When you’re running a business that involves the use of computers and the internet, you might start feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of technical jargon that surrounds you. While you don’t necessarily have to understand everything, it is helpful to be familiar with certain computer-related terms. In this article, we’ll review some of the most common words and phrases you’ll encounter while running a website.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that your website can send and receive per second. If your website lacks sufficient bandwidth, it will appear slowly for visitors. Therefore, it’s important to choose a hosting service that provides enough bandwidth and to test your website’s loading speed on slow internet connections.
Browser
A browser is software that users utilize to view your website. The most commonly used browser is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which comes pre-installed on Windows computers.
Cookie
A cookie is a data file that your website can save on the computer of a visitor. This file helps your website remember the visitor’s information when they return. For example, if you’ve added items to your online shopping cart and returned to the website later, the items will still be in your cart because of the cookie. It’s important to note that some visitors may have their cookies turned off, which can cause issues when ordering from your website.
Download
Downloading refers to transferring data from a website to a computer.
Favorite
A favorite is a website that a user has saved for future reference by adding it to their browser’s favorites list.
FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and it’s a common method used for uploading files to your website.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a programming language commonly used to write scripts that make websites more interactive. These scripts can cause issues for visitors if they are not properly implemented.
JPEG
JPEG, which stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is the most commonly used format for pictures on the internet. If you want to add pictures to your website, it’s recommended to save them in JPEG format.
Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer or other electronic devices, such as a keyboard or a monitor.
Hosting
Hosting refers to the service of making your website available for people to access online. If you have a website, you’ll be paying for hosting services to ensure your site is available for visitors.
HTML
HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is a type of code used to display web pages. The code uses a system of small tags to indicate how text and images should appear on a web page. For example, the “b” tag can be used to display text in bold, and the “img” tag is used to display images.
Hyperlink
A hyperlink is a clickable link that takes users to another website or another page within the same website. For example, if you’ve included an email address on your website that users can click on to email you, that email address is a hyperlink.
Programming
Programming is the process of giving instructions to a computer using a programming language. Programming languages used for the web include PHP and Perl.
Server
A server is where your website is stored, and it’s the destination that people connect to when they visit your site. If someone tells you that your server is down, it means that your website is currently inaccessible. It’s important to note that the term “server” refers to both the hardware and software components of this system.
Software
Software refers to the programs that run on a computer or other electronic device. Examples of software include Microsoft Word and Apache (the most commonly used web server software).
Spider
A spider is a program used by search engines to scan your website and determine how it should appear in search results. It’s a good thing to be visited by spiders.
URL
A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is the address of a webpage or other resource on the internet. URLs are used to navigate the web and to access specific pages, images, and other content. For example, if you want to access Google’s search engine.
URLs are an essential component of the web and are used to connect resources across the internet. Search engines also use them to index and rank websites, which is why it’s important to make sure that your website’s URLs are properly structured and optimized for search engines.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of specialized terminologies associated with computers and the internet. While you don’t need to know everything, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of these terms, so you can communicate effectively with web developers, designers, and other professionals.
By understanding the concepts listed above, you’ll be better equipped to manage your website, work with web professionals, and troubleshoot any problems that arise. If you’re new to the world of computers and the internet, take the time to learn as much as you can about these essential terms, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering this fascinating and rapidly evolving field.
