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Definitions from the Sharpened Glossary
C/C++
C is a high-level programming language that was developed in the mid-1970s. It was originally used for writing Unix programs, but now is used to write applications for nearly every available platform. Some nice things about the language are that it is easy to read, it is flexible and C programs typically use memory very efficiently. C++, pronounced "C plus plus," is a programming language that was built off the C language. The syntax of C++ is nearly identical to C, but it has object-oriented features, which allow the programmer to create objects within the code. This makes programming easier, more efficient, and some would even say, more fun. Because of the power and flexibility of the language, most programs today are written in C++.
Cache
A cache stores recently-used information in a place where it can be accessed extremely fast. For example, a Web browser like Internet Explorer uses a cache to store the pages, images, and URLs of recently visted Web sites on your hard drive. With this neat strategy, when you visit a page you have recently been to, the pages and images don't have to be downloaded to your computer all over again. Because accessing your computer's hard disk is much faster than accessing the Internet, caching Web sites can speed up Web browsing significantly. Most Web browsers allow you to adjust the size of the cache in in browser preferenecs.
CSS
Abbreviation for Cascading Style Sheets. CSS allow a web site designer to separate form from function. HTML tells a page what to do, but CSS tells a web page how to look. Currently, not all browsers express CSS formatting in the same manner.
CGI
Abbreviation of Common Gateway Interface. It is used to transfer information between a web server and a CGI program. A CGI program is any program designed to accept and return data. The program could be written in any programming language, including C, Perl, Java, or Visual Basic. CGI programs are the most common way for web servers to interact dynamically with users. Many HTML pages that contain forms, for example, use a CGI program to process the form's data once it's submitted.
Cloaking
Cloaking is a method of redirection which hides the actual URL of your site from the viewer's address bar via frames. It is primarily used to show an optimized page to the search engines and a different page to humans. Most search engines will penalize a site if they discover that it is using cloaking.
Clone
Used to refer to software that serves the same purpose as another more mainstream software program. It can also refer to electronic devices other than computers that are similar to other electronics.
Comment Tag
An HTML tag used to hide content from browsers. Used for designer's notes. Most search engines ignore the comment tags.
Connection Speed
The connection speed is the speed at which data is transferred during the session. The connection speed can be influenced by such factors as the speed of your modem, the quality of the telephone line from your house to the exchange, the quality of your exchange and the maximum speed of your ISP.
Cookie
A small data file that some websites write to your hard drive when you visit them. A cookie file can contain information such as your user ID that the site uses to track the pages you've visited. The next time you visit the website, the web program reads the cookie file to ascertain, for example, what parts of the website you are interested in. The only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. A cookie cannot read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites.
Counter
A program that keeps track of the number of visitors that visit a web page. The counter is often implemented as a CGI application. Often, such programs also keep track of other related information, such as IP addresses, times of the day for each visit, browser type, etc.
CPU
Stands for "Central Processing Unit." This is the pretty much the brain of your computer. It processes everything from basic instructions to complex functions. Any time something needs to be computed, it gets sent to the CPU. Every day, it's compute this, compute that -- you'd think the CPU would need a break after awhile. But no -- it just keeps on processing. The CPU can also be referred to simply as the "processor."
Database
This is a data structure used to store organized information. A database is typically made up of many linked tables of rows and columns. For example, a company might use a database to store information about their products, their employees, and financial information. Databases are now also used in nearly all e-commerce sites to store product inventory and customer information. Database software, such as Microsoft Access, FileMaker Pro, and MySQL is designed to help companies and individuals organize large amounts of information in a way where the data can be easily searched, sorted, and updated.
Data Transfer
Data transfer is the amount of digital data that is moved from one place to another in a given time. Outbound traffic from a web site, with the exception of e-mail, is considered to be data transfer. This is also known as bandwidth, the quota of data transfer that you are allowed each month. Anytime someone downloads, uploads, or visits your website - they are consuming a portion of that quota for the month.
Dead Link
An internet link which leads nowhere, probably because the server is down or the page has moved or no longer exists. Most search engines have techniques for removing such pages from their listings automatically, but as the internet continues to increase in size, it becomes more and more difficult for a search engine to check all of the pages in the index regularly.
Debug
Computer programmers, like everybody else, are not perfect. This means the programs they write sometimes have small errors, called "bugs," in them. These bugs can be minor, such as not recognizing user input, or more serious, such as a memory leak that crashes the program. Before releasing their software to the public, programmers "debug" their programs, eliminating as many errors as possible. This debugging process often takes a long time, as fixing some errors may introduce others. Debugging your windshield at a gas station is much easier than debugging a computer program.
Deep Link
A link to a web page other than your index page.
Directory
A directory is a search tool that focuses on listing web sites by specific categories, using human editors to review and manually place web sites into the categories. Similar to an entry in a phone book or the Yellow Pages, your directory listing doesn’t change.
Disk Space
Disk space is the allocation of server hard disk drive space where your web site is stored and connected to the Internet. This space is used to store your HTML files, graphics, POP mail messages, etc. Anytime you upload something to your website, then you are consuming a portion of that quota.
DNS
Stands for "Domain Name System." The primary purpose of DNS is to keep Web surfers sane. Without DNS, we would have to remember the IP address of every site we wanted to visit, instead of just the domain name.
Domain Name
The unique name that identifies a web site, such as yourcompanyname.com
Doorway Page
A page which has been specially created in order to get a high ranking in the search engines and not to benefit end users.
