Class Glossary

Reviewed by Nicole T.

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

application:: Informal Definition: A type of program also a menu; Formal Defenition: A program or group of programs designed for end users; Source: QuinStreet Inc. (2010) Webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/hypertext.html>
ASCII:: Informal Definition: It is an acronym for American Standard Code for Information Ineterchange; Formal Defenition: It is a code for representing English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127; Source: QuinStreet Inc. (2010) Webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/ASCII.html>
attribute:: Informal Definitions: A characteristic; Formal Defenition: An attribute is any characteristic of a file or document. When referring to an attribute in MS-DOS or Windows, the attribute is the properties of the file. For example, if the file had a read-only attribute the file can not have any changes, it can only be read; Source: Computer Hope (2010) Computerhope.com Retreived on 2010-09-29 <http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/a/attribut.htm>

breadcrumbs: Informal Definition: Shows internal links; Formal Defenition: In Web design a breadcrumb or breadcrumb trail is the part of the navigation that shows you where you are, similar to the fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel". Breadcrumb trails are often found near the top of Web pages and define both the current location within the site hierarchy as well as primary pages above the current page; Source: About.com (2010) About.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://webdesign.about.com/od/webdesignbasics/g/bldefbreadcrumb.htm>
browser:: Informal Definition: A page that allows its reader to read the hypertext; Formal Defenition: You are probably using a browser to read this right now. A Web browser, often just called a "browser," is the program people use to access the World Wide Web. It interprets HTML code including text, images, hypertext links, Javascript, and Java applets. After rendering the HTML code, the browser displays a nicely formatted page. Some common browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, and Apple Safari.; Source: Sharpened Productions (1999-2010) Sharpened.net Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?browser>

container:: Informal Definition: The container is the area enclosed by the starting and ending tags, in HTML; Formal Defenition: In HTML, the container is the area enclosed by the beginning and ending tags. For example <HTML> encloses an entire document while other tags may enclose a single word, paragraph, or other elements; Source: QuinStreet Inc. (2010) Webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/container.html>
CSS:: Informal Definition: A document that is used to describe the format of a webpage. Also known as a Cascading Style Sheet; Formal Defenition: Stands for "Cascading Style Sheet." Cascading style sheets are used to format the layout of webpages. They can be used to define text styles, table sizes, and other aspects of Web pages that previously could only be defined in a page's HTML. CSS helps Web developers create a uniform look across several pages of a Web site. Instead of defining the style of each table and each block of text within a page's HTML, commonly used styles need to be defined only once in a CSS document; Source: TechTerms (2005-2010) techterms.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.techterms.com/definition/css>
Cursor:: Informal Definition: The flashing bar that hows where the next character goes; Formal Defenition: The cursor on your screen can indicate two things: 1) where your mouse pointer is, or 2) where the next character typed will be entered in a line of text; Source: Techterms (2005-2010) techterms.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.techterms.com/definition/cursor>

directory:: Informal Definition: A logical collection of files stored under a single name; Formal Defenition: A directory is another name for a folder. Files on your hard disk are organized into various folders, or directories, so that it is easier to keep track of them. For example, you may keep your pictures in one folder and your music files in another folder. Folders can also contain other folders, allowing for more specific organization; Source: Sharpened Productions (1999-2010) Sharpened.net Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?directory>
default:: Informal Definitions: A value or thing to use when none is specified by the user; Formal Defenition: This term is used to describe a preset value for some option in a computer program. It is the value used when a setting has not been specified by the user; Source: Sharpened Productions (1999-2010) Sharpened.net Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?default>

element:: Informal Definition: One of the items of data in an array; Formal Definition: An element is always represented either by an explicit start tag and end tag, or by an empty element tag; Sources: Denis Howe (2010) foldoc.org Retrived on 2010-09-28 <http://foldoc.org/element>
empty element:: Informal Definition: A container containing no tags; Formal Defenition: An SGML, HTML, or XML token representing the beginning (start tag: “ ”) or end (end tag: “ ”) of an element. In normal SGML syntax (and always in XML), a tag starts with a “<” and ends with an “<”; Source: Denis Howe (2010) Foldoc.org Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://foldoc.org/empty+element>

file:: Informal Definition: A logical collection of information stored under a single name; Formal Defenition: An element of data storage in a file system.; Sources: Denis Howe (2010) foldoc.org Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://foldoc.org/file>
FTP:: Informal Definitions: It is used to move files to and from your computer via the Internet. This is how a the user gets her/his website from her/his computer onto the Web.; Formal Defenition: Stands for “File Transfer Protocol.” It is a common method of transferring files via the Internet from one computer to another.; Source: Sharpened Productions (1999-2010) sharpened.net Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?ftp>

hanging indent:: Informal Definitions: It is a paragraph that has all lines but the first indented. A hanging indent is also known as a hanging paragraph; Formal Defenition: Style of paragraph composing in which the first line of a text is aligned with the left-margin, and all other lines are indented (moved toward right) by an equal amount of space.; Source: Web Finance Inc. (2010) Business Dictionary.com Retrieved 2010-09-29 from <http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/hanging-indent.html>
Hierarchical File Structure:: Informal Definitions: A root directory containing zero or more subdirectories; in turn each subdirectory contains zero or more subdirectories; Formal Defenition: A file system in which the files are organised into a hierarchy. The nodes of the hierarchy are called directories while the leaves are the files themselves.
HTML:: Informal Definitions: A hypertext document that is used to describe content, also known as Hypertext Markup Language; Formal Definition: A hypertext document format used on the World-Wide Web; Source: Denis Howe (2010) FOLDOC.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 from <http://foldoc.org/HTML>
HTTP:: Informal Definitions: It is known as a Hypertext Transfer Protocol; Formal Definition: The client-server TCP/IP protocol used on the World-Wide Web for the exchange of HTML documents. It conventionally uses port 80.
Hypertext:: Informal Definitions: A term used used by Ted Nelson for a collection of documents; Formal Defenition: A special type of database system, invented by Ted Nelson in the 1960s, in which objects (text, pictures, music, programs, and so on) can be creatively linked to each other; Source: QuinStreet Inc. (2010) webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 from <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/hypertext.html>

Index.HTML:: Informal Defintion:An HTML of the homepage; Formal Defenition: The default name for a home page in a Web server. The page is appropriately named, because the home page is an index to the entire Web site; Source: Ziff Davis Inc. (1996-2010) pcmag.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=INDEXHTML&i=44891,00.asp>
Integrated:: Informal Definitions: Images that match the background, (it looks like its part of the background); Formal Defenition: Combining or coordinating separate elements so as to provide a harmonious, interrelated whol; Source: Dictionary.com (2010) dictionary.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/integrated>

launch:: Informal Definitions: To run a program; Formal Definition: To cause a program to load and run; Sources: Computer Hope (1996-2010) yourdictionary.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://computer.yourdictionary.com/launch>
logical:: Informal Definitions: Refers to a user's view of the way data or systems are organized; Formal Defenition: Computing of, performed by, used in, or relating to the logic circuits in a computer; Source: Farlex Inc. (2010) thefreedictioanry.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/logical>

modifier keys:: Informal Definitions: A modifier key is a key that modifies the action of another key when the two are pressed at the same time; Formal Defenition: A key on a keyboard that only has a meaning when combined with another key. Examples of modifier keys include the Shift, Control, and Alt keys; Source: QuinStreet Inc. (2010) Webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/modifier_key.html>

network:: Informal Definitions: A group of two or more computer systems linked together; Formal Defenition: Hardware and software data communication systems; Source: Free Online Dictionary of Computing (2010) foldoc.org Retrieved in 2010-09-29 <http://foldoc.org/network>

Operating system:: Informal Defenition: A set of programs which enable a computer to perform its basic tasks;“reading” and “writing” files, communicating with peripherals, and launching programs.; Formal Defenition: The most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers; Source: QuinStreet Inc. Webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-28 <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/operating_system.html>

plain-text file:: Informal Definitions: Refers to textual data in ASCII format; Formal Defenition: Plain Text supports standard ASCII characters, including numbers, symbols, and spaces, but does not support any type of text formatting. Therefore you cannot apply bold, italic, or underlined styles, and you cannot use different fonts or font sizes in a plain text document; Source: Techterms (2005-2010) techterms.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.techterms.com/definition/plaintext>
protocol:: Informal Definitions: An agreed method for data communication; Formal Definitions: 1. When computers communicate with each other, there needs to be a common set of rules and instructions that each computer follows. The specific set of communication rules is called a protocol; Formal Definitions: 2. A set of formal rules describing how to transmit data, especially across a network; Source: Sharpened Glossary (1999-2010) Sharpened.net Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/definition.php?protocol>

render:: Informal Definitions: It’s the process of adding realism to computer graphics by adding 3-D qualities, like shadows and shades; Formal Defenition: The conversion of a high-level object-based description into a graphical image for display; Source: QuinStreet (2010) Webopedia.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/rendering.html>
root directory:: Informal Definitions: The top directory in a file system; Formal Definition: The topmost directory in the hierarchical file system, in windows, this is represented by a “/’; Source: Denis Howe (2010) foldoc.org Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://foldoc.org/root+directory>

source code:: Informal Definitions: Program instructions written as an ASCII text file; Formal Defenition: Source code is the human readable instructions that a programmer writes; Source: About.com (2010) About.com Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://cplus.about.com/od/glossary/g/glosource.htm>

tags:: Informal Definitions: A label assigned to idenify data in memory; Formal Defenition: Characters in a markup language that is used to provide information, such as specifications, about a document.
text editor:: Informal Definitions: A program that enables you to create and edit text files; Formal Defenition: A utility program for creating and modifying text files; Source: Denis Howe (2010) foldoc.org Retrieved on 2010-09-29 <http://foldoc.org/text+editor>

webpage:: Informal Definitions: A document on the World Wide Web. It is made out of HTML and CSS files; Formal Defenition: Web pages make up the World Wide Web. These documents are written in HTML (hypertext markup language) and are translated by the Web browser