Internet Terms-C

C a programming language developed by Bell Laboratories in the 1970s.

C++ a graphics oriented programming language developed in the 1980s.

cable modem a modem that sends and receives data over television cable lines.Cable modems typically transmit data faster than telephone connections.

cache can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, a data storage reserve where information may be held and called up quickly. As a verb, cache means to store data temporarily until it is called upon by a user. Web browsers cache pages so they do not need to be downloaded from the Internet each time you access the page. Cached data is stored temporarily in a computer's main memory or a specially designated memory storage space within the microprocessor.

CAD (Computer Aided Design) the use of both hardware and software for design work such as architecture as well as a wide variety of engineering functions.CAD applications are used to generate three-dimensional images.

camera ready desktop publishing documents that are ready for the printer.

cancel to completely halt a command. The cancel button appearing at the bottom of most dialog boxes (Windows) makes it difficult to make an error because you can easily back out of a function by clicking on it.

cancelbot a program left running on a Web server that automatically deletes messages on newsgroups and message boards. A cancelbot application is often used to filter out spam. see spam.

 caps short for capital or uppercase letters such as these: CAPS. Sending email or posting online in a public forum such as a news group or message board in all caps is considered to be shouting and rude. It also makes the message hard to read. see uppercase.

Caps Lock a key on the left side of the keyboard that, when pressed allows a user to type in caps without depressing the Shift key. When finished, press it again to deactivate it.

capture 1. to save a graphic image as a bitmap.
              2. in the Windows environment, to transfer an item to the clipboard. see screen capture.

carbon copy a copy of an outgoing email saved by the sender. see Cc.

card a printed circuit board that adds additional features to a computer such as video or audio. A card is usually easy to install both internally or externally because of its ability to be plugged in.

cascade 1. an arrangement of overlapping windows displayed on a computer monitor.
               2. the replies in response to a message in a public forum such as a message board.

CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) the use of computers to help with the development of software.

case short for nutcase. A regional slang expression for the "Randy" factor. In the Northeast, "Randy" (last name unknown) was an early pioneer in hacking.

case sensitive to distinguish between capital letters (UPPERCASE) and small letters (lowercase). Many Internet logon keys, codes, and passwords are case sensitive and must be entered properly or the user will be denied access. For example, ABC would be different than abc.

catalog a somewhat dated term for the contents of a disk. see directory.

CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) a constant disk rotation speed whether data is being accessed from the outer edge of the disk or nearer the center.

Cc abbreviation for carbon copy. The double letters refer to copies. When used in an email header, Cc indicates that copies of the message are being sent to more than one address. see Bcc.

CCD (Charge-coupled Device) devices used for the electronic recording of images.

CCDs are used in digital cameras and scanners.

 CD (Compact Disc) a plastic disc with a metal finish, developed in the 1980s, capable of storing digitized music. A CD stores data on a continuous groove, much like a phonograph record. One CD can store up to 74 minutes of music.see CD-I, CD-ROM, CD-RW.

CD-I (Compact Disc Interactive) a compact disc that stores and makes available audio, video and binary data. Developed as a joint venture of Phillips and Sony, the CD-I standard has not been widely accepted.

CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) a compact disc that can be used for recording.These are readable the in same way as regular CDs.

CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) a disc with identical physical characteristics as a music CD, only containing computer data. Unlike a music CD, a CD-ROM can store both computer data and music. CD-ROM drives are able to read the data on a disc, but not record, thus the "read only" designation. The data storage capacity for a CD-ROM is nearly 700 megabytes, enabling it to hold extremely large amounts of data.

CD-ROM drive (CD-ROM player) an internal or external computer hardware device that reads data from a CD-ROM.

CD-RW (Compact Disc-ReWritable) a type of CD that may be used for recording.It may be erased and reused. These have been widely available for several years and are slightly more costly than the CD-R.

CD writer a device that allows a user to record (burn) data using a CD-RW. A CDRW drive allows for the backup of music CDs as well as software applications, photos and individual files.

cell an individual unit of a table, spreadsheet, Web page layout, or database.

center to align text, graphics or images in the middle of a page with equal space on either side.

CGI (Computer Gateway Interface) a means of transmitting information from a Web server by executing programs in response to a Web browser's requests using HTTP. CGI programs process information requests and return the appropriate document to the client computer. see HTTP.

channel 1. a communications path. 2. high-speed communications hardware used to interface mainframe computers.

character 1. a symbol that can be stored by a computer requiring one byte of storage space. 2. in word processing applications, keyboard symbols such as individual letters that are used to make up words.

chat interactive online communication held in real time where users type messages back and forth. There are an increasing number of online forums being made available for chat. ICQ chat and Microsoft Messenger offer free chat software.There are many chat programs available that enable users to chat using voice technology.

chat room any of a large number of Websites or newsgroups where users can communicate using a keyboard in real time on a wide variety of topics ranging from oceanography to sex, politics, and much more. If you can come up with a topic, there's probably a chat room for you.

check box a box offering particular options that the user may choose or reject.

chip a small integrated circuit usually made from silicon or germanium that may hold millions of electronic components. Among the many chips used in computer hardware are microprocessors and memory chips.

clickonus check box central processing unit 25 circuit board see printed circuit board.

Cisco Systems a major hardware manufacturer that creates hardware and software solutions that link computer networks so that people have easy access to information without regard to differences in time, place or type of computer system.

click rate the number of impressions counted as a result of users clicking on an ad banner. The click rate is used by marketing firms to determine advertising fees.

clickable image an image on a Web page that contains an invisible hyperlink that directs the user to another page.

clickstream the path a user takes while navigating through cyberspace, or more specifically, through a Website. Software is available to track this activity. Following a user from Website to Website is valuable information to online advertisers as a measurement of advertising effectiveness.

client a computer that receives services from another computer. For example, the computer running the Web browser you use when accessing the World Wide Web is the client of the Web server delivering the Web documents.

clip art artwork available on floppy disk and CD-ROM as well as on the World WideWeb in several file formats to use without the need to pay royalty fees.

Thecreator is paid for the work by either producing and distributing it himself, or receives payment at the time a deal is struck with a publisher. The publisher then goes on to charge end users a licensing fee. A wide selection of clip art is available on numerous Websites free of charge. see Figure C.04.

Clipboard a useful tool that acts as a temporary storage space holding information (both text and graphics) you've cut or copied until you are ready to paste it to it's final destination. In Windows the images or text vanish when the computer is turned off. Macintosh has both a Clipboard that operates in the same way, and a Scrapbook that holds more than one image at a time, and saves held material from one work session to another.

clock the component within a computer that keeps track of the date and time. see BIOS.

clock rate (clock speed) the speed that a computer's microprocessor is able to process information, usually measured in MHz. see microprocessor, CPU.

clone a computer or software program that functions exactly like another. A clone is often a less expensive imitation of the original. The term became popular after IBM set the standard for personal computers and rival manufacturers imitated the IBM PC.

close In Windows, to save your work and exit a program.

cluster a grouping of sectors on a disk that function as a single unit.

CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) in older disk drivers, the changing of the rotation speed in relation to where the data is stored. Because less information is located close to the center of the disc, it needs to turn faster to access the data.

CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) is rapidly replacing this technology. see CAV.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) the four standard ink colors from which all other printed colors are derived. see color printer.

coaster a slang term used for give-away CDs such as those one might receive in the mail as promotional offerings.

coaxial cable a cable consisting of a single wire in the center surrounded by insulation and grounded with a braided conductive shield. The shield is designed to prevent the cable from receiving or emitting electrical noise. Coaxial cable is used for cable television and the networking of computers.

COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) first developed in the 1950s by the US Department of Defense and several early computer manufactures, COBOL is a somewhat wordy computer language used for business data processing.It remains the most widely used programming language today.

code a method of encrypting data using a wide variety of programming languages, making it readable by a computer.

cold fusion a tool developed by Allaire Corporation that integrates browser, server, and database technologies for rapid application development and Website design.

collate to arrange printed pages in a particular order.

color printer a printer connected to a computer that is capable of printing in more than one color. Most printers use the CMYK standard. These colors applied on top of one another blend to simulate most natural colors. see CMYK, laser printer, printer.

color separation a camera-ready photograph or graphic in which the individual base colors are isolated usually into four distinct prints. When combined during the printing process, the combination of prints displays the original color image.

column a vertical line of characters, words or images, displayed on a monitor or the printed page.

COM short for communications, a term generally used to describe the serial port on a PC.

.com an Internet domain designation given to URLs that are commercial, or personal in nature. see domain, URL.

COM port the location of a socket on the back of a computer for connecting accessories such as printers or modems.

command an order or instruction given to a computer so that it performs a specific function. Commands may be executed through the use of a mouse, a light pen, command 28 special keys, menu choices, buttons, and by voice with the use of voice-activated software applications.

command button an area designated by a circular, square, rectangular or other shape, that when clicked, initiates a computer function.

Command Key a key on the Macintosh designated by a clover-like symbol that acts as a shift key, in that when pressed, it changes the functions of other keys.

commerce server a special Web server designed to process credit card transactions.

compact disc see CD.

Compaq (Compaq Computer Corporation) a leading computer manufacturer that designs, develops and markets computers and computer software.

compatible having the ability to function together. In order for software applications and certain hardware devices such as printers and modems to operate, they must be compatible with a computer's operating system and other system hardware.

compression the storage of computer data so it requires less disk or file space.

Compressed graphics files allow significantly quicker loading time on the World Wide Web. see data compression.

CompuServe an online information service accessible by modem offering a wide range of services such as discussion, stock quotes, news and more.

computer an electronic machine capable of storing, processing, and retrieving data as well as communicating with other computers linked on a network.

computer ethics an unwritten code of conduct for computer users. The point to remember here is, users have the same legal responsibilities using computers that they do at any other time. Computer ethics has a long way to go before solid guidelines or mandates are officially determined. Questions of privacy, intellectual property ownership rights such as copyrights and licenses, and conduct regarding the use of computers to send bulk email are among the many issues requiring resolution.

computer literacy the level of skill an individual has with computers and computer applications.

computer science the extensive study of computer design including both hardware and software applications.

computer security the effort to protect computers from physical danger, malicious tampering and the undesired disclosure of information. Accomplishing these ends encompass a wide array of measures from the actual physical protection of computer hardware, to the guarding of data through the use of firewalls, encrypted information, passwords, and access codes.

computer system a complete operational computer including operating software.A computer system might also refer to a small network linked to enhance the functioning of an individual computer.

conferencing the use of a computer network where users are able to communicate in real time.

CONFIG.SYS a DOS file containing data concerning the configuration of the computer's drivers, keyboard and memory.

configure to set up computer hardware and/or software so it functions in a particular way.

connect to go online.

connect time the amount of time spent online during one or more computer sessions.

console the combination of keyboard and computer display monitor.

content all of the information contained on a Website.content 30 content provider usually a free online service provider offering a wide variety of services such as news, weather, stock quotes, entertainment, games, discussion forums and more. see online service.

contrast the intensity and clarity of light and dark values while shown in grayscale either on a display monitor or a printer. The use of distinct black and white values represents high contrast while the use of gray shows lower contrast.

Control key the keyboard key labeled Ctr, used like the shift key in that it changes the function of other keys. On the Macintosh the Control key is called the Command key or the Apple key.

Control Panel an application that allows the user to set many individual features on a computer such as keyboard and mouse settings, power management, monitor and many system settings. In Windows, the Control Panel can be accessed by clicking on the Start button and then Settings. From the Desktop the path would be, My Computer and Control Panel. For the Macintosh, access can be found under the Apple menu.

conversion program an application that changes a file from one format to another.

cookie a piece of data such as logon and user information, user preferences, and shopping information automatically sent by a Website through a Web server and stored by a Web Browser. It is the intent of the Website sending the cookie to recognize a user who has visited them in the past. On subsequent visits, the information contained in the cookie returns to the originating site, allowing the operator to offer specific products and services tailored to the user's preferences as determined by previous visits. Due to certain privacy issues regarding the gathering of personal information, users sometimes have the option of disabling cookies.

CoolTalk a real-time desktop audio conferencing and data collaboration tool specifically designed for the Internet. CoolTalk provides real-time audio conferencing at 28.8K and faster modem speeds, and includes a full function whiteboard, text-based chat tool, and answering machine.

copy 1. the duplication of information. 2. a DOS, OS/2, or Windows command that makes a copy of a file. 3. to duplicate and temporarily store data in a holding space or buffer such as a clipboard for further use. see copy and paste.

copy and paste in a word processing application, to duplicate an item such as an individual character, line of text, image or an entire document, and insert it at another point within the document, or into a different document or file, while retaining the original copied material in its original location. see paste.

Consequently, software manufacturers have tried to discourage piracy by requiring that the user enters a registration number when installing the program.

copyright the right to copy, a legal restriction of the reproduction of written, recorded, and electronic articles, books, audio and video recordings, and most computer software programs. The copyright is intended to protect the author's rights of ownership of the work. An author need not register a work with the US Copyright Office to be protected under the law. Technically, simply declaring that a work is copyrighted by publishing it with © and the date is enough, however, official registration with the US Copyright office may prove to be prudent. The copyright symbol is common and appears as follows: The User Friendly Guide to Internet & Computer Terms Copyright © 2001 Gold Standard Press Inc. All rights reserved.

CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) a standardized architecture that allows portions of programs, known as objects, to interact without regard to differing programming languages.

Courier a typewriter-like font used on typewriters, inkjet, dot matrix, and laser printers. This is an example of courier.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) sometimes referred to as the brains of the computer, the CPU is where the majority of the mathematical calculations, decoding of data, and the execution of coded instructions occurs. In personal computers the central processing unit resides in a single chip called a microprocessor.When someone refers to the speed of a computer, the reference is to the CPU and is measured in megahertz (Mhz). see microprocessor, processor.

cracker a person who gains unauthorized entry into a computer or computer system through the Internet and copies commercial software, sometimes simply to see if it can be done and sometimes for financial gain. In certain circles, a cracker would be considered less proficient than a hacker, though the terms are often interchangeable. see hacker.

crapplet a slang term for a useless applet.

crash a sudden and serious computer failure due to either a hardware or software malfunction, usually resulting in a loss of unsaved work. Among the many reasons for a computer to crash are running too many programs at once and crash 32 trying to operate a program requiring large amounts of memory without having the necessary resources available.

crawler a program that searches the Internet seeking publicly accessible information and Web documents. The information might be stored in a database and made available through a search engine. Crawlers are also known as spiders, bots and wanderers. see spider.

crippleware free software that has one or more features left out. Manufactures make this available hoping that users will buy a fully functional version.

cross-platform a software application, or hardware, that is able to run with more than one kind of computer such as an IBM or clone and Macintosh. Software that could run on both computers is said to be cross-platformed.

cross-post posting the same message in a number of different public forums simultaneously, sometimes with the use of special software. In some cases (such as with commercial offers) cross-posting is called spamming and considered bad netiquette. see spam.

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) a glass vacuum tube in which an electron beam or ray is projected onto a florescent screen to produce a luminous image or picture.

Television and computer screens are CRTs.

cryptography encoding data in such a way that it may not be understood by persons or computers without an authorization key or code.

CSP (commerce service provider) a company that provides a merchant or individual the means to process the purchase of goods or services online.

Ctrl-Alt-Del pressing these keys together quickly halts all computer functions. A dialog box will appear asking the user if she wants to shut down the present application. Contrary to common belief, pressing these keys together does not shut down a computer.


cursor a blinking I-beam shaped symbol on a computer screen showing the user where the next character or object will appear. Depending upon the program running, a cursor might also show as an arrow or a hand. The cursor can be manipulated by using either the keyboard or the mouse. see mouse cursor.

customer support see technical support.

cut to remove either text or graphics from an application and save it in a temporary holding area or buffer sometimes called a clipboard.

cut and paste to identify and isolate an element of a document and eliminate it from a particular location, then replace it by moving it to another location within or outside of the document. see copy, copy and paste, paste.

cyber (prefix) see Cybernetics.

Cybernetics the study of processing and assimilating information using electromechanical devices. The term has evolved from its earlier meaning to refer almost exclusively to computers.

cyberpunk a term loosely describing an antisocial individual conforming to a peculiar lifestyle characterized by an obsession with both computers and the dark side of the Internet.

cyberspace the abstract, non-physical world made up of networked computers where people communicate, shop, study, research, play, socialize and otherwise interact.

Cybertown a virtual community set in the latter half of the 21st Century that may be accessed through the Netscape Web browser, Netscape Navigator.

Cybrarian an online research junkie.

cycle the unit of measure which is a single oscillation of a computer's CPU clock.Programs running concurrently are competing for cycles.

Cyrix a subsidiary of National Semiconductor that designs, develops, manufactures semiconductor products, including microprocessors for the personal computer industry, and analog, mixed-signal and other integrated circuits for applications in a variety of markets, including the information appliances, personal systems, wireless communications, flat panel and CRT display, power management, local and wide area networks, automotive, consumer and military aerospace markets.