server push-pull ~ soft return
A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time
server push-pull
n. A combination of Web client/server techniques individually called "server push" and "client pull." In server push, the server loads data to the client, but the data connection stays open. This allows the server to continue sending data to the browser as necessary. In client pull, the server loads data to the client, but the data connection does not stay open. The server sends an HTML directive to the browser telling it to reopen the connection after a certain interval to get more data or possibly to open a new URL. See also HTML, server (definition 2), URL.
server-side includes
n. A mechanism for including dynamic text in World Wide Web documents. Server-side includes are special command codes that are recognized and interpreted by the server; their output is placed in the document body before the document is sent to the browser. Server-side includes can be used, for example, to include the date/time stamp in the text of the file. See also server (definition 2).
service
n. 1. A customer-based or user-oriented function, such as technical support or network provision. 2. In reference to programming and software, a program or routine that provides support to other programs, particularly at a low (close to the hardware) level. See also utility.
Service Advertising Protocol
n. A method used by a service-providing node in a network (such as a file server or application server) to notify other nodes on the network that it is available for access. When a server boots, it uses the protocol to advertise its service; when the same server goes offline, it uses the protocol to announce that it is no longer available. See also server (definition 1). Acronym: SAP.
service bureau
n. 1. A company that provides various services related to publishing, such as prepress production, desktop publishing, typesetting, imagesetting, and optical scanning of graphics. 2. An organization that provides data processing services and access to software packages for a fee.
session
n. 1. The time during which a program is running. In most interactive programs, a session is the time during which the program accepts input and processes information. 2. In communications, the time during which two computers maintain a connection. 3. A specific protocol layer in the ISO/OSI networking model that manages communication between remote users or processes. See also ISO/OSI model, session layer.
session layer
n. The fifth of seven layers in the ISO/OSI networking model. The session layer handles the details that must be agreed on by the two communicating devices. See also ISO/OSI model.
set1
n. In printing and display, a group of related characters, such as a character set. See also character set.
set-top box
n. A device that converts a cable TV signal to an input signal to the TV set. Set-top boxes can be used to access the World Wide Web.
setup
n. 1. A computer along with all its devices. 2. The procedures involved in preparing a software program or application to operate within a computer.
setup program
n. A built-in BIOS program for reconfiguring system parameters to accommodate a new disk drive. See also BIOS. See installation program.
setup wizard
n. In Microsoft Windows, a structured series of questions and options that leads a user through the process of installing a new program.
SGML
n. Acronym for Standard Generalized Markup Language. An information management standard adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1986 as a means of providing platform- and application-independent documents that retain formatting, indexing, and linked information. SGML provides a grammarlike mechanism for users to define the structure of their documents and the tags they will use to denote the structure in individual documents. See also ISO.
SHA
n. Acronym for Secure Hash Algorithm. A technique that computes a 160-bit condensed representation of a message or data file, called a message digest. The SHA is used by the sender and the receiver of a message in computing and verifying a digital signature, for security purposes. See also algorithm, digital signature.
shade1
n. A particular color variation produced by mixing black with a pure color. See also brightness, IRGB.
shade2
vb. To give added dimension to an image by including changes in appearance caused by light and shadow. See also color model.
shadow memory
n. A technique employed by the BIOS in some 80x86-based computers to copy the system's ROM BIOS routines into an unused section of RAM during the computer's startup process. This helps boost system performance by diverting system requests for the BIOS routines to their "shadow" copies. Also called shadow RAM, shadow ROM.
share
vb. To make files, directories, or folders accessible to other users over a network.
shared directory
n. See network directory.
shared folder
n. On a Macintosh computer connected to a network and running System 6.0 or higher, a folder that a user has made available to others on the network. A shared folder is analogous to a network directory on a PC. See also network directory.
shared memory
n. 1. Memory accessed by more than one program in a multitasking environment. 2. A portion of memory used by parallel-processor computer systems to exchange information. See also parallel processing.
shared network directory
n. See network directory.
shared printer
n. A printer that receives input from more than one computer.
shared resource
n. 1. Any device, data, or program used by more than one device or program. 2. In Windows NT, any resource made available to network users, such as directories, files, and printers.
shareware
n. Copyrighted software that is distributed on a try-before-you-buy basis. Users who want to continue using the program after the trial period are encouraged to send a payment to the program's author. Compare free software, freeware, public-domain software.
shell1
n. A piece of software, usually a separate program, that provides direct communication between the user and the operating system. Examples of shells are Macintosh Finder and the MS-DOS command interface program COMMAND.COM. See also Bourne shell, C shell, Finder, Korn shell. Compare kernel.
shell account
n. A computer service that permits a user to enter operating-system commands on the service provider's system through a command-line interface (usually one of the UNIX shells) rather than having to access the Internet through a graphical user interface. Shell accounts can provide Internet access through character-based tools, such as Lynx for browsing the World Wide Web. See also shell1.
shell archive
n. In UNIX and GNU, a collection of compressed files that has been prepared for transmission by an e-mail service using the shar command.
shell script
n. A script executed by the command interpreter (shell) of an operating system. The term generally refers to scripts executed by the Bourne, C, and Korn shells on UNIX platforms. Also called batch file. See also batch file, script, shell1.
Shift+click
or Shift click To click the mouse button while holding down the Shift key. Shift+clicking performs different operations in different applications, but its most common use in Windows is to allow users to select multiple items in a list, for example, to select a number of files for deletion or copying.
Shift key
n. A keyboard key that, when pressed in combination with another key, gives that key an alternative meaning; for example, producing an uppercase character when a letter key is pressed. The Shift key is also used in various key combinations to create nonstandard characters or to perform special operations. The term is adapted from usage in relation to manual typewriters, in which the key physically shifted the carriage to print an alternative character. See also Caps Lock key.
Shift-PrtSc
n. See Print Screen key.
Shockwave
n. A format for multimedia audio and video services within HTML documents, created by Macromedia, which markets a family of Shockwave servers and plug-in programs for Web browsers. See also HTML.
shortcut
n. In Windows 95, an icon on the desktop that a user can double-click on to immediately access a program, a text or data file, or a Web page. See also symbolic link.
shortcut key
See accelerator.
shout
vb. To use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS for emphasis in e-mail or a newsgroup article. Excessive shouting is considered a violation of netiquette. A word can be more acceptably emphasized by placing it between *asterisks* or _underscores_. See also netiquette.
ShowSounds
n. In Windows 95, a global flag that instructs application programs to provide some kind of visual indication that the program is generating a sound in order to alert users with hearing impairments or those in a noisy location such as a factory floor.
shrink-wrapped
adj. Boxed and sealed in clear plastic film for commercial distribution. Use of the term implies a final version of a product as opposed to a beta version. See also beta1.
SHTML
n. Acronym for server-parsed HTML. Hypertex Markup Language (HTML) text that contains embedded server-side include commands. SHTML documents are fully read, parsed, and modified by the server before being passed to the browser. See also HTML, server-side includes.
S-HTTP
n. Acronym for Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol. A proposed extension to HTTP that supports various encryption and authentication measures to keep all transactions secure from end to end.
shut down
vb. To close a program or operating system in a manner ensuring that no data is lost.
sidebar
n. A block of text placed to the side of the main body of text in a document, often set off by a border or other graphic element.
side effect
n. Any change of state caused by a subroutine, such as a routine that reads a value from a file and advances the current file position.
SIG
n. Acronym for special interest group. An e-mail online discussion group or a group of users who meet and share information, especially one of the groups supported by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), such as SIGGRAPH for computer graphics.
SIGGRAPH
n. Short for Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics, a part of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
signal converter
n. A device or circuit that converts a signal from one form to another, such as analog to digital, or pulse code modulation to frequency modulation.
signature
n. 1. A sequence of data used for identification, such as text appended to an e-mail message or fax. 2. A unique number built into hardware or software for authentication purposes.
signature block
n. A block of text that an e-mail client or a newsreader automatically places at the end of every message or article before the message or article is transmitted. Signature blocks typically contain the name, e-mail address, and affiliation of the person who created the message or article.
silicon
n. A semiconductor used in many devices, especially microchips. Silicon, with atomic number 14 and atomic weight 28, is the second most common element in nature.
silicon chip
n. An integrated circuit that uses silicon as its semiconductor material.
silicon-controlled rectifier
n. A semiconductor rectifier whose conductance can be controlled by a gate signal. See also gate (definition 1), rectifier. Acronym: SCR.
silicon dioxide
n. An insulator used to form thin insulating layers in some types of semiconductors; also the primary component of glass.
silicone
n. A polymer in which silicon and oxygen are major components. Silicone is an excellent electrical insulator and conducts heat well.
Silicon Valley
n. The region of California south of San Francisco Bay, otherwise known as the Santa Clara Valley, roughly extending from Palo Alto to San Jose. Silicon Valley is a major center of electronics and computer research, development, and manufacturing.
SIMM
n. Acronym for single inline memory module. A small circuit board designed to accommodate surface-mount memory chips.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
n. A TCP/IP protocol for sending messages from one computer to another on a network. This protocol is used on the Internet to route e-mail. See also communications protocol, TCP/IP. Compare CCITT X series, Post Office Protocol. Acronym: SMTP.
Simple Network Management Protocol
n. See SNMP.
simulation
n. The imitation of a physical process or object by a program that causes a computer to respond mathematically to data and changing conditions as though it were the process or object itself. See also emulator, modeling (definition 1).
simultaneous processing
n. 1. True multiple-processor operation in which more than one task can be processed at a time. See also multiprocessing, parallel processing. 2. Loosely, concurrent operation in which more than one task is processed by dividing processor time among the tasks. See also concurrent, multitasking.
single inline memory module
n. See SIMM.
sink
n. A device or part of a device that receives something from another device. See also data sink, heat sink.
SIP
n. Acronym for single inline package. A type of housing for an electronic component in which all leads (connections) protrude from one side of the package. Also called single inline pinned package. Compare DIP.
SIPP
n. Acronym for single inline pinned package. See SIP.
site
n. See Web site.
site license
n. A purchase agreement for using multiple copies of the same software at a business or institution, usually at a volume discount.
slave
n. Any device, including a computer, that is controlled by another computer, referred to as the master. See also master/slave arrangement.
sleep2
vb. To suspend operation without terminating.
sleeve
n. See disk envelope.
SLIP
n. Acronym for Serial Line Internet Protocol. A data link protocol that allows transmission of IP data packets over dial-up telephone connections, thus enabling a computer or a local area network to be connected to the Internet or some other network. See also data link, IP. Compare PPP.
SLIP emulator
n. Software that mimics a SLIP connection in UNIX shell accounts that do not offer a direct SLIP connection. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) are UNIX based and offer shell accounts to users for Internet access. Like a SLIP connection, the SLIP emulator allows the user to avoid dealing with the ISP's UNIX environment directly when accessing the Internet and to use Internet applications such as graphical Web browsers. See also ISP, shell account, SLIP.
slot
n. See expansion slot.
small caps
n. A font of capital letters that are smaller than the standard capital letters in that typeface. THIS TEXT IS IN SMALL CAPS.
Smalltalk
n. An object-oriented language and development system developed at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in 1980. Smalltalk pioneered many language and user interface concepts that are now widely used in other environments, such as the concept of an object that contains data and routines and on-screen icons that the user can choose to make the computer perform certain tasks. See also object-oriented programming.
smart quotes
n. In word processors, a function that automatically converts the ditto marks ( " ) produced by most computer keyboards to the inverted commas used in typeset text.
smart terminal
n. A terminal that contains a microprocessor and random access memory (RAM) and that does some rudimentary processing without intervention from the host computer. Compare dumb terminal.
SMDS
n. Acronym for Switched Multimegabit Data Services. A very high-speed, switched data transport service that connects local area networks and wide area networks through the public telephone network.
smiley
n. See emoticon.
S/MIME
n. Acronym for Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. An Internet e-mail security standard that makes use of public key encryption. See also public key encryption.
SMP
n. Acronym for symmetric multiprocessing. A computer architecture in which multiple processors share the same memory, which contains one copy of the operating system, one copy of any applications that are in use, and one copy of the data. Because the operating system divides the workload into tasks and assigns those tasks to whatever processors are free, SMP reduces transaction time. See also architecture, multiprocessing.
SMP server
n. Short for symmetric multiprocessing server. A computer that is designed with the SMP architecture to improve its performance as a server in client/server applications. See also SMP.
SMTP
n. See Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
SNA
n. Acronym for Systems Network Architecture. A widely used communications framework developed by IBM to define network functions and establish standards for enabling computers to exchange and process data.
snail mail
n. A popular phrase on the Internet for referring to mail services provided by the U.S. Postal Service and similar agencies in other countries. The term has its origins in the fact that regular postal mail is slow compared with e-mail.
snap-in
n. See plug-in.
sneakernet
n. Transfer of data between computers that are not networked together. The files must be written onto floppy disks on the source machine, and a person must physically transport the disks to the destination machine.
SNMP
n. Acronym for Simple Network Management Protocol. The network management protocol of TCP/IP. In SNMP, agents, which can be hardware as well as software, monitor the activity in the various devices on the network and report to the network console workstation. Control information about each device is maintained in a structure known as a management information block. See also agent (definition 4), TCP/IP.
socket
n. 1. An identifier for a particular service on a particular node on a network. The socket consists of a node address and a port number, which identifies the service. For example, port 80 on an Internet node indicates a Web server. See also port number. 2. The receptacle part of a connector, which receives a plug. See also female connector.
soc. newsgroups
n. Usenet newsgroups that are part of the soc. hierarchy and have the prefix soc. These newsgroups are devoted to discussions of current events and social issues. Soc. newsgroups are one of the seven original Usenet newsgroup hierarchies. The other six are comp. misc., news., rec., sci., and talk. See also newsgroup, traditional newsgroup hierarchy, Usenet.
soft boot
n. See warm boot.
soft copy
n. The temporary images presented on a computer display screen. Compare hard copy.
soft font
n. See downloadable font.
soft return
n. A line break inserted in a document by a word processor when the next word in the current line of text would cause the line to overflow into the margin--a movable line break. See also wordwrap. Compare hard return.
A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time