Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
AJAX is an content composition style which web developers can use create rich interactive applications, i.e. interactive web applications. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AJAX for more detail.
Blog / Blogging
Blog is a short version (aka acronym) of the term weblog. A blog is a publicly accessible web-based journal. They allow the posting and updating (if update access is configured) to the journal by non-technical people. Blogs are now popular in business and academia as an enterprise knowledge management tool for internal use.
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets, also known as CSS, is a language used to define how various elements in a page, such as headers, links, images, backgrounds, will be displayed on a page. Although you can apply individual styles (just as you could with HTML) within the context of a single web page, the real beauty in CSS is that you define your primary elements in a single page and have all individuals point to that page for style, rather than having to code pages individually. Th ultimate effect is the ability to separate structure from content.
As of June, 2006, the accepeted implementation of CSS is CSS 2.1. Implementation is contingent upon a combination of a computer's operation system (such as Windows 2000, Windows XP, Redhat Linux 9.0, MacOS, UNIX) as well as how the web browser interprets the CSS markup.
Computer virus
In medical terms, a virus is a bug/germ which spreads amongst people who connect with one another. It is similar in the computer world, except that it affects computers. It is a program which is designed to impair or incapacitate computers. The safest computer is a standalone, one that doesn't connect to any other computers.
Database
A database is a collection of related information organized in such a way that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. Relational databases are organized by fields, records, and tables. A field is a single piece of information (a phone number); a record is a complete set of fields (everyone's phone numbers); a table is a collection of records (phone numbers, email addresses, client names, etc.). You might think of a database as a multi-dimensional spreadsheet where you can set up relationships amongst various (different) spreadsheets and display customized views of data. A CMS (Content Management System) generally uses a relational database as its content repository. Storing content in fields rather than static pages makes the content appropriate for dyamic delivery. MySQL, Sybase, Oracle and Access are databases.
Digital Photography
The art of taking pictures with a digital camera and storing the images on a digital device, such as a floppy disk, which can be transferred to a computer.
Fax
Also known as facsimile, a fax is a page resulting from the communication of a printed page between remote locations. Fax machines scan the paper image and send the code via the telephone system. WinFax is one of several popular commputer software applications which you can use to send faxes directly from your PC. The advantages of using PC faxing software include not having to tie up a second phone line, automated log management, and being able to send text documents, images and word processor docs in a similar fashion as you would an email message.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a client-based scripting language developed by Netscape. Client based means that the actions are performed on the client computer, in other words, on the desktop, not on the server.
It is commonly used to add interactivity to a web page, to make it more dynamic. Some common uses include creating image and text rollovers, doing calculations, running check scripts for verifying information filled in a form.
Depending on how it is developed and implemented, it can have some negative side effects, such as impact on web accessibility. Another possible problem is that the user can disable JavaScript on the PC, rendering the functions useless.
Mailmerge
is a program which is designed to go through a list of names, e-mail addresses, etc. and create output such as customized letters according to specific rules you write. An example might be a form letter which you got from a travel company. Although addressed to you, it was created by a program going through a list (perhaps thousands) of names.
MySQL
MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) similar to Sybase and Oracle. A spreadsheet gives you a two dimensional view of data, whereas a database gives you a three dimensional view in which you can link tables together based upon relationships.
PHP
PHP is an open source, server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to create dynamic websites. It can be used in conjunction with a database such as MySQL to generate queries to output content to a web page. The acronym stands for PHP Hypertext Preprocessor. It's home is www.php.net.
Popups
Windows which pop-up on your screen when you connect to certain websites. They're intended to be attention-grabbers, frequently offering items for sale. As with spam, there is software available for purchase intended to eliminate the occurrence of pop-ups.
Scanners
are devices which will read a printed page, both text and images, and convert it into a graphic image for the computer. You could use a scanner to copy an old photograph into a computer-image and send it to friends. With a scanner you could preserve old photographs. Spyware
Software that sends information about your web-surfing habits to the owner's Web site. Often quickly installed in your computer in combination with a free download you purposefully selected from the Web, spyware, also known as "parasite software," transmits information to the manufacturer as you surf. It is used to create market profiles.
