Glossary


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


A

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)

Applet - a small Java program that can be embedded in an HTML page. Unlike full-fledged Java applications they cannot access certain resources on the local computer, such as files and serial devices (modems, printers, etc.)



B

Bandwidth - the amount of data that can be sent through a line, usually measured in bits-per-second. 

Banner Ad - the most common form of advert size on a Web page that links (clicks through) to an advertiser's site. The ad typically runs across the top or the bottom of the page.

Baud - bits sent or received per second

Bit - a single digit number - the smallest unit of computerized data

BPS (Bits-Per-Second) - a measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 56K modem can move about 56,000 bits per second

Browser - a Client program (software) that is used to access various Internet resources

Byte - set of Bits that represent a single character



C

Cache - where your PC saves files from recently visited Web sites in a folder on your PC called a "cache". These are used to speed up access on subsequent visits.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - a set of rules that describe how a Web Server communicates with another piece of software on the same machine

Client - a software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a Server software program on another computer

Cookie - a piece of information sent by a Web Server to store on a Web Browser so that it can be later read back form the Browser. They can then be used to build up a profile of your online behavior so that you can be targeted with adverts



D

Data mining - range of techniques for identifying, connecting and using data, especially that held in a data warehouse

Data protection - a legal framework for controlling the commercial use of personal data. Administered in UK by the Data Protection Registrar, with whom virtually any commercial database should be registered

Data Warehouse - a computerized assembly of a range of company information on its operations, markets and customers

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) - a method for moving data over regular phone lines



E

E-commerce (Electronic commerce) - transactions over electronic systems

E-CRM (Electronic Customer Relationship Management)

Extranet - a shared private network between enterprises - not accessible to the general public



F

FAQ (Frequently asked questions) FAQ files are collections of common questions and answers for a particular subject area

Fast Marketing - a proprietary technique that combines TV advertising with intensive product sampling

Fire Wall - a security system (combination of hardware and software) that controls access (incoming & outgoing) for a computer Network

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - a common method of moving files between two Internet sites



G

GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) - a common format for image files used frequently for web graphics



H

Hit - a single request from a web browser for a single item from a web server

Home Page (or Homepage) refers to the main web page for an enterprise

Host - any computer on a network that acts as a repository for resources available to other computers on the network

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) - the coding language used to create Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web

HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) - the protocol for moving hypertext files across the Internet

Hypertext - any text that contains links to other documents - words or phrases in the document. Selecting a hypertext link causes another document to be retrieved and displayed



I

IDM Institute of Direct Marketing

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) - gradually replacing POP as the main protocol used by email clients in communicating with email servers

Impressions - the number of times a site or section within a site has been requested by a browser

Intranet - a private internal network inside an organization

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - enables higher volumes of data transfer over existing regular phone lines

ISP (Internet Service Provider) - provides access to the Internet 

iTV (Interactive Television) 



J

Java - a programming language invented by Sun Microsystems

JavaScript - a programming language that is mostly used in web pages, usually to add features that make the web page more interactive

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - a format for image files, frequently used for web graphics



K



L

LAN (Local Area Network) - a computer network limited to the immediate area, usually the same building or floor of a building

Linux - an open source Unix-like operating system.



M

M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions)

Marketing Mix - the organization of all forms of marketing activity for a brand

Micro-site - A small site of a few pages, normally for temporary promotional use

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a standard for defining the types of files attached to standard Internet mail messages



N



O

Online - A connection to an Internet site



P

Packet Switching - the method used to move data around on the Internet enabling multiple use of the same transmission line at the same time

POP (Point of Presence) usually means a city or location where of a connected network

POP3 (Post Office Protocol) a simple method for workstations to dynamically access mail from a mailbox server

Portal - often used to describe a Web site that is or is intended to be the first place people see when using the Web

PPP (Point to Point Protocol) - the most common protocol used to connect home computers to the Internet over regular phone lines

Proxy Server sits between a Client and the "real" Server that a Client is trying to use



Q



R



S

Segmentation - the division of a population into groups or clusters with common characteristics relevant to a brand's marketing

Server - a computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers

SMS (Short Messaging System)

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - the main protocol used to send electronic mail from server to server on the Internet 

Spam - inappropriate use of mailing lists

SQL (Structured Query Language) - a language for sending queries to databases



T

Tag - an HTML command used in laying out a web page and providing links to other pages and resources

Target Audience - audience to whom the advertising is directed

TARP (Target Audience Rating Point) 

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - the suite of protocols that defines the transmission of data on the Internet

Tie-in Advertisement - a print advertisement that relates to other advertising

Tracking study - Continuous survey designed to monitor effects of advertising



U

U&A (Usage and Attitude survey)

Umbrella brand - a brand that covers a variety of products, probably, but not necessarily, in disparate fields

Unique Users - the number of individual users connecting to a web site within a given time as stated

Unix - computer operating system designed to be used by many people at the same time

Unmetered Access - not paying call charges for the amount of time connected to the Internet

URL (uniform [or universal] resource locator) - is another name for Web site addresses



V

VOD Video on demand

Vortal (Vertical portal) Whereas a portal provides top-line information and links across many different subject areas, a vortal provides a greater depth of information and a greater number of links in one subject area



W

WAN (Wide Area Network) is a network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)

WWW (World Wide Web)



X

XML (Extensible Markup Language) - the universal format for structured documents and data on the Web. Like HTML, XML makes use of tags (words bracketed by '<' and '>') and attributes (of the form name="value")



Y



Z