PawPrint.net Glossary of Terms

Used in conjunction with the Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit information over the Internet in the form of units.

While IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the data, TCP takes care of keeping track of the packets that a message is divided into for efficient routing through the Internet. For example, when a web page is downloaded from a web server, the TCP program layer in that server divides the file into packets, numbers the packets, and then forwards them individually to the ...

1) The main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) of a computer - referred to as a Mother Board because other smaller PCB´s are sometimes attached to it - this are in turn referred to as daughter boards.

2) Any PCB that can accept daughter boards.

A compressed graphic format suited for flat color images (illustrations) and drawings. It compresses images by referencing areas of the same colour thus it is less suitable then JPEG for photographic images (where there are colour gradients)

Originally created by CompuServ it was the subject of proposed law suits and patent discussions which have largely been dropped.

A protocol developed to enable the transfer of files across a network. It provides a reletively insecure username and password  security but has been more recently enhanced to allow for SSL encryption to provide a secure password exchange.

To some extent the use of FTP has been superceeded by SFTP (a component of SSH) or the secure file transfer protocol.

A lens of variable focal length. For example, in an 50-500mm Zoom Lens, the focal length can be vaired between the lower limit of 50mm and the upper of 500mm. This affects the scale of the image on which the lens is focused without throwing the image out of focus.

An organised collection of data stored in a central location. Information should be structured by subject to allow access by business area. Data Warehouse software often includes sophisticated compression and hashing technique