Students may use this alphabetized list of 37 basic computer and
Internet terms as a reference.
1. Address Box
A narrow, rectangular box in the browser window where you can type
in a web address. Typing in the web address in the address box and
hitting Enter on the keyboard will take you to a website.
[IMAGE: screenshot of browser with address bar circled] [IMAGE:
screenshot of browser with URL circled]
2. Back Arrow
This arrow, often green, is found at the top of most browsers.
When you click on the back arrow, it takes you back -- in order --
through all of the web pages you've seen. (Sometimes called the
back button.)
[IMAGE: screenshot of browser with Back button circled]
3. Browse
To explore a website or a number of websites by scanning and
reading information.
4. Browser
Software, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, used to find
information on the Web. The most visible part of a browser sits at
the top of the computer screen, above the web page.
[IMAGE: screenshot of browser]
5. Button
Small box that looks like it's being depressed when you select it.
Buttons can turn on (and turn off) many types of functions on the
Internet.
[IMAGE: "Click for answer" button]
6. Clicking
Pressing and releasing a button on a mouse to select or activate
the area on the screen where the cursor is pointing. Usually, you
click on the left side of the mouse (called a left click). For more
advanced functions, you click on the right side of the mouse
(called a right click).
[IMAGE: hand on mouse]
7. Computer or CPU (central processing unit)
The main part, or "brains" of a computer. The CPU interprets and
carries out program instructions.
[IMAGE: CPU]
8. Cursor
A small image on the screen indicating where you are pointing; the
mouse controls the movements of the cursor. The cursor can appear
in different forms, including:
An
arrow, which indicates where you are positioned on the screen.
An
I-beam, often blinking, which marks a place on the screen where you
can enter or select text.
A
pointing hand, which indicates that you are hovering over a link.
(See Link.)
An
hourglass, which indicates that the computer is doing a task. You
must wait until it disappears before you can proceed.
9. Desktop
The information that appears on the computer soon after the
computer is turned on. The desktop contains a number of icons, or
images, that you can click on to start programs. (See
icon.)
[IMAGE: monitor showing PC desktop]
10. Dialog Box
A special box that appears when the computer needs additional
information in order to carry out a task. This dialog box appears
in a quiz on the NIHSeniorHealth website whenever you try to
advance to the next quiz question without answering the current
one. (You must click on "OK" to have a dialog box disappear.)
[IMAGE: 'Please select an answer' dialog box]
11. Drop down List
A list of items from which you can make selections.
-
When you first see a box containing a drop down list, the box will
be empty or may display only a single item.
[IMAGE: screenshots with drop-down box circled]
-
To see a list of choices, left click on the arrow in the box and
hold. The list of choices will display above or below the box.
[IMAGE: screenshots with arrow circled]
-
Keeping your left index finger pressed on the mouse, move the
cursor to the desired choice (In this case, a quantity of 3
booklets).
[IMAGE: screenshots with menu item highlighted]
-
Release your left index finger from the mouse, and your selection
will appear in the box. The full list of choices will
disappear.
[IMAGE: screenshots with menu item circled]
12. FAQs
Stands for Frequently Asked
Questions. These are commonly asked questions and
answers that appear on many websites.
13. Forward Arrow
This arrow is present at the top of most browsers. When you click
on the forward arrow, it takes you forward to a page you just left
and is opposite in direction from pages the back arrow takes you
through. When the arrow is gray, the forward function is
inactive.
[IMAGE: browser screenshot showing Forward arrow]
14. Go Online
To go on the Internet.
15. Hardware
The physical parts of a computer system.
16. Home page
The first thing you see when you come to a website, or the opening
page of a website. It provides information about the site and
directs you to other pages on the site.
[IMAGE: screenshot of NIH and MedlinePlus home pages]
17. Icon
A small picture or image representing a command (such as print), a
file, or a program. When you click on an icon, you start a command,
open a file, or
launch a program.
[IMAGE: printer icon]
18. The Internet
A vast, international collection of computer networks that
transfers information. A combination of the words international and
network. Websites and e-mail are part of the Internet.
19. Keyboard
The keys that operate the computer, very much like a typewriter,
with extra keys for special functions.
20. Link (or hyperlink)
A highlighted or underlined feature on a web page that, when
clicked, will take you to another web page. A link most often
appears as underlined words or an image. One sure way to tell if
something is a link or not: Whenever your cursor turns into a
pointing hand, the image or word you are pointing to is a link.
[IMAGE: three screenshots with links circled]
21. Log On
To gain access to a computer system or to a page on a website by
entering a password or user ID.
22. Menu
A list of options, or topics, on a website that users can choose
from.
[IMAGE: screenshot with left nav menu circled]
23. Monitor
The part of a computer system that contains the computer screen,
where information is displayed.
[IMAGE: monitor showing PC desktop]
24. Mouse
A small hand-held device that controls the position of the cursor
on the computer screen. Movements of the mouse correspond to
movements of the cursor.
(See Cursor.)
[IMAGE: mouse on mouse pad]
25. Mouse pad
The pad on which you move the mouse.
26. Navigate
To move through a website or through various websites.
27. Scroll
To move text or other information on a computer screen up, down,
or sideways, with new information appearing as the old
disappears.
28. Scroll Bar
A narrow, rectangular bar on the right edge and bottom edge of a
web page that lets you move the page to see more of the information
it contains. The scroll bar on the right moves the web page up and
down, and the scroll bar on the bottom moves the web page right and
left.
[IMAGE: screenshot with scroll bars labeled]
29. Search Box
A small rectangular blank space on a web page where you can type
in a word or phrase to look for information. Clicking on the button
next to the search box (or hitting the Enter key on the keyboard)
will take you to a page where that information is located.
[IMAGE: screenshot with search box circled]
30. Site map
A list of the contents on a website, similar to an index in a
book. A link to the site map is usually found at the top or bottom
of the home page.
[IMAGE: screenshot of sitemap]
31. Software
The instructions that tell the computer and computer networks what
to do. Software is installed inside the computer.
32. Speakers
Devices that allow you to hear sound from the computer.
[IMAGE: image of monitor with attached speakers]
33. Surf the Net
To explore various websites on the Internet.
34. Web Address or urL
The address for a website. (URL stands for Uniform Resource
Locator.)
U.S.-based web addresses usually start with the letters www (for
World Wide Web) and end with a dot followed by letters that
indicate the type of website it is:
.com = commercial enterprise or business
.org = non-profit organization
.edu = educational institution
.gov = government agency
.mil = military agency
.net = another ending for a commercial
website
On
the Internet, you get to a website by typing in the web address (or
URL) into the address box of the browser. For example, to get to
the website of
the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a Federal agency, you would
type www.nia.nih.gov in
the address box.
35. Website
A location on the World Wide Web (and Internet) that contains
information about a specific topic. A website usually contains
multiple pages with different types of information about the
topic.
36. Window
A framed area of a computer screen that appears in front of the
web page. Sometimes the appearance of a window means that you have
entered another website. At other times, it means you may still be
on the same website.
[IMAGE: screenshot of overlapping windows]
37. The World Wide Web
Also known as the Web, it is a system that lets you access
information on the Internet. People often use the term Web
to refer to the Internet, but they are not exactly the
same thing. The World Wide Web operates over the Internet,
and it is the most widely used part of the Internet.
