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Glossary

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Some of the terms used on the State Library of Queensland website, with definitions.

Acrobat Reader: Stand-alone program and web browser plug-in from Adobe that allows a user to view a Portable Document Format (PDF) file in its original format and appearance. The Adobe Acrobat Reader [new window] is free and can be downloaded from the Adobe website.
Application: A set of business processes and software programs designed for a specific business process.

Bandwidth: Refers to the speed of a connection between computers. The range of frequencies (size of the 'pipe') available for carrying information.
Blog: Originally short for "web log", a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video, usually with the facility to allow visitors to comment.
Bookmark: A web address that is stored by a browser or online bookmarking site as a shortcut to a website. Also known as a 'favorite'.
Browser: Also web browser, a client software program used for searching and viewing various kinds of Internet resources such as information on a web site. Some of the more popular web browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari.

CD-ROM: Compact Disk Read Only Memory. A physical device for storage of digital information.

Collection Code: Indication of the physical location, subject matter, format and/or size of a collection and collection items, usually within a library.

Content: Digitised data - documents, email records, database records, digital (multimedia) assets.

Database: A collection of information organised in such a way that a computer program can quickly select and manipulate desired pieces of data. An electronic filing system.
Discussion list: Or mailing list, a subject based discussion service using email. Automated software is used to subscribe and unsubscribe participants as well as to transmit emails between subsribers
Document: Electronic or hardcopy file containing information.
Download: Transfer of data from a server to a computer's hard disk. A browser or FTP program can be used to download files to a computer. Opposite of "Upload".

Ecard: An electronic card, usually a greeting card.
Email: Messages, usually text, sent from one person to another via a network. Email can also be sent automatically to a large number of addresses. (See mailing list).
Electronic publishing: Dissemination of information via electronic media such as the Internet, Intranets, CD-ROM, networks and diskettes.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Feed: Also web feed, RSS feed or Atom feed, a data format used to provide subscribers with frequently updated content. A web feed is syndicated so that users can subscribe to it via a web browser or separate feed reader application.
Form: Interactive forms can be filled in and submitted online via the web (e.g. providing feedback, registering for a service, etc.).

GIF: (Graphic Interchange Format) - A common format for image files, especially suitable for images containing large areas of the same colour, eg for logos.

Home page: The primary or main web page for an individual or organisation.
HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language: the coded format language used for creating hypertext documents on the World Wide Web and controlling how Web pages appear
HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol
Hypertext: Generally, text that contains 'links' to other documents.

Internet: A global network of computer networks that communicates using TCP/IP.
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network. This facilitates high-speed transfer transmission (up to 128 kbps) of voice and data.
ISP: Internet Service Provider. A company that offers access to the Internet for providing and obtaining information. Every time you log on, your ISP connects you to the Internet.

JPEG: Short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, an image file format and image compression standard, optimised for full-colour (millions of colours) digital images.

Landing page: Sometimes equivalent to a home page, the primary or main web page for an identifiable web sub-site or collection of web content.

Metadata: Structured information that describes and/or categorises a resource. Useful for indexing resources and enhancing their discoverability via structured searches. Many web pages, including most State Library pages, have metadata embedded in them. In library terms, a catalogue record is metadata.
Mailing list: Email based discussion group. List servers maintain a list of email addresses of subscribers. When you send an email message to this group, your email is copied and sent to all subscribers.
Multimedia: An electronic program or product using multiple elements such as text, sound, images and video, commonly found in products on CD-ROM and on Internet and Intranet sites.

Online: Usually meaning "connected to the Internet". Also used to refer to materials stored on a computer (e.g., an online newsletter) or to a device like a printer that is ready to accept commands from a computer.

PDF: Short for Portable Document Format, a file format that captures all the elements of a printed document as an electronic document that can be viewed, navigated, printed or forwarded to others. They are created using Adobe Acrobat, or similar products. To view and use the files, a user must download the free Acrobat Reader [new window], and the Reader will start automatically whenever a PDF file is opened.
Plug-in: A file containing data used to alter, enhance, or extend the operation of a parent application, for example, in a web browser, the Adobe Flash plug-in.
PNG: Short for Portable Network Graphic, a file format for images.

Server: Or web server, a host computer providing, for instance, website information.
Site map: A detailed list or diagram, divided up into a heirarchy of categories of information. It assists users in finding what they want, or seeing at a glance what may be contained on a website.
Smartphone: A mobile phone that provides advanced funtionality such as web browsing. Smartphones represent the convergence of mobile and PC technology.

Tweet: An online posting or micro-blog created by a Twitter user. Each tweet is limited to 140 characters or fewer.
Twitter: Twitter is a social networking service that allows you to share updates with other users by answering one simple question: "What are you doing?" Once you have signed up for a free account, you can post tweets and follow selected people.

U
Upload: Transfer of data from a computer's hard disk to a networked server. A browser or FTP program can be used to upload files to the server. Opposite of "Download".
URL: Short for Uniform Resource Locator - sometimes URI or Uniform Resource Identifier - the human-readable address of any resource on the World Wide Web.

Wiki: A type of website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interconnected web pages through a web browser interface. They are often used for purposes such as collaborative websites, community websites, and corporate intranets.
World Wide Web: A service provided via the Internet where it is possible to browse between collections of information (websites) via hyperlinks.

Last updated: 13th March 2012

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