Glossary

SEO optimizes a website to improve its search engine ranking. It combines technical optimizations, relevant content, and off-site actions. While it requires time and effort, it attracts free organic traffic, enhances visibility, and delivers long-term results.

A server is a centralized system that provides services, data, or applications to clients via a network. Essential for hosting websites, databases, or emails, it offers reliability and efficient sharing. However, it requires high initial costs and continuous maintenance.

SMTP is the standard protocol for sending emails. It ensures message delivery between servers and to recipients. Simple and reliable, it supports security technologies like TLS. However, it requires other protocols for email reception and organization, making it one part of a complete email system.

Source code is a set of instructions written in a programming language that forms the basis of software. It is either compiled or interpreted before execution. Essential for development, maintenance, and customization, source code can be proprietary or open source.

Spam refers to unsolicited emails, often malicious or promotional. It can spread scams, malware, or phishing attempts. Anti-spam filters and cybersecurity best practices help protect users from its nuisances and threats.

SPF is an email security protocol that prevents fraudulent messages by defining which servers can send emails for a domain. Adding an SPF record to the DNS protects against spoofing and improves email deliverability but should be complemented by DKIM and DMARC for full protection.

SSDs use flash memory for faster and more reliable storage. They reduce loading times, consume less power, and are shock-resistant. Though more expensive than HDDs, they are essential for modern computing.

SSL (replaced by TLS) secures communications by encrypting data between a client and a web server. Essential for protecting transactions and boosting user trust, it provides robust security despite challenges with management and the obsolescence of older versions.

SVG is an XML-based vector image format ideal for icons and interactive graphics on the web. It scales without quality loss, is lightweight, and works with CSS and JavaScript. While unsuitable for complex images, it is essential for modern web design and responsive interfaces.

TCP/IP is a protocol suite enabling communication over the Internet. TCP ensures reliable data delivery, while IP manages addressing and routing. Interoperable and scalable, TCP/IP is essential for connecting devices and networks, although it requires additional measures for security and efficiency.

An online troll provokes or disrupts discussions to gain attention or cause trouble. While they can spark debates, trolls often harm discussion quality. Effective management involves moderation, ignoring them, and setting clear rules to maintain healthy discussion spaces.

Ubuntu is a free, user-friendly, and secure Linux distribution. Suitable for desktops, servers, and developers, it offers a powerful alternative to Windows and macOS. Its ease of use, regular updates, and active community make it ideal for novice and advanced users alike.

Unix is a robust and modular operating system that efficiently manages hardware and software resources. Designed for multitasking and multi-user environments, it is renowned for its stability and security. Its command-line tools and modular philosophy make it a top choice for developers and system administrators.

A URL is a unique address that locates resources on the Internet. It includes elements like the protocol, domain, and path. Essential for web navigation, URLs should be secure and well-structured to provide an optimal user experience.

VMCs are digital certificates that allow brands to display a verified logo in emails. Based on BIMI and requiring DMARC, they enhance trust, protect against phishing, and improve engagement. However, they involve costs and strict compliance requirements.

A computer virus is malicious software designed to infect, spread, and damage computer systems. It can corrupt files, steal data, or render a system unusable. Effective protection relies on antivirus software, regular updates, and appropriate security practices.

Virtual machines (VMs) simulate independent computers on a single hardware system through virtualization. They provide flexibility, isolation, and cost efficiency, enabling multiple operating systems to run on the same machine. While they can face performance limitations, their portability and effectiveness make them indispensable tools in modern computing.

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) offers dedicated resources on a virtual server. Combining performance, security, and flexibility, it remains affordable. While it requires technical skills for management, it is ideal for growing businesses and projects needing enhanced control and customization.

The W3C is an international organization that develops standards for an open and interoperable web. It promotes accessibility, innovation, and technology durability. Its standards, like HTML and CSS, guide developers and ensure a universally accessible and functional web.

A web browser is an application enabling Internet access. It interprets site data to display interactive content. With features like tabs, extensions, and built-in search engines, it’s essential for exploring the web with ease and security.

Web hosting allows you to store a site or application online. Different types of hosting exist, such as shared, dedicated, VPS, cloud and WordPress hosting. The choice depends on the needs for space, bandwidth, security, support and scalability to ensure good performance and optimal user experience.

A webmaster oversees the creation, maintenance, and optimization of a website. Combining technical, creative, and strategic skills, they ensure the site’s performance, security, and visibility. This role is essential for businesses or individuals aiming to maintain an effective and attractive online presence.

WebP is a web-optimized image format developed by Google. It supports lossy and lossless compression, transparency, and animation. Up to 50% smaller than JPEG and PNG, it enhances web performance but has limited compatibility with some software and older browsers.

Whois is a protocol that retrieves information about domain names and IP addresses. It facilitates transparency, network management, and cybersecurity investigations. Despite privacy concerns, it remains vital for Internet administration and dispute resolution.

Windows, Microsoft’s operating system, offers a user-friendly interface, broad hardware compatibility, and a rich ecosystem. Though it’s intuitive and popular, it requires a license and vigilance against cyber threats. With built-in tools and regular updates, Windows is a universal solution for both personal and business computing.

WordPress is a popular, open-source CMS for creating and managing websites. Easy to use, it offers unlimited customization with themes and plugins. Ideal for blogs, e-commerce, and business sites, WordPress is perfect for both beginners and experts, despite challenges in security and performance.

The WSA (Website Accelerator) from Astral Internet optimizes website speed on cPanel servers. It reduces load times, enhances SEO, and lowers server resource usage. Ideal for dynamic sites, it is easy to activate and works seamlessly with major CMS platforms.

Xen is an open-source Type 1 hypervisor enabling efficient virtualization of multiple operating systems on the same hardware. Ideal for cloud computing and data centers, it offers high performance and robust security, though it can be complex to configure for beginners.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language for structuring, storing, and exchanging data. Flexible and standardized, it is human-readable and universally compatible. Despite verbosity and occasional performance limitations, XML remains a popular solution for data exchange between systems.

Yahoo is a historic online platform offering diverse services like email, news, and finance. Despite losing popularity to competitors like Google, Yahoo remains a trusted reference due to its diversity and simplicity, though it faces challenges with security and innovation.