eBusiness Glossary of Terms

A  |  B  |  C  |  D  |  E  |  F  |  G  |  H  |  I  |  L  |  M  |  N  |  O  |  S  |  W

A

address
A unique name (or number) identifying a computer user or computer is called an address or an IP address.  Addresses are used in network communications in transmitting messages to a particular person or machine.

ADSL
A form of high-speed internet access which uses the existing copper telephone wire.  There is no need for an extra cable and you can speak on the phone at the same time as being connected to the internet.

B

B2B
Business communications with other businesses such as the placement of purchase orders with your supplier.

B2C
Business communications with your consumers, such as a regular newsletter or sale completed via your website.

B2G
Business communications with Government entities such as online taxation lodgement.

bandwidth
Refers to the capacity of a telecommunications link and is a measure of how fast data can be moved around.  It is measured in either bits per second (bps) or cycles per second (Hertz/Hz and megahertz/MHz).  The greater the bps or Hertz, the wider the bandwidth and the more data that can pass down a channel at any one time.

browser
A software package used to search information posted on the Web.  Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer are the most popular browsers.

C

Client/Server
A type of network in which one computer acts as the central storage device for files and programs that can be accessed by PCs on the network.

D

DHTML (Dynamic HTML)
The next generation of HTML, with new features.

digital
Information is encoded using a binary system ("1" or "0") as opposed to analogue where information is encoded as a variable but continuous waveform.

domain name
The unique name, often called your "Internet address" or "Web address" or “URL”, which identifies an Internet site.  Domain Names always have two or more parts separated by dots.

download
When viewing a website, all of the files that make up the page are downloaded to your computer.  Can also refer to the procedure of downloading a file such as a program, piece of music or video.

E

eBusiness
The use of the Internet to conduct business.

eCommerce
The sales part of the eBusiness process.

EDI
Electronic Data Interchange - exchanging information forms electronically, such as invoices and orders.

EFTPOS
Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale - an electronic method of making a payment to a retailer at the point of sale.

email
Electronic Mail is a system which allows you to send messages to other computer users.  Mail is sent to a user's computer account, identified by an electronic mail address.

encryption
Encoding information so that it cannot be deciphered by an unauthorised person.

extranet
If you have an intranet, you can turn part of it into an extranet by allowing customers, suppliers and other key people secure access to the areas they need.

F

firewall
Security software that prevents unauthorised access to a company's networks by outside users.

G

gateway
A middle man between two points.  For example, a payment gateway takes a cutomer payment from your website and gives you access to the funds.

H

hits
Every item sent from a website will generate a "hit".  A web page with 15 graphics and one paragraph of text will register 16 hits every time it is viewed.  Hits are not commonly used in website statistics anymore.

home page
The main page of a website and the first screen that a visitor sees displayed when connecting to that site;  usually has links to other web pages.

HTML
HyperText Markup Language, the authoring language of the Internet;  used to create web pages.

HTTP
HyperText Transfer Protocol - the standard way of transmitting HTML documents over the Internet.

hub
The central connection point for a group of nodes;  useful for centralised management, the ability to isolate nodes from disruption and extending the distance of LAN coverage.

hyperlinks
Embedded "hot spots" in web pages that allow users to jump from one document to another document, regardless of where it "lives" on the Internet.

I

Internet
The global network of computers, routers and cable connections that enables the world's computers to connect to each other.

intranet
Restricted use of the Internet, usually within one organisation.  This uses passwords to prevent entry from outsiders.  Used for company information and collaboration.

ISP
Internet Service Provider is a company that provides an intermediate link between a computer or a network and the Internet.

L

LAN
Local Area Network is a network of computers communicating over short distances in a restricted area, such as within a business.  Many LANs have connections to larger networks (see WAN).

M

modem
MODulator/DEModulator is a device that you connect to your computer and to a telephone line which allows the computer to talk to other computers through the telephone system.  Basically, modems do for computers what a telephone does for humans.

multimedia
Documents that combine multiple data types (eg text, graphics, scanned images, audio and video).

N

netiquette
The etiquette of the Internet.

newsgroups
A group of messages about a specific subject of interest which use email to allow people to discuss their interests.

O

online directories
Electronic versions of directories of information which are accessible on the Internet.

S

smart card
Small, plastic card of a similar size to a credit card which stores information on an embedded microcomputer chip.  Used to store cash, values, identification details or other information.

W

WAN
Wide Area Network is a network of computers not limited to systems in close proximity.  A WAN often links a number of LANs together.

World Wide Web (www)
The World Wide Web is like opening a giant encyclopedia that allows you to see text, images, sounds and animation on computers around the world.  Online "pages" of the Web are connected through hyperlinks that allow you to explore material on a given topic by simply clicking a mouse.