. Second, ASPEmail lets you queue the email. Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you fill out a form, there's a notice that it may take up to "XX" minutes to be submitted, and to please wait? If your form is sending email and you use ASPEmail, you can at least eliminate the wait for the email to send. ASPEmail can send your email to a queue on the server which will then send out the emails. The ASPEmail queue is set to check for queued messages every 5 minutes, so there will be little or no delay in the receipt.
ASPENCRYPT:
ASPEncrypt is an ASP COMPONENT that allows you to easily ENCRYPT data on your website such as email, information entered into your database, and more.
ASPHTTP:
The ASPHttp ASP COMPONENT allows you to put the HTML contents of a specific URL into an ASP string. It supports GET/POST/HEAD documents via the HTTP PROTOCOL, examining response headers, transferring requests to a file (including binary transfers) and password authentication support. It can also be used to create DYNAMIC INCLUDES.
ASPIMAGE:
Using the ASPImage COMPONENT, you can create images directly on your website. For instance, you could have a customer fill out a simple form, asking them for their name and their favorite color, and then ASPImage can use that information to create a banner that welcomes them by name to your site. This is just one example; there are many other ways this component can be used.
ASPMAIL:
While you can always add a link to your email address on your website, the ASP COMPONENT ASPMail allows you to have a form automatically send an email. If you'd like an email COMPONENT with more features, you may want to consider ASPEMAIL.
ASPPOP3:
Using the ASPPop3 ASP COMPONENT, you can read your email directly from your website. You can use ASPPop3 to create your own email INTERFACE, customized to your site.
ASPTEAR:
An ASP COMPONENT for tearing web pages off web servers. The component supports many functions, including retrieval of documents as strings, immediate saving to disk, extensive SSL support, proxy Server support, page caching, redirection support and extended cookie functionality.
AUTO RESPONDER:
An auto responder allows you to respond to emails you have received automatically. For instance, you may set an auto responder to reply to senders when you are away form the office or on vacation. Emails containing a custom message will be automatically sent back to anyone emailing you. Every email address Halfprice Hosting provides can have an auto responder associated with it.
BACKBONE:
Just as the name suggests, a backbone is the center of any INTERNET-related company. A backbone provides connections from individual computers to the INTERNET. At Halfprice Hosting, we have a redundant backbone, which means that we have two backbones, so if one fails, the other will automatically take over, and there will be no service interruption.
BACKBONE PROVIDERS:
Companies that provide the unique ability for electronic data to travel over the optimal path to reach its destination. Examples: Sprint, MCI, etc.
BANDWIDTH:
How much information or "traffic" that can be exchanged between computers. In general, the more available bandwidth, the more people can be viewing your site at one time and the faster the site will load for them. If you have a graphic-intensive site that gets thousands of hits a day, you will need a plan with more bandwidth than if you have a small site, primarily for family and friends.
BINDING:
Just as in normal usage, binding refers to attaching something to something else. Usually used in reference to attaching IP ADDRESSES to a server.
BIT:
On many rulers, a millimeter is the smallest measurable unit. The smallest unit of information on a computer is called a bit.
BROWSER:
A browser is the interface you use to view the INTERNET. The most popular browsers include INTERNET Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
BROWSERHAWK:
BrowserHawk is an ASP COMPONENT that can assist you in customizing your pages based on the capabilities of a visitor's browser. For instance, you can use BrowserHawk to tell if a visitor's browser supports FLASH , and if it doesn't, have a different image display.
BYTE:
A set of BITS that represent a single text character, such as "a" or "g", etc. Usually there are 8 BITS in a Byte, sometimes more, depending on how the measurement is being made. MegaBytes (MB) are 1,048,576 bytes. Gigabytes (GB), sometimes called "Gigs", are 1,024 megabytes.
"CATCH-ALL" OR "BLANKET" EMAIL ADDRESS:
An email account that will catch mis-addressed email. For instance, if you had the email address "bobp@domain.com" and someone had a typo and tried to send an email to bobr@domain.com, the catchall account would catch the mis-addressed email instead of bouncing it back with "user unknown". You can configure the catch-all account as a separate email address, or have it forward to another mailbox.
CDO SEND MAIL:
While you can always add a link to your email address on your website, the ASP COMPONENT CDO, sometimes called "CDONTS", allows you to have a form automatically send an email.
CGI (COMMON GATEWAY INTERFACE):
A set of rules that describe how a web server communicates with another piece of software on the same machine, and how the other piece of software (the "CGI program") talks to the web server.
CGI-BIN:
A common name for a directory on a web server in which CGI programs are stored.
CHARGEBACKS:
A credit back to a cardholder's account which occurs when a cardholder informs their credit card issuer that a particular charge was not authorized or that goods or services were not delivered or provided as promised.
CODE:
Code is instructions for a computer. The most common code used on the web is HTML.
COLOCATION:
In a colocated hosting package, you actually own the server, but it is physically located at the provider's data center. Most colocated clients simply want a safe place to set up their server, as well as the peace of mind that comes from having experts available 24/7 should a problem arise.
COMPONENTS:
Components are short-cuts used when coding in ASP. For instance, you can use ASPMAIL to create a form your users fill out that is automatically emailed to you, added to a DATABASE, or both.
CONTROL PANEL:
A Control Panel is a central location you can visit to perform common tasks. Think of a Control Panel as a TV remote for your website. If you need to do a simple task, such as change your password, you would visit the Control Panel.
COOKIE:
A piece of information sent by a SERVER to a WEB BROWSER that the BROWSER software is expected to save and to send back to the SERVER whenever the BROWSER makes additional requests from the SERVER. This is usually how a site that you've been to before knows to welcome you and log you in automatically. Depending on the type of Cookie used, and the settings of the browser, the browser may accept or not accept the Cookie, and may save the Cookie for either a short time or a long time. Cookies do not read your hard drive or compromise security, but they can be used to gather more information about a user than would be possible without them.
DATABASE:
A database is software that assists you in keeping information. Basically, a database is an online filing cabinet. Let's say that you have a list of customers that includes their last name, state, how much they've spent with you, and their favorite color. If you had this information in a filing cabinet, what order would you put them in? By last name? By state? By favorite color? With a database, you store the information electronically, so you can change how they are sorted at any time. So, you could easily pull out customers in NY, who spent over $400 with you, and whose favorite color is blue, no matter in what order they were put into the database. That is the benefit of a database - the ease of searching and pulling out information. Some of the most popular databases are ACCESS and SQL.
DATA TRANSFER:
The amount of information sent to and from the hosting computer and visitors to your website. How much data transfer is used varies depending on how many visitors your site receives, how interactive your site is (meaning if visitors can only look at your site or if they can chat there, upload images, etc.), how many graphics, videos, etc., are on your site, and similar factors. The amount of data transfer you use is sometimes referred to how much BANDWIDTH you have used.
DNS:
DNS is a complicated system of text files, software and hardware that combine to read the address in a BROWSER and direct the browser to a specific server and page.
DOMAIN NAME:
The web version of a phone number. Just as someone who dials your phone number is directed through thousands of wires and connections to connect to your phone and make it ring, a domain name directs people across the INTERNET to your specific site.
DSN:
Not be confused with DNS, a DSN, or Data Source Name, allows you to create a connection on your website to a DATABASE using only a few lines of code. This will let you display your database information, add to your database, delete from your database, etc., all from your website.
DYNAMIC:
When referring to the INTERNET, dynamic means something that occurs when it is requested. For instance, you may purchase a pre-packaged salad at a supermarket, or create one yourself at the salad bar. The one you created is "dynamic" - the ingredients were there, but the salad itself did not exist until you created it. When visiting a Search Engine the pages are created dynamically, pulling the information you requested from a DATABASE.
EMAIL:
Messages, usually text, sent from one person to another via computer. Email addresses look something like: yourname@xyz.com. At Halfprice Hosting, email that matches your DOMAIN NAME is included with our hosting plans.
EMAIL ADDRESS:
An email address is the INTERNET version of a postal address. Just as mail is sent directly to you from your friends, the water company, etc., an email address allows you to receive information electronically.
ENCRYPT:
When something is encrypted, it is translated into a secret code. Only those who know the code (or have a key to use it) can see the data in its original form - to everyone else it looks like gibberish.
FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS):
FAQs are documents that list and answer the most commonly asked questions. Usually, FAQs are a good place to start if you just have some general questions.
FILESYSTEM DATABASE SUPPORT:
FileSystem Database support allows you to read, write and search file-based databases on the server. This includes various types of delimited text files (such as tab or comma-delimited files) as well as the most popular Linux database file formats.
FIRE WALL:
A combination of HARDWARE and SOFTWARE that protects and secures a network.
FLASH:
A SOFTWARE package that creates images for use on websites. Not all browsers are compatible with Flash files.
FORWARDING:
When referring to email addresses, forwarding allows you to send email sent to a specific box to another box. The second box may or may not be hosted with us. For instance, you could set "bobp@domain.com" to forward to "bobp@aol.com".
FRONTPAGE:
A popular software package created by Microsoft used to create web pages.
FTP (FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL):
A very common method of moving files between two SERVERS. Usually, you use an FTP to upload your site from your home computer to the web server. FRONTPAGE uses its own, built-in version of FTP that automatically publishes the extra files FrontPage needs, so you must use FrontPage to upload your site if you use FrontPage to design it.
FULLY-REDUNDANT:
A system that is fully-redundant is set up so if the main system fails, a backup system takes over automatically. Our data center is fully-redundant. We have two methods of connecting to the INTERNET, two methods of fire suppression and more so that our data is continually protected and uninterrupted.
GATEWAY:
A processing location on a network that serves as an entrance to another network. For example, in enterprises, the gateway is the computer that routes the traffic from a workstation to the outside network that is serving the web pages. In homes, the gateway is the INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER that connects the user to the INTERNET.
GIF (GRAPHICAL INTERCHANGE FORMAT):
A common format for image files.
GIGABYTE:
Formula used to measure space for file storage. It is abbreviated as GB.
HARDWARE:
Computer-related items that you can physically touch, such as the computer itself, keyboards, monitors, and the parts inside the computer.
HTML (HYPERTEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE):
A common coding language used to create documents for use on the INTERNET. HTML documents have the extension .htm or .html.
HTTP (HYPERTEXT TRANSPORT PROTOCOL):
The PROTOCOL for moving HYPERTEXT files across the INTERNET. When you go to a page in a BROWSER, you generally type http://domain.com. The HTTP part tells your computer how to access the page you're visiting.
HYPERLINK/HYPERTEXT:
Any text on a website that contains links to other documents. Sometimes called "hypertext". Most often, hyperlinks appear underlined so it is easy to recognize them as links.
IMAP4:
The latest version of INTERNET Message Access Protocol, a standard format for retrieving email messages. With IMAP4, you can search through your email messages for keywords while the messages are still on the mail server. You may then choose which messages you want to download to your machine.
INCLUDES:
When referring to web sites, includes allow you to use the same piece of code (HTML, ASP, ColdFusion, etc.) over and over. For instance, if you wanted your phone number to appear on the bottom of every page on your website, you could create an HTML page that had that information. Then you could include that file in every page on your website. If your phone number changed, you would only need to modify the include file.
INTERFACE:
An interface is the item that allows two things to interact. For instance, a user interface includes the keyboard and mouse - these interfaces allow you to interact with the computer.
INTERNET:
A large network of computers used to share information. Technically, whenever you are online, you are part of the INTERNET, not just visiting it.
IP NUMBER (INTERNET PROTOCOL NUMBER):
A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots - it looks something like this: 255.255.255.255 - that is the "phone number" of a specific server. Creating the connection between an IP address and a SERVER or website is called "BINDING". While just one website can be bound to a single IP, a website does not need its own IP to work. Any number of websites can be bound to a single IP address. A single IP address can only be bound to one server, but a server may have more than one IP address bound to it. DNS is the system that says "send this request to this IP address, and then to this specific space on the server".
ISP (INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER):
A company, such as AOL, Earthlink or MSN, that provides connections to the INTERNET. You must have an ISP to be able to access the INTERNET, view websites, receive email, etc.
JAVA SCRIPT:
Java Script is a CODING language. Using either a coding language or CGI scripts allows you to make your site interactive by including database results, email forms, guestbooks, bulletin boards, chat, etc. (FRONTPAGE also includes some of these capabilities).
KNOWLEDGE BASE:
A central location where clients can search by keywords and phrases to find answers to commonly asked questions.
LINUX:
A popular operating system.
MEGABYTE:
A unit of measure used in calculating space on a server. It is abbreviated MB.
MERCHANT ACCOUNT:
An integrated method for authorizing, processing and settling transactions that are paid by credit card. Think of a merchant account as a bank account which enables the credit card networks to route funds to you.
MICROSOFT ACCESS:
A Microsoft DATABASE designed for use with small-to-medium amounts of data. As a general rule, if your Access database is over 20MB, you will need to upgrade to SQL for your database to work efficiently.
MICROSOFT SQL 2000:
A Microsoft DATABASE designed for use with large amounts of data. If you are going to be storing thousands of records or storing large chunks of information (such as graphics) in your DATABASE, you will want to use SQL 2000.
MYSQL:
MySQL is a DATABASE for the LINUX platform designed for use with large amounts of data. If you are going to be storing thousands of records or storing large chunks of information (such as graphics) in your database, you will want to use MySQL.
NETWORK:
Any time you connect two or more computers together so that they can share resources, you have a network. The INTERNET is one gigantic network.
OPERATING SYSTEM (OS):
A computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, etc. WINDOWS and Linux are two of the most popular operating systems. It doesn't matter what the operating system of your computer is when choosing a hosting plan. Microsoft technologiues, such as FRONTPAGE or ACCESS, are specifically designed to be compatible with Windows. PHP and most CGI SCRIPTS are designed for use with a Linux operating system. Usually, the decision ends up being a personal preference.
PACKETS:
Pieces of electronic information sent from computer to computer via email, a network or the INTERNET.
PASSWORD:
A code used to gain access to a server, website or such. Good passwords contain letters and non-letters and are not simple combinations. In general, passwords should be at least 6 characters, be changed every 6 months, and not be a word found in the dictionary. You may also want to exclude characters used in coding from your password, such as @, ', ", or *. A good way to create a unique password is to use the first letters of an easily-remembered sentence. For example, the sentence "Why can't I remember my password today" could become "ycirmp2d" or such, using "Y" for "Why" and "2day" for "today". Using this system makes it easier to create a password you can recall but one that would be difficult to guess.
PERL:
Perl is a CODING language. Using either a coding language or CGI SCRIPTS allows you to make your site interactive by including DATABASE results, email forms, guestbooks, bulletin boards, chat, etc. Most Perl scripts are designed to run on Linux, and may require modifications to run on a WINDOWS server.
PHP:
PHP is a popular CODING language. Coding languages or CGI SCRIPTS allow you to make your site interactive by including DATABASE results, EMAIL FORMS, guestbooks, bulletin boards, chat, etc.
POP:
A method for opening email using Outlook, Netscape or any other POP-compatible email SOFTWARE.
PROTOCOL:
A standard way for one computer to talk to another. This allows different computers that may be configured differently or may be using different OPERATING SYSTEMS to operate together. For instance, you may have one type of computer at home, while your website is on a different computer. Using standard protocols, you can see your website from your computer. There are different protocols that do different things, such as FTP, SMTP and HTTP.
RAW DATA LOG:
A raw data log is a file containing information about visitors to your site, such as when they visited your site, how long they stayed, etc.
ROUTER:
A special-purpose computer (or SOFTWARE package) that handles the connection between two or more NETWORKS. Routers spend all their time looking at the destination addresses of the PACKETS passing through them and deciding which route to send them on.
SAFILE-UP:
In some cases, you may want the ability for visitors to your site to UPLOAD graphics or files. While you can accomplish this by giving them your FTP (FRONTPAGE) username and PASSWORD, this would mean they could also delete and modify files. The ASP COMPONENT SAFile-Up allows visitors to your site to upload files directly from your website, without sharing your username and password.
SCRIPTS:
Anytime CODE is written that performs a specific task, that is called a script. Scripts can range from a simple ASP page that sends email to a script that creates and configures mailboxes.
SEARCH ENGINE:
Imagine going to the library and looking for books on a specific topic. Now imagine that the library didn't sort the books in any manner. How long would it take you to find something, even if you knew exactly what you were looking for? The INTERNET is very much like a library with no organization. How do you find what you are looking for? A Search Engine. While each Search Engine works in a slightly different manner, they all allow you to search the INTERNET for what you need or want. While most Search Engines automatically look for new websites, due to the sheer number of websites being created each day, you may need to add your site to the Search Engines, not wait for them to find you.
SECURE CERTIFICATE:
A chunk of information on a SERVER that is used to establish a secure connection between that server and another server. Secure Certificates contain information about who the certificate belongs to, who it was issued by, a unique serial number or other unique identification, valid dates, and an ENCRYPTED "fingerprint" that can be used to verify the contents of the certificate.
SECURE SHELL:
A program that allows you to log into another Linux computer over a network, to execute commands in a remote machine, and to move files from one machine to another. It provides strong authentication and secure communications over insecure channels.
SERVER:
The simplest definition of a SERVER is a computer that allows other computers to access its information.
SERVER OBJECTS COMPONENT BUNDLE:
The Server Objects COMPONENT Bundle includes ASPMAIL, ASPHTTP, ASPPOP3 and ASPIMAGE.
SHAREPOINT:
SharePointT Team Services from Microsoft is a team website solution that is designed to significantly improve the way your team manages information and activities. Now you can easily create a website that serves as the central repository of all project information-documents, contacts, tasks, discussions, and much more.
SHELL ACCESS:
Shell access is a Linux feature that allows you to connect to your website securely to change permissions, edit scripts live, etc.
SHTML:
Server Side Includes (SSI) allow a web page to 'include' content from another source before sending the page to the browser to be displayed. SSI pages are identified by the file extension .shtml. SSI are useful to display content from one source on multiple pages within your website. This means that you only need to update one file in your website instead of multiple files if you wish to make a change. The most common use for SSI pages is for including content that will be the same on every page of your site such as page headers or navigation bars.
SMTP (SIMPLE MAIL TRANSPORT PROTOCOL):
The main PROTOCOL used to send email on the INTERNET.
SOFTWARE:
Computer-related items that you cannot touch, such as programs, files, etc. Software is usually stored on HARDWARE, such as CDs.
SPAM:
Junk email. Sometimes called "UCE" for unsolicited commercial email. While there is no way to eliminate SPAM entirely, there are a few steps you can take to prevent your email address from being harvested by a SPAMMER, and some ways of limiting the SPAM you receive. We have taken steps to prevent SPAM from being sent FROM our clients, such as requiring SMTP authentication and limiting the number of emails sent at one time, but we cannot do anything about SPAM sent from other hosting companies, ISPs, etc.
SSL (SECURE SOCKETS LAYER):
A PROTOCOL that enables ENCRYPTED, authenticated communications across the INTERNET. In an SSL connection, each side of the connection must have a SECURITY CERTIFICATE, which each side's software sends to the other. Each side then encrypts what it sends using information from both its own and the other side's certificate, ensuring that only the intended recipient can de-crypt it, and that the other side can be sure the data came from the place it claims to have come from, and that the message has not been tampered with.
STATISTICS:
Statistics let you know information about who has been visiting your website, such as when they visited, how long they visited, what specific pages were viewed, etc.
TELNET:
A means of connecting a computer to a Linux SERVER to change file permissions and perform other tasks on the Linux server.
TIER 1 CARRIER:
A large telecommunications provider that has large, direct links to the INTERNET. Small telecoms lease their INTERNET connections through these large companies. We deal directly with Tier 1 carriers.
UPLOAD:
To move files electronically from one computer to another.
URL:
A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is the web address of a specific page on the INTERNET.
VIRUS:
A computer virus is a program that performs a malicious act, such as deleting necessary files, or duplicating files until your hard drive is full, etc. A virus always hides in another application. An infected document will look normal and may even perform normally. This means that it is hard for an ordinary user to tell if a system is or is not infected.
VISUAL INTERDEV:
Visual Interdev is a Microsoft product designed to allow rapid creation of ASP pages and websites.
WAP:
WAP is short for the Wireless Application Protocol, a secure specification that allows users with WAP-enabled wireless devices such as cellular phones and pagers to send and receive email via these wireless devices. Wireless email is perfect for those who are always on the go, and it makes doing business outside the office easier. Not all email services are WAP enabled. Halfprice Hosting's email solution is WAP enabled.
WEB CONSOLE:
WebConsole is a Web-based, enterprise network management solution. It allows network administrators to securely access servers, manage a heterogeneous LAN/WAN, configure, troubleshoot, monitor, and generate security reports. In addition, when using WebConsole, help desk personnel may administer passwords, set time restrictions, create incident reports, add and delete users, reset user accounts, and give printer access. All that is required is a Web browser, access rights and a connection to the INTERNET or intranet.
WEBSITE:
A website is a group of documents and images on a computer that are specially formatted to be accessible on the INTERNET.
WINDOWS:
A popular OPERATING SYSTEM.
WIZARDS:
A utility within an application that helps you use the application to perform a particular task. For example, a wizard might walk you through the setup of an account or help you create a new webpage.
WORMS:
A worm is very similar to a VIRUS in that it is also replicating software. The difference between a virus and a worm is that a worm replicates itself independent of a carrier object. It does not need to attach itself to a file or a document to spread or execute. In other words, if you have a worm on a disk, as soon as you put the disk in your computer, the worm begins. A virus would only start when you opened the infected file on the disk.
XML:
XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is an advanced CODING language that allows creation of custom HTML tags.
ZIP:
A data compression format. Zip programs compress files in order to reduce file size. Files that have been compressed with the zip format are referred to as zip files.