Damm Coyote's

Glossary Of Terms

Machine language
A program in the form of a series of binary code that are understandable by the CPU.

MacTCP
The necessary network software from Apple Computer that allows Macintoshes to interact with the other computers via TCP/IP.

Mail bombing
The act of sending massive amounts of mail to a single address with the malicious intent of disrupting the system of the recipient.

Mailbot
An e-mail server that automatically sends out information via e-mail to anyone requesting the information via e-mail.

Mailing list
A (usually automated) system that allows people to send e-mail to one address, where upon their message is copied and sent to all of the other subscribers to the maillist. In this way, people who have many different kinds of e-mail access can participate in discussions together.
2)
A forum where e-mail messages are delivered to the people who subscribe to the list. Some mailing lists are moderated so that people can send messages to the moderator, who in turn decides whether to post the message. A person joins a mailing list by sending a message to a specific e-mail address, which typically is the mail server that sends out the e-mail.

Mainframe
A high level computer designed for intensive computational tasks and used by large corporations. Originally refers to the cabinet containing the CPU of a room sized batch processing machine.

Matrix
A superset of the Internet that includes all networks and computers that can exchange e-mail.

Mbone
See multicast backbone.

Mbps
Megabits per second. MBps would be megabytes per second. High-speed data transmission rates used primarily by Internet backbones.

Megabyte
A million Bytes. A thousand Kilobytes.

Meltdown
A state of complete network overload.

Memory
A temporary storage area for information and application. See RAM and ROM.

Menu
A list of options, each of which performs a desired action such as choosing a command or applying a particular format to a part of a document. Menu's are commonly used in graphical interfaces.

Message header
The information at the begging of an e-mail or bulletin board message. Message headers contain the identities of the author and recipients, the subject of the message, and the date the message was sent.

MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A standard protocol for communication between musical instruments and computers.

MIME
Multiple Internet Mail Extensions, a method of identifying files such that the first packet of information received by a client, contains information about the type of file the server has sent. For example text, audio, movie, postscript, word document, etc....
2)
An electronic mail protocol that allows users to attach binary files to e-mail messages. Most mail packages support the MIME protocol.The MIME Information Page.

Mirror site
A server which contains a duplicate of another Web or FTP site.

Modem
MOdulator, DEModulator. An interface connect to your computer to a phone line, and allow the computer to communicate with other computers through a phone system.
2)
A piece of equipment that connects a computer to an analog telecommunications line. Modem stands for modulator-demodulator. A modem translates digital data to analog and back again. Modem speeds are measured in bits per seconds (bps).

Moderator
A person who manages a mailing list or newsgroup.

Mouse potato
The computer equivalent of a couch potato.

Mosaic
The first popular Web client program, developed by NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications).
2)
The first WWW browser that was available for the Macintosh, Windows, and UNIX all with the same interface. Mosaic really started the popularity of the Web. The source-code to Mosaic has been licensed by several companies and there are several other pieces of software as good or better than Mosaic, most notably, Netscape.NCSA Mosaic

Mozilla
Another name for Netscape Navigator. The first part of the name is a reference to the Mosaic browser. The second part, "zilla" is an obvious reference to "Godzilla". Mozilla is also the name of the Netscape's fire-breathing mascot.

MPEG
Motion Pictures Experts Group, A group that created a video file compression format. The MPEG compression format incorporates predictive calculation, so that the current frame predicts what will be in the following frames. MPEG files usually end with the file extension .mpg. Moving Picture Expert Group.

MUD
Multi-User Dungeon. A (usually text-based) multi-user simulation environment. Real time, ongoing role playing gaming.The Mud Connector.

Multicast backbone
A high speed network protocol used to broadcast audio or video over the net.

Multimediocrities
CD-ROM discs that are jam-packed with second rate pictures, sounds, and programs. Also applies to some lame Web sites.

Multiplexor
A complex piece of telephone equipment which combines the data stream of several leased lines for transmission over a single higher bandwidth leased line. Multiplexors are used in the construction of WANs.

Multitasking
A mode of operation offered by an operating system in which a computer works on more than one task at application at a time.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Main