| There is so much different terminology that just | | | | to be uploaded from local machines to servers, |
| trying to understand what they mean can be another | | | | where the files can be uploaded |
| daunting task, below I have written a few of the | | | | IP Address: Internet Protocol Address. A unique |
| more common terms and what they mean, so | | | | number identifying all devices connected to the |
| choosing your web host for your internet home | | | | Internet |
| based business should be a lot easier for you to | | | | MySQL: A popular open-source relational database. |
| choose. | | | | UNIX hosting plans often include MySQL databases. |
| Auto responder: An email address that is set up to | | | | Perl: A programming language that facilitates data |
| automatically reply to the sender with a previously | | | | management and processing. |
| prepared response. | | | | PHP: A scripting language. PHP commands are |
| Bandwidth (Data Transfer): The amount of data that | | | | embedded within the HTML of a Web page and is |
| you are allowed to transfer (usually monthly). Data = | | | | useful in the arena of dynamically generated pages. |
| images, text, audio files, video files and everything | | | | PHP scripting can add numerous interactive elements |
| else that a server transfers to a user's web browser. | | | | to a Web site. |
| Approximately 40,000 page views = 1 GB of data | | | | POP: Post Office Protocol. A protocol used to |
| transfer. Web sites that get a lot of visitors (and | | | | retrieve e-mail from a mail server. |
| page views) need larger amounts of data transfer | | | | POP3 Email Account: POP3 email allows all emails |
| (or bandwidth). | | | | addressed to your domain to go to one place. If a |
| CGI: Common Gateway Interface. A program that | | | | host allows multiple POP3 email boxes, you can have |
| translates data from a web server and then displays | | | | multiple (separate) email addresses. |
| that data on a web page or in an email. CGI scripting | | | | Setup Fee: Initial fee charged by a host to create |
| can add numerous interactive elements to a Web | | | | your hosting account. |
| site. | | | | Shopping Cart Software: Software that allows users |
| Control Panel: An online interface often used to | | | | (customers) of a Web site to add and delete items |
| facilitate Web site management and editing. Control | | | | into an online "shopping cart" and then proceed to |
| panels often allow hosting customers to perform | | | | purchase the item(s). A shopping cart is an essential |
| basic functions (make changes, check data, etc.) | | | | component for most e-commerce Web sites, as it |
| without contacting customer service. | | | | allows users to browse for and purchase products |
| Data Transfer (Bandwidth): The amount of data that | | | | online. |
| you are allowed to transfer (usually monthly). Data = | | | | Storage Space (Disk Space): The storage capacity |
| images, text, audio files, video files and everything | | | | for images, HTML files, audio files, video files, |
| else that a server transfers to a user's web browser. | | | | graphics, etc. A Web site planning to have a large |
| Disk Space (Storage Space): The storage capacity | | | | amount of pages and/or planning to use a lot of |
| for images, HTML files, audio files, video files, | | | | images (or other large files) will need a greater |
| graphics, etc. A Web site planning to have a large | | | | amount of storage space. |
| amount of pages and/or planning to use a lot of | | | | Subdomain: A subdomain is a division of a Web site, a |
| images (or other large files) will need a greater | | | | section set apart with a different sub-domain name. |
| amount of disk space. | | | | For example, subdomains of Web site "domain.com" |
| Email Forwarding: When email sent to different email | | | | could be "support.domain.com," "clients.domain.com," |
| addresses is automatically sent (forwarded) to | | | | etc. |
| another specified email address. For example, you | | | | Web Statistics: Reports on visitors to your Web site. |
| could have multiple email addresses (i.e. , , ) that | | | | Statistics range from basic (how many visitors), to |
| would all be forwarded to one address (i.e. ) for easy | | | | advanced (referring URL, search phrase, etc.). |
| checking and responding. | | | | Finally |
| FrontPage Extensions: A set of programs and scripts | | | | Some web hosts offer the facility of having a reseller |
| that allow specific features of a Web site created | | | | account where you can get paid a commission by |
| with FrontPage to perform correctly. | | | | referring people to the web host, normally you can |
| FTP: File Transfer Protocol. The most common | | | | expect a commission of $10.00 a month for each |
| method for uploading files to servers. FTP allows files | | | | person you refer. |