The Techie Glossary
Version 2.0 By The WIDM Technology Transference Project

Letter
1st

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

SA

SAP is an acronym for Service Access Point. The point at which the services of an OSI layer are made available to the next higher layer on a network. The SAP is named for the layer providing the services.

Saving in computer terms refers to the act of copying the current file to permanent storage. A user can save a file from within a software application. The file being manipulated on the screen is only retained in temporary RAM memory for viewing. To preserve any changes made the file must be saved periodically by the user to a fixed drive such as a hard drive.

Sc

Scanners are peripheral hardware devices that digitize images for use as files in a computer system. Once scanned the image can then be manipulated with photo editing or other computer software applications. Scanned images can include artwork, documents and photographs. Scanners can also be used for the optical character recognition of text which converts it to a digitized text file ready for editing.

Screens are the viewable part of the computer monitor. It is a display mechanism that interfaces visually with the user. Screen properties that can be adjusted by the user include resolution, bit color and font size.

Screen savers are utility software applications that were once important to prolong the life of computer monitors. They refresh the screen after a certain amount of inactivity by displaying images or animation. The information is restored to the screen when the mouse or keyboard detects activity. They no longer are needed to save the life of the monitors, but are still available on most computers. Newer monitors have other options including automated monitor shut down.

Scripts are pieces of written code, programing languages or scripting languages used in programming.

Scripting languages are ones that are used to write software that runs without being compiled. It is commonly used as a client-side programming language that run processes for web sites and web applications.

Scroll bars are viewable on the screen as bars with arrows at both ends. A scroll bar can be used to cause the contents to scroll up or down. This is done by clicking on the bar itself or the arrows. One place a scroll bar may be located are on the right-hand side of an open window.

Scroll wheels are physical features available on certain mice that allows for scrolling with a roll of the finger. Usually the scroll wheel is located in between the two mouse buttons and also operates as a middle mouse button.

Scrolling is the act of moving the contents of a window by using a scroll bar on the screen or a scroll wheel on a mouse. A scroll bar can be found usually on the right-hand side of a window. It can be used to scroll the screen in various ways activated by clicking it with the mouse.

Se

Search engines are web applications usually located on a web site that provide the user a list of results from searching indexes of web sites based on the inputted word, group of words or a phrase. A web search engine tries to match the input by looking through an index database of web sites. This database is created from information gathered by webots and web spiders. Most search engines have the ability to conduct advanced searches including Boolean searches.

Searching on a computer or a network refers to looking for files or text in a file. In an operating system there are help searches, system searches and searches with file managers. On the Internet there are web searches using search engines and FTP file searches.

Security for a computer system is the protection of from risk. Risks include trojans, viruses, worms, hackers, crackers, spyware and cookies are a result of Internet activity. Implementation of services that provide security protection such as firewalls can minimize security risks.

Security certificates refer to digital data files used by the SSL protocol to help establish a secure connection by verifying the remote computer system being used. The certificate verifies that a certificate authority has issued it to authorize Internet communications. These certificates are usually be used with email, web components and web sites.

Security protection is the implementation of process and services that protect against security risks. These can be hardware devices or software utilities such as firewalls and virus protection software.

Security risks for computers or networks connected to the Internet include Trojans, viruses, worms, hackers and crackers, spyware and cookies. They also include exploits and vulnerabilities, and a continual risk from a window of vulnerability. With these risks to intellectual properties and personal information present security protection techniques should be used to minimize security risks.

Selecting an object or text is highlighting it within a software application or on the desktop. Objects can be selected with the mouse by dragging the cursor over the item while holding down the mouse button. Objects can also be selected with the keyboard by holding down the shift key and using directional keys.

Selected objects or text is highlighted within a software application or on the desktop. Objects can be selected with the mouse by dragging the cursor over the item while holding down the mouse button. Objects can also be selected with the keyboard by holding down the shift key and using directional keys.

Selectors in the OSI network model are the identifiers used by an OSI entity to distinguish among the multiple SAPs which of them provides services to the layer above.

Serial port is a hardware port on the back of the computer that can be connected to asynchronous peripherals devices such as printers or mice.

Servers are any computer system, process, application or service that is running server-side on a client-server network model. Server services, and any processes or applications run on the server are considered to be server-side processes or server applications.

Server applications such as a web applications resides on the server. These applications provide a certain service, such as Telnet, SSH or FTP that deliver files or data to other corresponding client applications. Servers are sometimes solely dedicated to running one server application.

Server computers such as a web server, Telnet server, SSH server or FTP server are computers that provide a service assigned to deliver files to other corresponding client computers and their applications. Server computers can perform client activities too.

Server-side refers to a computer system that is running the server services, and any processes or applications run on the server are considered to be server-side processes or server applications.

Server-Side Includes (SSI) are a type of HTTP instruction in HTML that has the server parse the web pages and include content dynamically.

Services are processes that run continually or periodically on a computer system performing a certain function. Network services can provide access to remote computer systems. HTTP is the web server service. On some system services are called daemons.

Servlets are small computer program that reside on server computers and run server-side processes. They are designed to add functionality to a larger piece of server software. Web servers can use many servlets to handle very specific situations.

Session layer is the layer of the OSI network model that provides the means for dialogue control between end systems on a network.

SF

SFTP stands for the Secure File Transfer Protocol. This protocol is an enhanced method of FTP by using RSA encryption to send FTP transmissions across the Internet securely. FTP is a transparent method that any packet sniffer can view. SFTP allows for a secure method for transferring files over the Internet that cannot be viewed. This protects against the security risk of sending the username and password across the Internet unencrypted.

SG

SGML stands for Standard Generalized Markup Language. A core language for network communications over the Internet that includes HTML and XML.

SGMP stands for Simple Gateway Management Protocol. It is the predecessor to the SNMP protocol for use with gateways on TCP/IP based intranets.

Sh

Sharing is allowing other users access a local computer system to read files across a network. Systems use services such as NetBIOS to allow users to access files in remote directories. There are file sharing utilities available on the Internet that allows for peer to peer file sharing anywhere in the world.

Shells are utilities used to provide an interface with a local computer or another computer system across a network. A shell provides the user access to the system usually through a command line where commands can be input at the command prompt.

Shift keys refer to the two keys on the keyboard used to enter uppercase letters or other symbols such as punctuation marks. It can also be used to highlight text in conjunction with directional keys. It is marked with the word Shift or sometimes with just an up arrow.

Shortcut keys are a combination of keys that perform a certain function or task.

Shortcuts can refer to icons on the desktop or in file managers that are linked to other objects such as files, programs or directories. Double clicking on a shortcut to an program on the desktop normally starts the program.

SI

SIG stands for Special Interest Groups which are on-line discussion forums. Information on SIGs can be found on Usenet newsgroups.

Silicon chips are miniaturized circuit chips used in computers in processing or memory storage.

SL

SLIP is an acronym for Serial Line Internet Protocol. This is a transport layer and data link protocol which runs over serial lines used on the Internet. It is an outdated protocol normally using telephone lines or cables to connect networks. It was designed for transporting TCP/IP protocols using a start and stop sequence. The SLIP protocol is not as versatile as PPP which is a widely used Internet protocol for connecting two computer systems.

SM

SMDS stands for Switched Multimegabit Data Service. A high-speed network switching technology being developed in the telecommunications industry.

SMI stands for Structure of Management Information. These are rules used to define network objects that can be accessed via a network management protocol such as MIB.

SMTP is the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. This protocol and service allows a user to send email over the Internet or across a network. The local computer system accesses a networked SMTP server using port 25 and sends the message to an email server computer that can store it in a mailbox or transport it to another address. The server can communicate over a secure connection by using SSL. It can be used in conjunction with POP protocols to provide full email services. This protocol is defined in the RFCs.

SN

SNA stands for Systems Network Architecture. It is a proprietary network architecture.

SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol. The network management protocol most often used by TCP/IP-based networks.

Sniffers are hardware devices or software utilities that grab packets off a network or the Internet from a designated IP address. This address can be from a router, gateway, web site, or a computer system. They are used to monitor or collect data about network communications. A hacker can use a sniffer to access any public network communications from the Internet and can easily view the information sent, unless the data is encrypted. They are also known as packet sniffers.

SO

SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol. It is a network protocol for client-server communication that sends and receives information on top of the HTTP protocol. The data sent and received is in a particular XML format designed for use with special SOAP objects. It provides for sophisticated handling of complex data sent between client computers and server computers.

Sockets are the interface to the start points and end points in a network. On a TCP/IP based network each end system must have a socket. A socket consists of source and destination network addresses and a port number.

Software is any type of written coding that performs functions on a computer. It can be a utility program, a software application or an operating system. Software performs all the processes within the operating system. Programmers develop software programs using programming languages. Software and hardware combine to make computers work.

Software applications are software programs written to provide a specific function to the computer users. Word processors, databases and spreadsheets are examples of three types of commonly used software applications.

Sound cards are internal hardware adapters that provide the user an audio interface to a computer system. A sound card usually has connections for audio line in, audio out, microphone and speakers, as well as other options, such as a joystick port.

SP

SPAG stands for Standards Promotion and Application Group. A group promoting the OSI network model. It publishes guides to the standards on network applications in Europe.

Spam is unwanted email sent in bulk across the Internet. It is difficult to determine the sender of an email because the return address can be easily spoofed. To prevent spam there are various anti-spam filters available on the web. An ISP can set the server to flag or reject unsolicited email. Spam can be a security risk because it can spread viruses, worms or Trojans through email attachments.

Special characters are the extra characters that are available on the keyboard and available on the command line to computer system. These characters are detailed in the ASCII standards. There are also a whole expanded set of other special characters that can be printed and viewed on the screen that are available in some software applications.

Special Interest Groups (SIG) are on-line discussion forums. Information on SIGs can be found on Usenet newsgroups.

Speech recognition is a type of software applications that can translate human speech to a written text file. This text can then be broken down with natural language parsing software.

Spoofing is the act of a hacker covering tracks by creating a false identification. This is accomplished by spoofing the headers in the packets sent across a network.

Spoolers are utility programs that temporarily send print jobs to a special file or to RAM instead of directly to the printer. The file then doles out the print job when the system's CPU is not busy.

Spreadsheets are software applications that manipulate numbers with complex equation within multidimensional tables. These programs are made for everything from performing simple accounting procedures to complex numeric and logical analysis.

Spyware is software that has been intentionally placed inside another piece of software to monitor a user or a computer system. The spyware can send information back to a web site using an Internet connection. Information can be gathered on the user's computer activity. Spyware can infect a system via a trojan or it can come within a downloaded program or through an email attachment. Open source applications give a user some confidence that the product does not contain spyware.

SQ

SQL is an acronym for the Structured Query Language pronounced sequel. SQL is an international standard computer language defining relational databases. The SQL servers are a widely used database access systems that is based on SQL. They allow users to get information from records through posing queries over networks or the Internet.

SQL server is the Structured Query Language server. SQL is an international standard computer language defining relational databases. The SQL servers are a widely used database access system based on SQL. It allows users to get information by posing queries to large databases over networks or the Internet. Usually, the SQL server is set up on a database server called a SQL server on a client-server network. It allows users from client computers to get information to records through posing queries to large databases over networks or the Internet.

SS

SSH stands for Secure SHell. It is a method for communicating securely over the Internet by using RSA encryption. This allows a user to get command line access to the SSH server on a remote system such as a web server, a computer that stores web sites.

SSI stands for Server-Side Include. This is a type of HTTP instruction in HTML that has the server parse the web pages and include content dynamically.

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer a proprietary protocol designed to enable secure communications over the Internet through authentication combined with encryption through the communication socket.

St

Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) refers to the core language for network communications over the Internet that includes HTML and XML.

Star topology is network architecture structured with an end systems connected to hubs that access a server in the center of a network so the topology looks like a star.

Stateless environment is a term for a server computer that works in an environment where the computer system cannot recognize one hit or communication from the next. The web is a stateless environment because each hit from a client computer is a separate event. Cookies are used by web sites to maintain state and identify a web browser or a particular user.

Storage devices are any devices on a computer system or network that retains data. Hard drives, floppy disk, CDs, tape drives, and back up end systems are all examples of storage devices.

String refers to an unbroken series of alphanumeric characters usually mentioned in the context of a programming language.

Styluses are pen-shaped user input devices that take the place of a mouse. It allows the user to draw freehand in a more natural fashion.

Su

Subdirectory is a directory one level farther down below the current level from the root directory in the directory tree.

Subnet masks are bit masks used to select the bits from an Internet address used in subnetwork addressing. Each mask is 32 bits long. They select the network portion of the Internet address as part of the local address called the address mask.

Subnetwork is a set end systems and intermediate systems in the OSI network model under the control of a single administrative domain and utilizing the same network access protocols.

Surfing is looking at a series of web sites through a user agent or web browser. It is also called browsing the web.

Surge is a term for a momentary increase in the power voltage that can affect a computer system. Surge protectors can help guard systems from power surges.

Surge protectors protect computer systems from momentary increases in voltage. These surges can adversely effect circuit boards including the motherboard and wipe out the magnetic memory erasing storage on the hard drive.

Sw

Swap files are used to store instructions from software applications and utilities. It is an alternate temporary storage file to the RAM memory.

Switches are hardware devices that limit bandwidth on a network by switching the traffic by allowing only small workgroups.

Switching is a limitation of network bandwidth implemented by a hardware device called a switch. It limits network traffic by establishing small workgroups.

Sy

Synchronous communication is the high speed transmission of data using circuits which synchronize the data stream for efficiency. This type of network communications is used for high speeds networks and broadband connections with the Internet. It is the complement to asynchronous communications.

Syntax is set of vocabulary rules pertaining to each computer programming languages. These special grammatical restrictions are followed by the programmers when writing software applications.

Sysops stands for System Operators which are the users responsible for operations of a computer system or network resource. Sysops can also have the duties of a system administrator.

System administrators are special users who have certain administration rights or privileges on a computer system that allow them access to all necessary resources to configure the system. To get administration rights the user must login as the system administrator user and know the password.

System disks are ones with a boot sector on them. A system disk is always necessary to enable a computer system to boot when it starts up. The BIOS for the computer system must also know to looks on that disk to boot. BIOS defines the boot sequence for the system. Most systems usually boot to a hard disk. A system disk can be created on a floppy disk or CD as a back up booting alternate in case of hard drive failure.

System operators are the users who are responsible for operations of a computer system or network resource sometime referred to as sysops.

S

Glossary

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