Broadband Glossary "S" 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.

SDSL or Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line

A technology that allows more data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines (POTS). SDSL supports data rates up to 3 Mbps. SDSL works by sending digital pulses in the high-frequency area of telephone wires and can not operate simultaneously with voice connections over the same wires. SDSL requires a special SDSL modem. SDSL is called symmetric because it supports the same data rates for upstream and downstream traffic. A similar technology that supports different data rates for upstream and downstream data is called asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL). ADSL is more popular in North America, whereas SDSL is being developed primarily in Europe.

Search Engine

A World Wide Web term for a program that gives you a list of URLs based on search criteria that you enter. Search criteria can be keywords or a topic name. From the list that the search engine presents, you can find a Web site that more closely matches the type of information that you are seeking.

Serial Port

An input/output plug on a computer that sends and receives data one bit at a time. Parallel ports send and receive data eight bits at a time (one byte). Serial ports are typically used for modems.

Session Cookie

On the Web, a persistent cookie, sometimes called a transient cookie, is a small file that contains information about a user. Unlike a persistent cookie, a session cookie is not stored on your hard drive but is only stored in temporary memory and is erased when your web browser is closed.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol or SMTP

The standard Internet protocol for sending e-mail.

Splitter

A device that separates voice service from the DSL data service at your computer. For example, certain home security alarm systems and homes with older inside wiring may require that a splitter be installed.

A technician from the phone company typically installs the splitter.

Static IP Addressing

A static IP address is an unchanging IP address that is the same every time a user connects to the Internet. A static IP address enables a server to host a website or other type of server connection (for example, an email server), since other Internet users and hosts will always know the identity of the hosting computer and will be able to connect to it. If an IP address is like a parking space on the web, then a static IP is like having a parking space with your name on it, everyone knows it's your static, unchanging space.

Surf

Means to view the Internet using a Web browser. Derived from the fact that browsing the Internet is similar to "surfing a wave of data".