Basic Web Terms and Tasks to Become Familiar With

The Internet: Millions of computers areconnected all around the world by an enormous computer network. It provides numerous services that allow users to share information including e-mail, discussion groups, file transfers, and remote log-on to distant computers.

The World Wide Web: Usually just called the web (www), it is another facet of the Internet. **It is important to realize that the web is not the Internet, only part of it. The web was developed as a means for people to view and share text and graphics between computers all around the world.		  
  Modems and Getting On-line: Modems transmit computer information over the phone line. Every time you dial-in to your Internet provider, the modem uses your phone line to call the server (main computer) at the company. Once your modem connects to the company, you type in a password to identify yourself, and you are then connected to the Internet and on-line.

FTP: Short for File Transfer Protocol, this is the Internet service used to move files from one computer to another or from one network to another.
Browsers: Programs designed to help you view and navigate the World Wide Web. (We have used Netscape Navigator in this course, but you can choose the browser of your choice at home).

Browser Buttons to get to know:
Back: Takes you backward one step.
Forward: Takes you forward one step.
Reload: Reloads the page or site you are at (used if a page times out, will not load, or to refresh a page).
Home: Takes you to the homepage, or page that always loads when you run the browser.
Search: Takes you to your browser's search page, which has a list of Search Engines.
Stop: Stops whatever you have asked the browser to do.
Print: Lets you print information and pages directly off the web.


URL: Universal Resource Locator, exact address of a page or site on the web. (i.e. www.acadiau.ca).

Typing in a URL: case matters, spelling does, no commas, use periods (dots), no spaces, ****mouse cursor must be flashing on the Location Toolbar (long white bar at top of screen, in grey part of browser) before you can begin, click once to hi-light text in box, hit the delete key, and then type, ENTER to finish request.

Some Neat URLs to Try Out: MovieNet, www.movienet.com , Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, www.rockhall.com , World Wide Web of Sports, www.tns.lcs.mit.edu/cgi-bin/sports , The White House, www.whitehouse.gov , Fodor's Travel Guide, www.fodors.com .

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP): Special language used by computers to transfer information on the web.

Web Page: an individual or institution's spot on the web. Information, pictures, and links created using HyperText Markup Language.

Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML): The code language used by a web-page designer to create web pages.

Homepage: The page that automatically shows up on the screen each time you run your browser. Homepages are also the starting pages for individual web pages and sites. They usually tell you personal information about the creator of the page, and often offer links to other pages or sites.

Web Site: A collection of web pages with a common theme.

Links: Text in colour different from the rest of page, or underlined. Doorway or window to rest of page or another site.

To follow a link: Wait until the hand appears, then double-click on it.

Download : The Internet is full of files (applications, graphics, sound clips, and more) available for you to use, but first you have to move them onto your hard drive. Downloading is the process of moving files from a network into your home computer.