The following definitions are not inclusive, but provide a good starting point for terminology related to hosting technology, e-commerce and domain management.
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Forwarding - The process of redirecting queries related to a domain name (such as request for a web page or e-mail directed to the name) to the actual locations related to that information. |
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FTP (File Transfer Protocol) A networking standard for transferring files from one computer to another over the Internet. FTP is used to upload files to a Web server. |
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Hostname - The unique name by which a computer is known on a network, used to identify it when sending and receiving e-mail, Usenet news, or other forms of electronic information interchange such as Web hosting. |
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HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - The language used to create Web pages. HTML code consists of formatting instructions called "tags," which are distinguished by their surrounding angle brackets ("<" and ">"). |
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HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - The set of networking standards used to exchange information over the World Wide Web. The "http://" at the beginning of every Web address tells a Web browser that a document is a Web page. |
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HTTPS (or SHTTP) Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol - The set of networking standards for exchanging files in an encrypted format over the World Wide Web. If a web address begins with "https://," it is likely a part of a secure site. |
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Hyperlink - A graphic or piece of text in a Web page that, when clicked with a mouse, causes another file on the Web to be accessed. The HTML code used to create a hyperlink includes the Web address (URL) of the file to which it points. |
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ICANN - Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers. The non-profit organization under U.S. Government contract that manages the domain name system, accredits and oversees domain name registrars, and manages root servers. |
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ICANN Regulatory Fee - The ICANN Regulatory Fee relates to a mandatory fee that ICANN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers) assesses on each domain name. |
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IMAP (see Internet Message Access Protocol) |
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Internet - A "network of networks" linking millions of computers worldwide for communications purposes. The Internet was originally developed in 1969 for the U.S. military and gradually grew to include educational and research institutions. Today commercial industries, corporations, and residential users all communicate using the Internet. The World Wide Web is a collection of interactive documents accessible via the Internet. |
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Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) - A protocol that allows users to access and manipulate e-mail messages on a mail server. IMAP lets you create, delete, and rename mailboxes as well as check for new messages, remove messages, and search through existing messages. IMAP does not specify a particular means of writing or sending mail; this function is handled by a mail transfer protocol such as SMTP. |
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Internet Service Provider (ISP) - A company that enables companies or individuals to connect to the Internet. ISPs often provide e-mail capability, Web hosting, and other services in addition to connectivity. Large ISPs include America Online, Excite@Home, and Earthlink. |
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InterNIC - Internet Network Information Center. Formerly, the cooperative activity between the U.S. government and Network Solutions that was responsible for registering and maintaining the ".com," ".net," and ".org" top-level domain names. Many of the InterNIC's functions have now been taken over by ICANN. |
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IP Address (Internet Protocol Address) - The numeric address of a computer on the Internet. An IP address is written as a set of four numbers separated by periods (each number can range from 0 to 255). An example of an IP address is 123.123.4.5. |
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ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - A telecommunications technology that allows for digital voice, video, and data transmission. ISDN replaces the slow and inefficient analog telephone system with a fast digital network that can transmit data at up to 128Kbps. |
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ISP (see Internet Service Provider) |
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Local Name Server - A server, usually maintained by an ISP, that retrieves and stores domain information, such as hostnames and addresses. Local name servers cache resolved hostname information, so that the user may access infomration more quickly. This provides a faster retrieval of information, but can sometimes result in a display of old information. |
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Location Box (see Address Bar) |
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Mail Exchanger - A Internet-connected computer that processes or forwards e-mail messages sent to a domain name. |
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Mail Server - An Internet-connected computer set up to receive e-mail from another server and distribute it to users, and to send e-mail from those users to another server. |
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Mini-Site (see One-Page Mini-Site) |
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Modem - Acronym for modulator/de-modulator. A hardware device that allows a computer to transmit and receive information over telephone lines. A modem converts digital data from computers into analog data that can be transmitted over the telephone lines. Traditional modems can carry data at speeds of up to 56Kbps. |
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MX Record (Mail Exchange Record) - Instructions within a Domain Name System (DNS) record that routes e-mail for a particular domain to the proper mail server. |
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Name Server - A computer that maps domain names (such as "mycompany.com") to IP addresses (such as "123.123.4.5"). For a domain name to be functional, it must be associated with at least one name server. |
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Name Service (see Domain Name Service) |
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NamePrivacy Service - see WHOIS NamePrivacy Service |
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Network - A system of computers, databases, and other components connected by communications lines |
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NIC - Network Information Center, such as InterNIC |
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NIC Handle - Used by Network Solutions. A unique identifier, comprised of up to 10 alpha-numeric characters that is assigned to each contact record, domain name record, and network record in the Network Solutions database. |
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nslookup - Name Server Lookup; A UNIX utility used to query Internet domain name servers. An nslookup is usually used to find the IP address corresponding to a hostname. An nslookup may also be used to find other types of information such as CNAME - the canonical name for an alias; MINFO - mailbox or mail list information; MX - mail exchanger information; NS - the name server for the named zone; and SOA the domain's start-of-authority information. |
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On Hold (see Deactivation) |
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One-Page Mini-Site - A single web page intended as a "place holder" for a domain name. The contact information displayed on this page may be edited by the user. |
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OpenSRS- The Open Shared Registration System developed and managed by Tucows. OpenSRS is a system for the registration of Internet domain names in Supported TLDs, for which Tucows is the Registrar. |
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Parking - A domain name registration that does not include domain name hosting or forwarding services. Users can park a domain name to reserve it for future use. |
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POP3 (see Post Office Protocol, Version 3) |
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Post Office Protocol, Version 3 (POP3) - A protocol that allows a user to retrieve e-mail from a mail server by way of an Internet connection. POP e-mail is most useful for users who lack a permanent network connection since it provides a virtual "post office" (the POP server) that will hold e-mail until it can be retrieved. POP3 does not specify a particular means of writing or sending mail; this function is handled by a mail transfer protocol such as SMTP. |
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Primary Name Server - The first name server queried when attempting to resolve an Internet address or domain name. If the primary name server is unavailable, the domain name's secondary name server (if one is defined) will be queried. |
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Protocol - A set of formal rules or conventions governing the transmission, treatment, and formatting of data in an electronic communications system. |
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Qwho.com - Registrars for ".com," ".net," and ".org" TLDs are required by ICANN to allow public access to certain domain name registration information, including the name of the registrant, administrative and technical contacts, and name server information. Qwho.com is the Web site that provides this information for NameSecure. |
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Refresh (see Reload) |
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Registrant - The person or company that carries the ownership title for a given domain name. You can determine the registrant of a domain name by performing a WHOIS lookup. |
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Registrant- The person or organization that has registered a domain name and has the right to use the domain name for a specified period of time on the terms and conditions specified by Tucows and Customer. |
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Registrar - A company that is able to register ".com," ".net," and ".org" domain names by directly accessing the Central Domain Name Database. NameSecure is a registrar. |
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Registrar- A person or entity accredited by ICANN and/or Registry to facilitate the registration of domain names. |
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Registrar Transfer - To give a different registrar the responsibility for maintaining the ownership of a domain name. |
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Registration Agreement- The agreement entered into by and between Tucows and each Registrant, in substantially the form attached as Appendix B. |
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Registration Company - A company that is able to register domain names but must seek approval of the registration from an accredited registrar. |
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Registry - The Central Domain Name Database. This database holds the registration information for all a domain names with ".com," ".net," and ".org" top levels. |
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Registry- A person or entity that (i) maintains and serves the zone file for a Supported TLD, or (ii) maintains and serves digital certification identifiers. |
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Reload - A command made through your web browser which forces your browser to load a web page from your ISP's server, rather than from your browser's cached memory. |
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Resolve - To successfully map a domain name to its corresponding IP address by way of name servers. |
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Resource Records - Databases which contain all data associated with their respective domain names and/or their respective zones. |
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Root Server - A central computer on the Internet that stores information about all the registered domain names. Internet specifications currently limit the number of root servers to 13. These are located in the U.S., the U.K., Sweden, and Japan. If a local name server can't resolve a particular domain name, it will query a root server. |
