Glossary

This page contains an organised list of technical terms used within the Keydata Solutions website along with their meaning:

# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

.net

A generic top level domain (see TLD) used on the Internet's Domain Name System, currently operated by VeriSign.

.NET can also refer to web applications using the .NET Framework which are usually written in C# or Visual Basic.

.NET Framework

The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software technology for developing, building and deploying web applications and services. The Framework also includes a large library of pre-coded solutions to common programming tasks including data access and numeric algorithms.

Access

A relational database management system created by Microsoft that allows users to create custom databases and store information in an organised structure. It combines the Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software development tools for creating forms, tables and SQL queries.

ActiveX

ActiveX is a component object model (COM) developed by Microsoft and was built to provide desktop functionality in web applications.

ADO

Microsoft's ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) is a set of Component Object Model (COM) objects for accessing data sources (for example databases, Excel spreadsheets and XML files)

ADO.NET

ActiveX Data Objects for .NET is a suite of data access technologies used to manipulate data sources. It is sometimes considered as an evolution of ADO, but was changed so extensively that it can be considered an entirely new product.

AGP

The Accelerated Graphics Port (sometimes referred as the Advanced Graphics Port) is a high speed slot on a Motherboard used to accelerate 3D computer graphics.

Apache

Apache is an open source web server primarily used on Linux and Unix operating systems to display websites.

ASP

Active Server Pages (ASP) is a server side script engine created by Microsoft for dynamically generating web content. ASP pages are usually written in VB Script.

ASP.NET

Microsoft's latest version of ASP. See .NET Framework.

ASPX

Extension for web pages written using the Microsoft .NET Framework.

Backup

Making copies of data to reduce the chance of data loss which could occur through hardware failure or natural disaster (for example fire, flood or earthquake)

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is a capacity for a given channel to transfer data, often measured in kbps or mbps.

BIOS

BIOS is an acronym that stands for Basic Input/Output System, the primary function on a PC to identify and initialise system component hardware.

C#

C# (pronounced C Sharp) is a programming language which programmers can utilise through the Microsoft .NET Framework.

CD

A Compact Disc (CD) is an optical disc used to store digital data.

CD-R

Compact Disc Recordable (CD-R) is a variation of CD which allows users to write data to the disc.

CD-ROM

Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) is a pre-pressed CD that contains data accessible by computers.

CD-RW

Compact Disc ReWriteable (CD-RW) is a CD which can be written and erased multiple times.

CGI

Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a protocol that allows a web page to run a program on a web server.

CMS

A Content Management System (CMS) is an application that provides the ability to log in and create, edit, manage and publish content on a website.

COM

Component Object Model (COM) is an interface standard for software componentry.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a file used by websites to define the layout and appearance of content on a webpage.

Data Transfer

Data Transfer is the amount of digital data that is moved from one place to another in a given time. It can be used by web hosts to quantify how much traffic a website is allowed each month with additional charges for exceeding this limit.

Database

A database is a structured collection of records or data that can be used for reporting, segmenting targets or exporting lists.

DHTML

Dynamic HTML, or DHTML is a collection of static markup language (for example HTML), a client-side scripting language (for example JavaScript) and the Document Object Model (DOM).

DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical naming system for any resource accessed on the internet, commonly used to convert human friendly domain names into the IP (or Internet Protocol) addresses that are used to uniquely identify any device connected to the internet.

DOM

Document Object Model (DOM) is a platform and language independent standard object model for representing HTML or XML and related formats. It is used by a client-side scripting language (for example JavaScript) to inspect or dynamically modify the HTML content within the browser or the browser state.

DVD

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD or Digital Video Disc) are usually the same dimensions as a compact disc (CD) but can store more than six times as much data.

Ethernet

Ethernet is the most common type of connection computers use in a local area network (LAN).

Firewall

A firewall is a device or set of devices (which can be hardware or software based solutions) configured to permit, deny, encrypt or proxy all computer related traffic between different security domains. The most common application for a firewall is to protect a computer or network from attacks by intruders or hackers.

Firewire

Firewire which is also known as IEEE 1394, is a high speed digital link standard originally developed by Apple that offers better connectivity and data transfer for video, audio and storage peripheral applications.

Flash

Flash, originally created by Macromedia (now owned by Adobe), is a multimedia platform popular for adding animation and interactivity to web pages to create rich internet applications. Flash also contains a scripting language called ActionScript.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol is a protocol for transferring files over the internet, most commonly used for uploading and downloading files to a web server.

Gif

The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a bitmap image format supporting up to 256 distinct colours, originally created by CompuServe. Due to this 8 bit limitation, Gif images are not suitable for reproducing colour images but are well suited for simpler images such as graphics or logos with solid areas of colour.

GUI

Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a user interface based on visual indicators as opposed to text-based interfaces to represent information and actions to a user.

HDD

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is the most common form of permanent data storage for a computer system. Data is stored on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces and storage is usually measured in Gigabytes.

HDMI

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a set of digital video/audio standards for transmitting video and audio together in an uncompressed format.

HDTV

High Definition Television (HDTV) is a digital television broadcasting system with a high resolution providing over five times the video information than that of a conventional PAL/NTSC type signal.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the markup language used for creating and publishing web pages.

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a communications protocol used for transferring files (for example text, images, sound, video and other multimedia files) on the internet.

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS) is a communications protocol used for securing transmission on the internet, commonly used for securing payment transactions and corporate information systems.

I/O

Input/Output (I/O) is the fundamental idea that every input on a computer results in an output. For example a keyboard is considered an input device, while a monitor an output device - if a sentence was typed on a keyboard while using a word processing program, that input would output on the screen.

IIS

Internet Information Services (IIS) is a web server used on Microsoft Windows to display websites.

IMAP

The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is one of the two most prevalent protocols for email retrieval, the other being POP3.

IP

Internet Protocol (IP) specifies the format of packets and the addressing scheme. Most networks combine IP with a higher level protocol called Transport Control Protocol (TCP), which establishes a virtual connection between a destination and a source.

Java

Java is a programming language originally developed by Sun Microsystems for deploying application software in a cross platform environment.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a scripting language that should not be confused with the Java programming language. JavaScript was originally developed by Netscape that allows dynamic behaviour to be specified within HTML documents.

JPEG

JPEG is a commonly used method of compression for photographic images developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group which typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality.

kbps

Kilobits per second (kbps) is a unit of data transfer rate equal to 1,000 bits per second.

KMS

Keydata Management System (KMS) is an acronym used to describe our in-house developed Content Management System.

KVM Switch

KVM Switch (an abbreviation for Keyboard, Video & Mouse Switch) is a hardware device that allows a user to control multiple computers from a single keyboard, monitor and mouse.

LAN

Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network covering a small physical area, like a home, office, or small group of buildings, such as a school or an airport.

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a method of producing an image using electronically sensitive crystals suspended in a liquid medium.

Linux

Linux is an open source version of the Unix operating system.

Mainboard

Mainboard is another name for Motherboard. See Motherboard.

Mbps

Megabit per second (kbps) is a unit of data transfer rate equal to 1,000,000 bits per second.

Microsoft Access

See Access.

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is a robust relational database management system produced by Microsoft primarily using MS-SQL and T-SQL query languages.

Motherboard

Motherboard is the name for the central printed circuit board in complex electronic systems such as computers.

MySQL

MySQL is an open source relational database management system which can run on both Linux and Windows servers and is commonly used in conjunction with the PHP scripting language.

Name Server

A Name Server (also called nameserver) is a computer or program that converts domain names into IP addresses and vice versa.

ODBC

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) provides a standard interface for communicating with database management systems independent of programming language, database system or operating system.

Open Source

Open Source is a development methodology which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge).

Oracle

Oracle is a relational database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation.

P2P

A peer-to-peer (P2P) is a form of file sharing where users trade files with each other, versus downloading them from a centralised web server.

PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is an industry standard bus used in servers and workstations.

PCI Express

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI Express or PCI-E) is an industry standard bus primarily used for high performance graphic cards designed to replace the AGP form factor.

PDA

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is a handheld computer which generally provides calendar, to-do list, contacts list and some form of note program. Modern PDA's also include Email and Web support.

PDF

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format created by Adobe Systems for document exchange independent of the environment in which they were created or the environment in which they are viewed or printed.

Perl

Practical Extraction and Report Language (Perl) is the programming language most frequently used for writing CGI scripts.

PHP

Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is a widely used general purpose open source scripting language, often used in conjunction with MySQL. It has evolved to include a command line interface capability and can be deployed on most web servers.

POP3

Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) is a protocol that provides a simple standardised way for users to access mailboxes and download messages to an email client.

QuickTime

QuickTime is a multimedia framework developed by Apple capable of handling various formats of digital media.

RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) is the most common computer memory which can be used for running applications, processing information and for temporary storage.

SAS

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is a data transfer technology designed to move data to and from computer storage devices such as hard drives and tape drives.

SATA

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA or Serial ATA) has the primary function of transferring data between the motherboard and mass storage devices inside a computer.

SMS

Short Message Service (SMS) is a communications protocol allowing the interchange of short messages between mobile telephone devices, more generally known as Text Messaging or Texting.

SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is the standard used for email transmission across the internet and TCP/IP networks.

SOAP

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is a standardised protocol used to communicate over the internet between computers regardless of operating system.

SQL

Structured Query Language is a standard programming language designed for the retrieval and management of data in a relational database management system.

SQL Server

See Microsoft SQL Server.

SSL

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol which provides secure communications on the internet, often used to protect sensitive information like credit card numbers for online transactions.

TLD

Top Level Domain (TLD), also sometimes referred to as the 'extension', is the last part of an internet domain name, for example the TLD of www.google.com is '.com'.

Trojan

A Trojan horse, also known as a Trojan, is malware that appears to perform a desirable function but in fact performs undisclosed malicious functions.

Unix

Unix (officially trademarked as UNIX) is a computer operating system that supports multitasking and is ideally suited to multi-user applications.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a compact string of characters used to represent a resource available on the internet.

USB

Universal Serial Bus (BUS) is a standard to interface peripheral devices to a host computer, such as cameras, scanners and printers.

VB Script

VB Script (short for Visual Basic Scripting Engine) is an active scripting language developed by Microsoft, most commonly used for server-side processing of web pages with ASP.

VGA

Video Graphic Array (VGA) is an IBM PC display standard with 640x480 pixels, introduced with the original PS/2 line of computers in 1987.

Virus

A computer virus is a program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user.

Visual Basic

Visual Basic (VB) is the third generation programming language and integrated development environment from Microsoft for its COM programming model.

VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a protocol optimised for the transmission of voice through the internet.

VPN

Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides secure remote access to an enterprise network over a connection within the public network, such as the internet.

W3C

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the main international standard organisation for the World Wide Web who develop specifications, guidelines, software and tools that further the potential of the web.

WAI

The World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is an effort to improve the accessibility of the World Wide Web for people with disabilities.

WAN

Wide Area Network (WAN) is a data transmission facility that connects geographically dispersed sites using long-haul network facilities.

Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems products by Microsoft.

XHTML

Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) is a markup language that has the same depth of expression as HTML but also conforms to XML syntax.

XML

eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a widely accepted method of sharing information over the internet using a standard format.

XSL

eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) is a language used to create stylesheets for XML, similar to CSS that are used for HTML.

Y2K

The Year 2000 problem (also known as the millennium bug) was in anticipation to problems that could have arisen from computers storing the year as two digits.

ZIP

ZIP is a file format offering lossless data compression and archival format.