Broadband Glossary "A" Definitions

# 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

Welcome to our Broadband Glossary. We compiled a comprehensive collection of Broadband and Internet related terms and definitions. To look for a definition or term, simply click on the letter that matches the first letter of the word you are searching for. If the term you want is a numeral, you will find it under the 0-9 listing.

We intend for our Broadband Glossary to be ever expanding. As new technology is released, we will add these definitions to our Glossary. If you cannot find the term you are searching for, please contact us and we will add it to the Broadband glossary as quickly as possible. We hope that you find this Broadband Glossary easy to navigate and that you find the term you're looking for.

ActiveX Controls

ActiveX Controls are small programs that are also a set of rules for how applications should share information, which can be automatically downloaded and executed by a Web browser. Programmers can develop ActiveX controls in a variety of languages. ActiveX controls have full access to the Windows operating system. This gives them much more power than other Web technologies. To control this, Microsoft developed a registration system so that browsers can identify and authenticate an ActiveX control before downloading it.

Apple

Apple creates Macintosh computers, not vice-versa. Apple computers are prized for their ease of use, short learning curve and natural virus immunity. The cost of owning an apple computer is likely the reason that they are not more widely used. Apple also develops pioneering software and products, including the trendy iPod, which is basically a hard drive based MP3 player. As a side note, the usage of a lower case “i” in mathematics denotes a subset of an original set of numbers. Thus, the lower case “i” in Apple product and software lines is probably used to show a detachment from the computer side of the company.

Applet

An application, written in Java, that can run inside a web page but is not limited by the functionality of HTML. Because applets are separate programmatic objects, they often do not work with accessibility aids, although features are becoming available in the Java language to permit this.

ANSI

 An acronym for American National Standards Institute. A non-profit organization which directs and coordinates the voluntary business practice standardization and conformity assessment system. It also assists in the development of the American National Standards.

ADSL or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

Commonly called DSL. Technology and equipment that allow high-speed communication across normal twisted pair copper wiring. This can include video signals. ADSL can transmit at high rates of speed both upstream and downstream, depending on line distance.

Anonymous FTP

A type of file transfer protocol (FTP) that allows you to download files over the Internet without having to enter a specific user name or password when you access a Web site. Many public FTP sites such as shareware sites let you access their Web servers without a user name and password.

AUI or Attachment Unit Interface

The portion of the Ethernet standard that specifies how a cable is to be connected to an Ethernet card. AUI specifies a coaxial cable connected to a transceiver that plugs into a 15-pin socket on the network interface card (NIC).