Technology / Computers Glossary

Internet: The Internet is a super-network. It connects many smaller networks together and allows all the computers to exchange information with each other. To accomplish this all the computers on the . . . View Full Definition

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP): A message control and error-reporting protocol between a host server and a gateway to the Internet. ICMP uses Internet Protocol (IP) datagrams, but the messages are processed by the IP softw . . . View Full Definition

Internet Information Server (IIS): A Web server that runs on the Windows NT/2000 platforms. It allows the creation of web-based applications. IIS provides both FTP server and web server capability.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP): IMAP is gradually replacing POP as the main protocol used by email clients in communicating with email servers. Using IMAP, an email client program can not only retrieve email but can also m . . . View Full Definition

Internet Protocol Security (Ipsec): A set of protocols developed by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and designed to provide protection of sensitive data over unprotected public networks, such as the Internet.

Internet Service Provider (ISP): A company that provides access to the Internet. For a monthly fee, the service provider gives you a software package, username, password and access phone number. Equipped with a modem, you c . . . View Full Definition

Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX): A networking protocol used by the Novell NetWare operating systems. Like UDP/IP, IPX is a datagram protocol used for connectionless communications. Higher-level protocols, such as SPX and NC . . . View Full Definition

Interrupt: A signal informing a program that an event has occurred. When a program receives an interrupt signal, it takes a specified action (which can be to ignore the signal). Interrupt signals can c . . . View Full Definition

Interrupt Request (IRQ): A dedicated channel between main components in a computer used to tell the CPU to stop working and receive more data. IRQs can be shared by multiple devices though that sometimes causes IRQ . . . View Full Definition

Intranet: A private network for communications and sharing of information that, like the Internet, is based on TCP/IP but is accessible only to authorized users within an organization. An organization . . . View Full Definition

ISA: The bus architecture used in the IBM PC/XT and PC/AT. It's often abbreviated as ISA (pronounced as separate letters or as eye-sa) bus. The AT version of the bus is called the AT bus and beca . . . View Full Definition

Italics (i): A type style with slightly slanted characters, used for emphasis. Best used to set off quotes, special phrases, and foreign words, italic letters have a redesigned structure that allows them . . . View Full Definition

JAVA: A high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Java was originally called OAK, and was designed for handheld devices and set-top boxes. Oak was unsuccessful so in 1995 Sun . . . View Full Definition

JavaScript: JavaScript is a scripting language used in web development, primarily in websites. It was designed to look like Java and uses some of the same naming conventions, but the similarities end th . . . View Full Definition

Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG): Pronounced 'J-Peg.' It's an image format that allows for compression when stored.

Joystick: An input device used in computer gaming, primarily for games that utilize flight simulation. May also be used with other games, though less commonly. Older versions connected through a seria . . . View Full Definition

Jumper: A plastic covered metal clip that sets over two pins on a circuit board. Jumpers connect pins, completing an electric circuit that changes configurations on devices, or can be used to kick s . . . View Full Definition

Just-In-Time (JIT): This is a type of Java compiler that interprets a class file, then compiles the information into native code.

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