Glossary

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 CD-ROM

Pronounced see-dee-rom, abbreviation of Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. A type of optical disk capable of storing large amounts of data -- up to 1GB, although the most common size is 650MB (megabytes).

 CGI

Abbreviation of Common Gateway Interface, a specification for transferring information between a World Wide Web server and a CGI program. A CGI program is any program designed to accept and return data that conforms to the CGI specification. The program could be written in any programming language, including C+, Perl, Java, or Visual Basic.
CGI programs are the most common way for Web servers to interact dynamically with users. Many HTML pages that contain forms, for example, use a CGI program to process the form's data once it's submitted. Another increasingly common way to provide dynamic feedback for Web users is to include scripts or programs that run on the user's machine rather than the Web server. These programs can be Java applets, Java scripts, or ActiveX controls. These technologies are known collectively as client-side solutions, while the use of CGI is a server-side solution because the processing occurs on the Web server.
CGI can also refer to Computer Generated Imagery, which is used in films, such as Shrek, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc.

 Cache

Pronounced cash, a cache is a special high-speed storage mechanism. It can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent high-speed storage device. Two types of caching are commonly used in personal computers: memory caching and disk caching. A cache generally stores web pages and images so that your web browser doesn't have to go to the internet to get that information again if it doesn't need to.
InfoWest uses caching servers on all of our services to ensure that your downloads and page loads are a fast as possible.

 Chat

Real-time communication between two users via computer. Once a chat has been initiated, either user can enter text by typing on the keyboard and the entered text will appear on the other user's monitor. Most networks and online services offer a chat feature. Some modern chat programs also allow video and voice chat.

 Chat Room

A virtual room where a chat session takes place. Technically, a chat room is really a channel, but the term room is used to promote the chat metaphor.

 Clickable Image

A clickable image is any image that has instructions embedded in it so that clicking on it initiates some kind of action or result. On a web page, a clickable image is any image that has a URL or more than one URL embedded in it.

 Client

A client is a program that uses the services of another program. The client program is used to contact and obtain data or request a service from the server.

 Computer Virus

A computer virus is a program created specifically to invade computers and networks and wreak havoc on them. The mischief caused can be very minor, such as causing a funny image or cryptic message to be displayed on your screen, or it can do some serious damage by altering or even destroying files.

 Content Advisor

A filtering program that is developed by Microsoft and is part of the Internet Explorer web browser. The Content Advisor works on a ratings system that will block Pornographic and Adult material. The one drawback to the Content Advisor is that the website has to give the rating willing so it will be blocked, and most Adult sites do not willingly let themselves be blocked.

 Cookie

A message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file called cookie.txt. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages for them. When you enter a Web site using cookies, you may be asked to fill out a form providing such information as your name and interests. This information is packaged into a cookie and sent to your Web browser which stores it for later use. The next time you go to the same Web site, your browser will send the cookie to the Web server. The server can use this information to present you with custom Web pages. So, for example, instead of seeing just a generic welcome page you might see a welcome page with your name on it.

 Cyberspace

A metaphor for describing the non-physical terrain created by computer systems. Online systems, for example, create a cyberspace within which people can communicate with one another (via e-mail), do research, or simply window shop. Like physical space, cyberspace contains objects (files, mail messages, graphics, etc.) and different modes of transportation and delivery. Unlike real space, though, exploring cyberspace does not require any physical movement other than pressing keys on a keyboard or moving a mouse. Some programs, particularly computer games, are designed to create a special cyberspace, one that resembles physical reality in some ways but defies it in others. In its extreme form, called virtual reality, users are presented with visual, auditory, and even tactile feedback that makes cyberspace feel real. The term was coined by author William Gibson in his sci-fi novel Neuromancer.