Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions and answers are collected and published continuously. Along with the questions you will find a set of the most important internet- and information technology-related definitions. Resources used for these descriptions can be found at the end of the page.

If you can't find an answer for your question or have suggestions to the definitions contact us, please, via email at . The editors of the page reserve the right to publish original questions and comments in an edited form.

Click-through
Database
Digital signature
Domain
Domain Name System
Extranet
Firewall
HTTP
HTML
Mailing list
Name Server
Relational database
Search System
Virtual Private Network

Click-through

The process of a visitor clicking on a Web advertisement and going to the advertiser's Web site. Also called ad requests. The click-through rate compares the amount of times an ad is clicked versus the amount of times it is viewed.

Database

One or more large structured sets of persistent data, usually associated with software to update and query the data. A simple database might be a single file containing many records, each of which contains the same set of fields where each field has a certain fixed width.

Digital signature

A digital signature is a message digest used to cryptographically sign a message. Digital signatures rely on asymmetric, or public-key, cryptography. To create a digital signature, you sign the message with your private key. The digital signature then becomes part of the message. This has two effects. Any changes to the message can be detected, due to the message digest algorithm. You cannot deny signing the message, because it was signed with your private key. These two features, message integrity and non-repudiation, make digital signatures a useful component for e-commerce applications.

Domain

A domain name is the unique name of a computer on the internet that distinguishes it from the rest. Every website is hosted on a computer (server). Each server has a unique IP address which is nothing but a unique set of numbers, such as "195.70.35.4". To access a particular website, one can specify its IP address in an appropriate application, such as a web browser. However, because it is difficult to remember numbers, each IP address is associated with a fully qualified host name (domain name), such as "www.net.hu". Domain names are simple labels to be used instead of the difficult set of numbers. Domain names are often mistaken with web pages, URLs, or internet services available at the given domain or computer. The domain names are not related to those resources and services.

Domain Name System

The Domain Name System or DNS is a system that stores information about host names and domain names in a distributed database on networks, such as the internet. Most importantly, it provides an IP address for each host name and lists the mail exchange servers accepting e-mail for each domain. The DNS forms a vital part of the internet, because in contrast to hardware that requires only IP addresses to perform its tasks such as address routing, humans use host names and domain names.

Extranet

The extension of a company's intranet onto the internet, for example, to allow selected customers, suppliers, and mobile workers to access the company's private data and applications via the World Wide Web.

Firewall

In the traditional meaning in construction, a firewall is a windowless, fireproof wall built to prevent fire from spreading beyond one section of a building. By extension, the computing world uses the term firewall for a piece of hardware or software put on the network to prevent some communications forbidden by the network policy. A personal firewall is a software application which normally filters traffic entering or leaving a single computer, while a traditional firewall normally runs on a dedicated network device or computer positioned on the boundary of two or more networks or DMZs.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol is the primary method used to communicate information on the World Wide Web. The specification is currently maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). HTTP is a request/response protocol between clients and servers. An HTTP client, such as a web browser, typically initiates a request by connecting to a certain port (TCP/IP 80) and then sends a request string. The server would then respond with a file (or error message).

HTML

HTML is the HyperText Markup Language, a small but popular application of Standard Generalized Markup Languages (SGML) used on the Web. It defines a simple class of report-style documents, with section headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and illustrations, with a few informational and presentational items, some hypertext and multimedia.

Mailing list

A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. The term is often extended to include the people subscribed to such a list, so the group of subscribers are referred to as "the mailing list", or simply "the list.” The most popular use of a mailing list is when a group of people with similar interests form a mailing list to discuss topics (e.g., sports cars, sci-fi novels, Thai cuisine, quantum theory). The topic leader (called moderator) coordinates the list, ensuring that everyone observes the basic rules of communication. The other common use of modern mailing lists is where the group of subscribers are recipients of newsletters, periodicals, or advertising, usually a one-way communication.

Name Server

A name server is computer server software that implements a name service protocol. The most commonly used network name service protocol is the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol (see above).

Relational database

A relational database is a specific database based on the relational model. In this model, data storage focuses on tables and the relationship between tables.

Search System

A program is designed to help one access files stored on a computer, for example, a public server on the World Wide Web. The search engine allows one to ask for media content meeting specific criteria (typically those containing a given word or phrase) and retrieving a list of files that match those criteria. Unlike an index document that organizes files in a predetermined way, a search engine looks for files only after the user has entered search criteria. In the context of the internet, search engines usually refer to the World Wide Web and not other protocols or areas. Furthermore, search engines mine data available in newsgroups, large databases, or open directories. Because the data collection is usually automated, search systems are often distinguished from Web directories, which are maintained by people. HuDir - Heureka - Ariadnet

Virtual Private Network

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a private communications network usually used within a company, or by several different companies or organizations, communicating over a public network. VPN message traffic is carried on public networking infrastructure (the internet) using standard and therefore possibly insecure protocols. VPNs use cryptographic tunneling protocols to provide the necessary confidentiality (preventing snooping), sender authentication (preventing identity spoofing), and message integrity (preventing message alteration) to achieve the privacy intended. When properly chosen, implemented, and used, such techniques can provide secure communication over insecure networks.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
http://www.webopedia.com
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

	Home / Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Questions and answers are collected and published continuously. Along with the questions you will find a set of the most important internet- and information technology-related definitions. Resources used for these descriptions can be found at the end of the page. If you can't find an answer for your question or have suggestions to the definitions contact us, please, via email at . The editors of the page reserve the right to publish original questions and comments in an edited form. Click-through Database Digital signature Domain Domain Name System Extranet Firewall HTTP HTML Mailing list Name Server Relational database Search System Virtual Private Network Click-through The process of a visitor clicking on a Web advertisement and going to the advertiser's Web site. Also called ad requests. The click-through rate compares the amount of times an ad is clicked versus the amount of times it is viewed. Database One or more large structured sets of persistent data, usually associated with software to update and query the data. A simple database might be a single file containing many records, each of which contains the same set of fields where each field has a certain fixed width. Digital signature A digital signature is a message digest used to cryptographically sign a message. Digital signatures rely on asymmetric, or public-key, cryptography. To create a digital signature, you sign the message with your private key. The digital signature then becomes part of the message. This has two effects. Any changes to the message can be detected, due to the message digest algorithm. You cannot deny signing the message, because it was signed with your private key. These two features, message integrity and non-repudiation, make digital signatures a useful component for e-commerce applications. Domain A domain name is the unique name of a computer on the internet that distinguishes it from the rest. Every website is hosted on a computer (server). Each server has a unique IP address which is nothing but a unique set of numbers, such as "195.70.35.4". To access a particular website, one can specify its IP address in an appropriate application, such as a web browser. However, because it is difficult to remember numbers, each IP address is associated with a fully qualified host name (domain name), such as "www.net.hu". Domain names are simple labels to be used instead of the difficult set of numbers. Domain names are often mistaken with web pages, URLs, or internet services available at the given domain or computer. The domain names are not related to those resources and services. Domain Name System The Domain Name System or DNS is a system that stores information about host names and domain names in a distributed database on networks, such as the internet. Most importantly, it provides an IP address for each host name and lists the mail exchange servers accepting e-mail for each domain. The DNS forms a vital part of the internet, because in contrast to hardware that requires only IP addresses to perform its tasks such as address routing, humans use host names and domain names. Extranet The extension of a company's intranet onto the internet, for example, to allow selected customers, suppliers, and mobile workers to access the company's private data and applications via the World Wide Web. Firewall In the traditional meaning in construction, a firewall is a windowless, fireproof wall built to prevent fire from spreading beyond one section of a building. By extension, the computing world uses the term firewall for a piece of hardware or software put on the network to prevent some communications forbidden by the network policy. A personal firewall is a software application which normally filters traffic entering or leaving a single computer, while a traditional firewall normally runs on a dedicated network device or computer positioned on the boundary of two or more networks or DMZs. HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol is the primary method used to communicate information on the World Wide Web. The specification is currently maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). HTTP is a request/response protocol between clients and servers. An HTTP client, such as a web browser, typically initiates a request by connecting to a certain port (TCP/IP 80) and then sends a request string. The server would then respond with a file (or error message). HTML HTML is the HyperText Markup Language, a small but popular application of Standard Generalized Markup Languages (SGML) used on the Web. It defines a simple class of report-style documents, with section headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and illustrations, with a few informational and presentational items, some hypertext and multimedia. Mailing list A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. The term is often extended to include the people subscribed to such a list, so the group of subscribers are referred to as "the mailing list", or simply "the list.” The most popular use of a mailing list is when a group of people with similar interests form a mailing list to discuss topics (e.g., sports cars, sci-fi novels, Thai cuisine, quantum theory). The topic leader (called moderator) coordinates the list, ensuring that everyone observes the basic rules of communication. The other common use of modern mailing lists is where the group of subscribers are recipients of newsletters, periodicals, or advertising, usually a one-way communication. Name Server A name server is computer server software that implements a name service protocol. The most commonly used network name service protocol is the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol (see above). Relational database A relational database is a specific database based on the relational model. In this model, data storage focuses on tables and the relationship between tables. Search System A program is designed to help one access files stored on a computer, for example, a public server on the World Wide Web. The search engine allows one to ask for media content meeting specific criteria (typically those containing a given word or phrase) and retrieving a list of files that match those criteria. Unlike an index document that organizes files in a predetermined way, a search engine looks for files only after the user has entered search criteria. In the context of the internet, search engines usually refer to the World Wide Web and not other protocols or areas. Furthermore, search engines mine data available in newsgroups, large databases, or open directories. Because the data collection is usually automated, search systems are often distinguished from Web directories, which are maintained by people. HuDir - Heureka - Ariadnet Virtual Private Network A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a private communications network usually used within a company, or by several different companies or organizations, communicating over a public network. VPN message traffic is carried on public networking infrastructure (the internet) using standard and therefore possibly insecure protocols. VPNs use cryptographic tunneling protocols to provide the necessary confidentiality (preventing snooping), sender authentication (preventing identity spoofing), and message integrity (preventing message alteration) to achieve the privacy intended. When properly chosen, implemented, and used, such techniques can provide secure communication over insecure networks. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki http://www.webopedia.com http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

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