• Jargon Buster
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ARC iT Solutions - Jargon Buster - S

Our A-Z will help you understand the IT terms that are now being used every day in the modern day world

The Jargon Buster explains technical and computing terms with which you might not be familiar.

Scanner - a device which scans images or printed material and converts them into a digital format which the computer can then process. Scanned images can be used in desktop publishing or added to web pages.

Search engine - A search engine is usually a website which allows you to search the internet for information. The search engine lists results that relate to your search phrase.

Secure - a method of sending or storing information that is encrypted or security protected to prevent unauthorised users accessing it.

Server - a powerful computer which holds data to be shared over a network or over the internet. When you get a web page it is being sent to you by a server.

Shopping Cart - the internet equivalent of a shopping trolley. On an online shopping site you choose what items you want and add them to your on-screen shopping cart by indicating what items you want. These stay in your cart until you check out.

SMTP - the internet protocol for the sending and receiving of e-mail over the internet.

Sound Card - a piece of hardware inside your computer which you plug headphones or external speakers into.

Source - the code a web page is written in. This is usually HTML but may also involves CGI, Java or Java Script as well. You can view the HTML source code of a web page by clicking on the "View Source" menu option in your browser.

Spam - junk e-mail sent to many people at once, usually involving advertising or offering services. Spam is very deeply frowned upon by most internet users, and where it involves advertising or a false return address it is particularly disliked.

Spyware - software that you install on your computer, often without you realising, that sends information on your software and internet usage to outside companies.

Streaming - when a sound or video file is played at almost the same time it is being sent from a website. In this way you don't have to wait for a clip to download, you just watch it as it downloads.

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