NetLingo Help & FAQs
The terms and definitions in NetLingo come from a variety of sources. Many entries widely used in the industry are standard technical terms that we have indexed and further defined or edited over the years. Other NetLingo jargon and phrases come from authoritative sources on a particular subject. And many NetLingo acronyms and smileys come from you, our users (known as "the NetLinguists" ;-)
Most of the NetLingo terms are words or acronyms that were developed by people who use the Internet to communicate. There are literally thousands of new terms you might see while online and NetLingo is here to help you learn what they mean so you can enjoy your experience and use them too! Since the Internet is so new, since many of these terms are new, and since many users (a.k.a. people) are newbies, NetLingo helps out in a big way! We've attempted to categorize the words as either Online Jargon, Net Technology, Software, Hardware, Web sites, etc., and we've attempted to describe the terms in very easy-to-understand definitions. The actual words themselves relate to the vast network we call the Internet. For example, some terms are:
* older communication terms (such as Arpanet and POTS);
* standard computing terms (for example compression, cache and so on);
* the names of software programs which have become standard Internet programs (like Netscape and MSIE);
* World Wide Web sites which are used so frequently, people refer to them when discussing the Internet (such as WebCrawler and Yahoo!);
* acronyms used to shorten longer cryptic names (such as DNS for domain name server and URL for uniform resource locator);
* the need to say a lot more in a lot less time, as is the case with chat/e-mail shorthand (for example, F2F for face-to-face and the variety of emoticons which add human subtleties to what could otherwise seem to be very stale, static messages ;-) see what I mean?
We aim to keep the definitions practical, useful and full of technology references while at the same time, written in a style that's easy-to-understand. To set a standard for this lexicon every effort has been made to accurately describe the information, but if you think something is inaccurate please let us know; this is how NetLingo will remain a vital part of the online community.
Most of the NetLingo terms are words or acronyms that were developed by people who use the Internet to communicate. There are literally thousands of new terms you might see while online and NetLingo is here to help you learn what they mean so you can enjoy your experience and use them too! Since the Internet is so new, since many of these terms are new, and since many users (a.k.a. people) are newbies, NetLingo helps out in a big way! We've attempted to categorize the words as either Online Jargon, Net Technology, Software, Hardware, Web sites, etc., and we've attempted to describe the terms in very easy-to-understand definitions. The actual words themselves relate to the vast network we call the Internet. For example, some terms are:
* older communication terms (such as Arpanet and POTS);
* standard computing terms (for example compression, cache and so on);
* the names of software programs which have become standard Internet programs (like Netscape and MSIE);
* World Wide Web sites which are used so frequently, people refer to them when discussing the Internet (such as WebCrawler and Yahoo!);
* acronyms used to shorten longer cryptic names (such as DNS for domain name server and URL for uniform resource locator);
* the need to say a lot more in a lot less time, as is the case with chat/e-mail shorthand (for example, F2F for face-to-face and the variety of emoticons which add human subtleties to what could otherwise seem to be very stale, static messages ;-) see what I mean?
We aim to keep the definitions practical, useful and full of technology references while at the same time, written in a style that's easy-to-understand. To set a standard for this lexicon every effort has been made to accurately describe the information, but if you think something is inaccurate please let us know; this is how NetLingo will remain a vital part of the online community.
There are several ways you can find words on NetLingo.com, all of which are on our homepage:
* by clicking on the "first letter" of a word you want to look up,
* by clicking on the big "logo" in the upper left corner,
* by using the "Pocket Dictionary" feature,
* by using the "Browse by Category" feature,
* by using the "Search NetLingo" box.
- If you want to go "back" to a previous Web page you were already on, use your "back button" at the top of the browser.
The Lingo Legend and Icons:
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The "done" button will usually take you back to the NetLingo homepage (in this section, however, it will take you back to the top of the page to the list of questions). |
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The "more info" button means you can access additional information on that subject when you click on it. |
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The "FAQ" button means you can access a list of "frequently asked questions" about that particular subject when you click on it. |
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The "links" image means there may be one or more hyperlinks about the same topic beneath it and when you click on one of them, it will take you to another Web site. |
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The "download" image means there may be one or more programs available for download which correspond to the definition, so that when you click on one of them, it will take you to another Web site where you can download the program. |
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The "search" image means there is a hyperlink beneath it with a preassigned search string relating to the topic, so that when you click on it, it will take you to a Web search site where you can gather additional information about that particular term. |
There are a couple of possible reasons why you don't see a word you're looking for. It may be that the word is there and our search engine isn't locating it. Or, you may be looking up the wrong first letter. For example, if you want to look up Internet Explorer, it is listed under Microsoft Internet Explorer. We've done our best to cross-link our terms so this doesn't happen. The same is true with acronyms: some terms are indexed by their acronym form and others are listed by their full name depending on which is more commonly used (such as URL, which is listed as URL and not as uniform resource locator).
Other possible reasons why you may not find a word on NetLingo is because the word has not been added to the dictionary as of the time you searched. Keep checking back...better yet, add your suggestion yourself! When you check back, be sure to hit reload so you're not looking at a cached, earlier version of a particular page. And finally, you may not find a word perhaps because the word you are looking for is not a "net lingo" term, for example, we try not to include computer-only type verbage (or telecommunications terms of which there are thousands).
- If you are surfing the net with a browser that does not support HTML 3.0 or Javascript (which includes AOL 2.0 or earlier) you will have trouble using The NetLingo Pocket Dictionary. This value-added feature is expressly designed to be used with Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator 2.0 or Internet Explorer 3.0 and higher. Solution: Upgrade your browser!
- If you get a "DNS entry error" message or a "404 Not Found" or any other error message after clicking on a link, it is possible that the server is temporarily down.
- As is the nature with the Web, many external links may change. Please contact us if you encounter any broken links. Also, if you click on an internal link found in one of the definitions and it doesn't take you to the word, this too is considered a "broken link" which we want to fix. We encourage you to tell us when something doesn't work!
Bookmarking NetLingo makes it easy for you to return to it! To save NetLingo as a bookmark so it appears in the menu of your Web browser, use your mouse to go to the top of your browser's screen. Look around to find the "Bookmarks" (for Firefox and Netscape) or "Favorites" (for Internet Explorer). It is one of the menu fields at the top. Once you find it, press and hold down on your mouse button and move it to highlight the "Add Bookmark" topic. Then release. Each time you want to come back to NetLingo, simply go to your bookmark files in the same way and select us.
To make NetLingo.com a bookmark on AOL (America Online) it's simple.....just click on the little heart on the title bar, up pops a window, click "Add to Favorites", and presto.....it's bookmarked! Bookmarks are GREAT way to keep tabs on Web sites you like, and organizing your bookmarks are easy once you spend some time in there. To make NetLingo your homepage, read the next explanation.
You can also add a NetLingo Search Box directly to your browser and search it from anywhere on the Web! After you download and install it (which is very easy) it appears on your Web browser so that when you come across an Internet term, online jargon, or acronym that you do not know, you can type it in the NetLingo search box and quickly look it up :-) The idea behind toolbars and bookmarks is to help you learn and work faster.
Download the NetLingo Search Toolbar here, it's FREE!
That's easy, just click here!
If for some reason that doesn't give you a pop-up screen asking you if you want to make NetLingo.com your homepage, then try one of the following:
If you use Netscape:
To make NetLingo your homepage, in other words, the first screen you see when accessing the Internet,download a version of Netscape and install it. Once you've launched the browser, select the "Options" menu field at the top of your browser, and with your mouse button pressed, highlight "General Preferences" and release. Then change the text field in "home page location" to: http://www.netlingo.com If you use Internet Explorer:
If you prefer Microsoft Internet Explorer, here is what you must do: download a version of Internet Explorer (for either Mac or Windows platform) and install it. Once you've launched the browser, select the "View" menu field at the top of your browser, and with your mouse button pressed, highlight "Internet Options" and release. Then change the text field in the general "homepage address" to: http://www.netlingo.com
Yes, however, NetLingo is copyrighted and trademarked. Any use of NetLingo (it's name, logo, or contents) requires written permission and approval from our company. Please read over our copyright page before sending in an e-mail. We also request that you make a donation for reprinting our content ;-) and send us a copy for our archives!
Yes, here is the information about text links and sponsorship campaigns.
NetLingo began in 1994 by two people passionate about the Web. We were sitting around the kitchen table and realized that at some point hundreds of people will get online for the first time and have no idea what all of this new stuff means...it really is a different language! (The first two terms were bookmark and browser ;-) We also realized that even the style of writing has changed because of the amount of typing involved (never before has the @ sign or acronyms been so popular) along with the fact that the attitude or tone in which you communicate online is often casual (thanks to chat rooms and e-mail). So we started tracking these terms and writing it all down. Now NetLingo is a leading content provider and valuable resource, not only for newbies but also for people who work in the Internet industry, as new terms and technologies are created daily! It may be a fact that the Internet is comprised of technology but in actuality it is words, words, and more words. For us, it was always about helping people feel like they can communicate and be part of this amazing communication system. Vincent James and Erin Jansen created NetLingo.com in 1994 in New York City.
NetLingo Inc. is now owned and operated by Erin Jansen in Los Angeles.
