The Internet, World Wide Web, & Web Browsing
Basic Internet Terminologies
Internet (the “Net”) – a large collection of computers all over the world that are connected to one another.
A network of networks. Tools and resources used on the Internet (the “NET”) include:
o World Wide Web (the “Web”) – used to organize resources on the Internet for easy access.
o Electronic Mail (E-mail) – used to communicate electronically with people all over the world.
o Instant Messaging (IM) – allows direct, live communication.
o Social Networking – connects people and organizations to share common interests or activities.
o Web log (Blog) – contains personal logs or journal entries posted on the Web.
o Search Engines – helps to locate information on the Web and the Internet.
o Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) – buying and selling of goods over the Internet.
o Cloud Computing – uses the Internet to shift computer activities of individuals or organizations
to the Internet.
ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) – the first “internetworking” project funded
by the US government for the military to allow computers to communicate reliably over long distances.
“Fathers” of the Internet – Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn were primarily responsible for developing
communication protocols or standards (TCP/IP) still in use on the Internet today.
o TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) – rules that networked computers use to establish and
break connections.
o IP (Internet Protocol) – rules for routing individual data packets (small chunks of data).
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses – sets of four numbers separated by dots (e.g., 123.45.245.91) which are
the means by which computers on the Internet identify each other.
Internet Connections – means to connect computers to the Internet. They include:
o Dial-up connection – uses standard telephone lines to connect to the Internet.
o Broadband connections – uses cable, satellite, and DSL for faster connections to the Internet.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) – uses standard telephone lines for faster internet
connections.
Cable – uses a television’s cable service provider to connect to the Internet.
Satellite – uses a satellite dish to connect to the Internet.
Internet Service Provider – national, regional, or local companies that connect individuals, groups, and
other companies to the Internet.
Web browsers – software that allows locating, viewing, and navigating the Web. E.g., Internet Explorer,
Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox, etc.
Web site – a location on the Web.
Web page (Home page) – the main page of a Web site.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) – a Web site’s address. Parts of a URL include: protocol, domain
name (server, business name, domain type), and path (folder, file). E.g.,
http://www.uakron.edu/courses/icas.html
o Protocol – standard used to communicate on the web. E.g., http, ftp, etc
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) – allows text transfers on the Web. The default
protocol used on the Web.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) – allows file transfers on the Web.
o Domain name – name assigned to a Web site. Includes the server name, business name and
domain type. E.g., www.uakron.edu
o Path – path within a Web site that contains the folder name and file name. E.g.,
/courses/icas.html
Hyperlink (Link) – text, graphics, or other elements that connect to additional data on the Web.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) – a computer language that marks text with a set of tags.
Email
Basic Email Concepts
Electronic mail (E-mail) – used to communicate electronically with people all over the world.
o Client-based e-mail – dependent on an e-mail account provided by and ISP and using client
software like MS Outlook or Netscape Mail for configuration.
o Web-based e-mail – uses the Internet as the client to help access e-mail account from any
computer with access to the Web. No special client software needed.
E-mail server – processes and delivers incoming and outgoing e-mail. Functions as the postal carrier.
Viruses – malicious codes or programs that are usually installed on your computer without your knowledge
Worms – similar to viruses that spread across computers by borrowing into email address without any
human interaction
Trojan horses – usually come with free installed software like screensavers to cause problems similar to
viruses and worms
Spyware – designed to capture personal and confidential information on your computer to send it
elsewhere
o Adware – spyware that tracks users’ Internet browsing to install malicious cookies on computers
Cookie – small text file with information to identify users on a Web site
o Key loggers – spyware that records every keystroke on a computer to capture all sorts of
confidential information like passwords, credit card numbers, etc
Spam – unwanted or junk e-mail sent by companies that finds e-mails from either a purchased list or
software that looks for e-mail addresses on the Internet.
Internet hoaxes – contain untrue information and chain e-mail letters.
Phishing – lures users into revealing personal information that could lead to identify theft.
