| Abbreviation | Long version | Explanation |
| BinHex | Binary to Hexadecimal | A method of encoding/decoding binary files so that they can be "attatched" to an e-mail message. Other methods of doing this are MIME and uuencode/uudecode. MIME is becoming the most popular way of doing this. |
| CGI | Common Gateway Interface | A way of transferring information over the web between the user and a server side application or script. |
| CHAP | Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol | A protocol used for sending Username and Password information to the ISP. |
| COM (port) | Communications Port | The serial port which connects the modem to the computer. |
| DHCP | Dynamic Host Configuation Protocol | The system by which a computer attempting to log on is assigned an IP address dynamically, rather than always using the same IP address. This allows an ISP to have a smaller pool of IP addresses by assuming that all its users will never log on at the same time. |
| DNS | Domain Name Server | The server which converts names such as www.isp.com to IP addresses such as 123.213.123.214 |
| DSP | Digital Signal Processor | The chip on a modem which controls Compression, Flow Control, Error Control and other functions. More reliable than software based modems such as WinModems, HSP, HCF, or RPi modems. |
| DUN | Dial Up Networking | The software supplied with Windows 95/98 used to connect two computers using a modem and a phone line. |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol | The standard used for uploading and downloading files from a remote site. |
| GPF | General Protection Fault | A Windows error often caused by buggy/corrupt/poorly written software or due to program conflicts. |
| HSP | Host Signal Processor | A system by which the DSP of a modem is simulated using software running through the operating system. Often identified by the words "WinModem", HCF, "LT Winmodem" or RPI. Not as reliable as hardware based modems incorporating a DSP due to the likelihood of corruption of the software simulating the DSP and/or the dependance on the performance of the system. Used as a cheap alternative to a real, hardware based modem. |
| HTML | Hyper Text Markup Language | The language that web pages are written in |
| HTTP | Hyper Text Transfer Protocol | The protocol used to transfer web pages over the internet. |
| HTTPS | Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, Secure | A secure version of the HTTP protocol. Usually uses SSL to encrypt the connection. |
| IE | Internet Explorer | Microsoft Corporation's Web browser. The current version is 5 (IE5) |
| IRC | Internet Relay Chat | A tool which allows real time chat over the internet |
| K56Flex | - | Modem standard created by Rockwell which theoretically allows connections of up to 56Kbps. Since superseded by V.90. Not compatible with X2. |
| MIME | Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions | A method of encoding/decoding Binary files into Hexadecimal so that they can be "attatched" to an e-mail message. Other methods of doing this are BinHex and uuencode/uudecode. MIME is becoming the most popular way of doing this. |
| NNTP | Network News Transfer Protocol | The protocol used for accessing News servers. |
| OE | Outlook Express | Microsoft Corporation's E-mail program supplied with IE4 and 5. The mail program supplied with IE3 was simply called "Internet Mail" |
| PAP | Password Authentication Protocol | The protocol used for sending Username and Password information to the ISP. |
| POP3 | Post Office Protocol v.3 | A protocol used for receiving mail. |
| PPP | Point to Point Protocol | A protocol which allows TCP/IP connectivity over a serial connection. |
| RAS | Remote Access Service | The software supplied with Windows NT used to connect two computers using a modem and a phone line. |
| SCP | Secure Copy | A means of copying files from one machine to another. Similar to FTP but is more secure as it uses SSH. |
| SLIP | Serial Line Internet Protocol | An (older) alternative to PPP. Most ISPs do not support SLIP connections. |
| SMTP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol | The most common protocol used for sending mail. |
| SSH | Secure Shell | Secure way of remotely logging into a machine (usually UNIX/Linux). Similar to telnet, except is encrypted. |
| SSL | Secure Sockets Layer | Encryption system mainly used for HTTPS connections. |
| TA | Terminal Adapter | An ISDN "modem" |
| TCP/IP | Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol | TCP/IP is the protocol which allows different computers to communicate over the internet. |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator | A method of standardizing the addresses of different Internet Resources. |
| USR | US Robotics | US Robotics is a modem manufacturer. It has since been bought by 3COM corporation |
| uuencode/uudecode | - | A method of encoding/decoding binary files so that they can be "attatched" to an e-mail message. Other methods of doing this are MIME and BinHex. MIME is becoming the most popular way of doing this. |
| V.34 | - | Modem standard which allows connections of up to 33.6Kbps. Replaced by X2, K56Flex and V90. |
| V.90 | - | Modem standard which theoretically allows connections of up to 56Kbps. Designed to supersede/unite the conflicting X2 and K56Flex 56Kbps standards. |
| X2 | - | Modem standard which theoretically allows connections of up to 56Kbps. Since superseded by V.90. Not compatible with K56Flex. |