GLOSSARY OF TERMS

body: The "body" is the main part of a Web page that carries the text and image information that viewers see as the finished page.

cache folder: With reference to a browser, a folder (directory) used for storing downloaded Web files by the browser, which it then displays in the browser window. Since downloading site files can be slow, having a certain number of pages "cached" allows the browser to quickly load pages you return to.
    NOTE: this function can drive you crazy if you're viewing pages you're working on; learn how to empty the cache so you're not looking at old versions of the page.

client: A "client" is software or a computer that is served by a server. Get it? Client-Server?

download: To receive files from a server. Your computer, acting as a client, requests files from a server, when the files are successfully transmitted over the network, they are downloaded.

FTP client: Or "File Transfer Protocol" client. Client software whose function is to move Web files back and forth from a local computer to a Web server.

head: The "head" is the invisible top part of a Web page that carries information the browser needs to identify the page and other "housekeeping" items. If you have JavaScript and Style information that applies to everything on the page, it is normally written in the head.

HTML: Stans for "Hypertext Markup Language." HTML is the text base scripting language (code) that is used to build standard Web pages.

HTML editor: An application whose function is to write and edit HTML code. Most often, we speak of an HTML editor as being purpose-built fot the job, like Dreamweaver or Homesite, but since HTML is a text-based code, text editors like Notepad and SimpleText can be pressed into service as HTML editors.

hyperlink: Or "link" for short, a mouse-clickable object, on a Web page —at first a text but now images as well —that causes another page (a target or anchor) to load into the browser, at a predetermined spot on the page.

hypertext: Like regular text only better: hypertext not only carries its own meaning, but it can be linked to other words and pictures, leading the reader in an ever-expanding path of discovery.

markup language: Hypertext Markup Language was originally devised to format text. In the book world, an editor tells a printer how to format text by doing a "markup" of the page. Since HTML is a code for marking-up a page, we call it a "language."

table: A matrix of boxes known as "cells," a table is the most prevalent tool for positioning elements on a page. Tables consist of a <table></table> tag, and at least one tag to define a table row and a table cell, <tr></tr>, <td></td>. All of these tags will accept a variety of attributes.

tag: Is a message that tells the browser what to do, it is written between two "carets" ( "<" and ">">. Tags come either in pairs, or can be stand-alone.

title: The title is the name of the page that the browser displays. NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the file name of the page, which is seen in the address bar of the browser.

upload: To transfer files from your computer (as client) to a server over a network.

URL: Stands for "Universal Resource Locator"; a URL is the address of a Web site. It usually consists of a domain name (i.e., msn.com) that is resolved using DNS to an IP address of a server computer (i.e., 192.168.1.2)

• Absolute URL: the total long form of a Web adress such that it can be found from any location; i.e., http://www.bobthedog.com/images/mypics.html — compare to the address below for the same page.
• Relative URL: the short form of a Web address, the relative URL depends on the location of the linked page to the anchor page: i.e., ../images/mypics.html

Web browser: A Web browser is client software whose function is to contact a Web server and download requested files, usually files written in HTML to display Web pages.

Web site: is a set of files and folders (directories) resident on a Web server, that when downloaded to a local machine, display content.

XHTML: Or "Extensible HTML." Basically, XHTML is HTML that conforms to the standards of XML.

XML: Means "Extensible Markup Language." The growing standard for marking-up content so that it can move freely between (and be referenced by) all platforms and applications (!!)