Glossary

Bandwidth - Bandwidth is a measurement of data transfer throughput.  Web surfers request pages from a web site and the web server sends the web site files to the browser.  A web hosting company typically sets a maximum bandwidth usage for a web site.

Browser - Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are the two most popular examples of browser applications.  Browsers request pages from the Internet and allow the user to view the pages.

Domain Name - The address of a web site.  When a domain name is registered, the name is designed to point to a specific computer that is attached to the Internet.  A domain must be registered with a registration provider.  Domain name example:  www.grandoaktechnologies.com.

E-Commerce - Electronic Commerce.  The means of offering products and accepting payments for goods on the Internet.  Typically this will involve accepting credit cards over a secure connection.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - The process of tuning the content, meta data, and performance of a website.  This also includes removing errors and other negative factors as understood by a skilled Search Engine Optimization Professional.  The goal is to make the website rank more favorably in the major search engines, which typically results in excellent targeted traffic.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) - This includes the activities of marketing a website on the Internet. This could include listing the website in appropriate web directories, advertising ads, social marketing, pay per click advertising, search engine submission and more.

Host - The host is the computer that holds the web site files.  Host computers are called Web Servers because they serve the files to the user's browser.  Web site owners pay hosting companies to rent space and bandwidth on their web servers.

HTML - Hypertext Markup Language.  The primary format of pages served to the user's browser.  A web developer should know HTML to produce an effective web site.

Hyperlink (or Link) - A text or image element on a web page that, when clicked, will direct your browser to another web page or resource.

Search Engine - A powerful utility that maintains an indexed listing of the Internet.  A web surfer will enter in a word or phrase then click the search button.  The search engine searches it's database and returns the results to the user.  Web site owners typically want to be ranked in the top 10 or 20 sites for their desired search phrases.

SSL Encryption - (Secure Socket Layer)  A way for a browser to communicate with a web site securely through encryption algorithms.  This is typically used when working with sensitive information over the Internet.

Web Server - A computer that has software designed to accept commands from a browser and issue web pages and content to the user.  There are two main groupings of web servers:  1. Windows based or 2. Unix based.