GLOSSARY

AA (author’s alteration)

In typesetting, an alteration (e.g., as marked on a page proof) made by the author. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Compare PE, DA, EA, alteration.)

adhesive binding

In printing, a method of binding that employs glue instead of stitching to hold the pages or signatures together and is widely used for journals and paperback books. Three types of adhesive binding are currently used: perfect binding, notch binding, and burst binding. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Contrast case binding, flexibinding, notch binding.)

Ajax (or AJAX)

For Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. An approach to using a number of existing technologies together, including the following: HTML or XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets, JavaScript, the Document Object Model, XML, XSLT, and the XMLHttpRequest object. When these technologies are combined in the Ajax model, web applications are able to make quick, incremental updates to the user interface without reloading the entire browser page. (From webopedia.com; source: Mozilla Developer Center.)

AI (artificial intelligence)

The branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans. The term was coined in 1956 by John McCarthy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (From webopedia.com.) (See also natural language processing, voice recognition.)

alteration

In typesetting, a change from the manuscript copy introduced in proof, as distinguished from a correction* made to eliminate a typesetter’s or printer’s error. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Compare AA, PE, DA, EA.)

* This is an important distinction because it means that the change is in variance with the manuscript, which means that the publisher or author are responsible for the cost of making the change. “Alteration” can mean an AA, EA, or DA.

ascender

The portion of a lowercase letter that extends above the x-height, as in b and d. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (Contrast descender.)

attachment

A file (for example, an image, a word processing document, or an .mp3 file) that is sent along with an email message.* (From Lifewire.com; edited.)

* It is critical to pay attention to the size of attachments, and if you’re sending more than one, what the total size of the message will be. It’s best to keep this number below 10 MB. 

Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy)

Short for “blind carbon copy.” A copy of an email message sent to a recipient whose email address does not appear (as a recipient) in the message.  (From Lifewire.com; edited.)

bluelines

An abbreviation for blueline proof; also called blues or (in Europe and Asia) ozalids. A type of photographic proof generated by a printing firm either from repro or from the typesetter’s electronic files. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also digital proof, repro.)

boilerplate text (or boilerplate)

Written text (copy) that can be reused in new contexts or applications without significant changes to the original. The term is used in reference to statements, contracts and computer code. (Excerpted from Wikipedia. (See also template.)

browser (web browser)

A software application used to locate, retrieve, and display content on the World Wide Web, including webpages, images, video and other files. As a client/server model, the browser is the client run on a computer or mobile device that contacts the Web server and requests information. The web server sends the information back to the browser, which displays the results on the Internet-enabled device that supports a browser. The most common contemporary examples would include Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome (From webopedia.com; edited.)

case binding

In printing, a method of encasing a book in a rigid cover, or case. The gathered signatures can be Smyth sewn or side sewn together or adhesive-bound; endpapers are glued to the first and last signatures; a hinge of heavy gauze (the super) is glued to the spine of the sewn signatures; and the case is secured to the book by being glued to the flaps of the super and to both endpapers. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Contrast adhesive binding, flexibinding, notch binding.)

castoff

An estimate of the space, or number of printed pages, that a manuscript will occupy when typeset. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

Cc (Carbon Copy)

Short for “carbon copy.” A copy of an email message sent to a recipient whose email address appears (as a recipient) in the message’s Cc header field.  (From Lifewire.com; edited.)

character count

An approximate measure of the length of a manuscript made by multiplying the number of characters and spaces in an average line by the number of lines in the manuscript. The “character count” feature of many word-processing programs (such as Microsoft Word) can also provide such a total. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.)

cloud computing

A type of computing that relies on shared computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications.

In its most simple description, cloud computing is taking services (“cloud services”) and moving them outside an organization’s firewall. Applications, storage, and other services are accessed via the Web. The services are delivered and used over the Internet and are paid for by the cloud customer on an as-needed or pay-per-use business model. (From webopedia.com.)

CMS (content management system) 

Software or a group or suite of applications and tools that enable an organization to seamlessly create, edit, review, and publish electronic text. Many content management systems offer a web-based graphical user interface (GUI), enabling publishers to access the CMS online using only a web browser. 

A CMS designed for web publishing will also provide options and features to index and search documents and will specify keywords and other metadata for search engine crawlers. Also called a web management system. (From webopedia.com.)

CMYK

An abbreviation for the basic colors used in process color printing—cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), plus black (K)—to approximate all the colors in the spectrum. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

code

A generic marker that identifies a particular type of text throughout a manuscript. A code is usually associated with a set of formatting instructions specified by the designer and followed by the typesetter. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also tag.)

computer-to-plate (CTP) technology

 A process in which print-ready electronic files are imposed directly onto offset printing plates, thus eliminating the need for an intermediate stage involving film. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

cover

The two hinged parts of a binding, front and back, and the center panel, or spine, that joins them; also the four surfaces making up the covers in this sense, when used to carry printed matter. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also dust jacket.)

CSS (cascading style sheets)

A style sheet language used to define the presentation of a document marked up in HTML or another formal markup language. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

An HTML feature that gives both website developers and users more control over how pages are displayed. With CSS, designers and users can create style sheets that define how different elements, such as headers and links, appear. These style sheets can then be applied to any webpage. (From webopedia.com; edited.)

cyber

Of, relating to, or involving computers or computer networks. (From Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.) Cyber is a prefix used in a growing number of terms to describe new things that are being made possible by the spread of computers. Anything related to the internet also falls under the cyber category. (From webopedia.com.)

cyberspace

The online world of computer networks and especially the Internet. (From Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.) 

The non-physical terrain created by computer systems. (From webopedia.com.) 

A metaphor for describing the non-physical terrain created by computer systems. Online systems, for example, create a cyberspace within which people can communicate with one another (via e-mail), do research, or simply window shop. Like physical space, cyberspace contains objects (files, mail messages, graphics, etc.) and different modes of transportation and delivery. Unlike real space, though, exploring cyberspace does not require any physical movement other than pressing keys on a keyboard or moving a mouse.

Some programs, particularly computer games, are designed to create a special cyberspace, one that resembles physical reality in some ways but defies it in others. In its extreme form, called virtual reality, users are presented with visual, auditory, and even tactile feedback that makes cyberspace feel real.

The term was coined by author William Gibson in his sci-fi novel Neuromancer (1984). (From webopedia.com.)

DA (designer’s alteration)

In typesetting, an alteration made by the designer. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Compare AA, PE, EA, alteration.)

descender

The portion of a lowercase letter that extends below the x-height, as in g and p. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (Contrast ascender.)

desktop publishing

Using a personal computer or workstation to produce high-quality printed documents. A desktop publishing* system allows you to use different typefaces, specify various margins and justifications, and embed illustrations and graphs directly into the text. The most powerful desktop publishing systems enable you to create illustrations, while less powerful systems let you insert illustrations created by other programs. (From webopedia.com; edited.) (Contrast word processing programs.) 

digital printing

A type of printing in which the transfer of electronic images to paper is accomplished with inkjet or laser printers. (From The Chicago Manual of Style.) (Contrast offset printing.)

digital proof

A type of proof generated directly from electronic files and typically output on a laser printer. (From The Chicago Manual of Style.)  (See also bluelines.)

DRM (digital rights management)

Refers to the ways in which a system protects data (such as intellectual property) that is circulated via the Internet.  This includes copyrights, public cloud storage, and data center management. (Excerpted from webopedia.com; edited.)

Digital rights management (DRM) tools or technological protection measures (TPM) are a set of access control technologies for restricting the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works. DRM technologies try to control the use, modification, and distribution of copyrighted works (such as software and multimedia content), as well as systems within devices that enforce these policies. (Excerpted from Wikipedia; edited.)

DOI (digital object identifier)

A unique alphanumeric string (e.g., 10.1086/597483) assigned to a publication or other unit of intellectual property. As a digital identifier, a DOI also provides a means of looking up the current location(s) of such an object on the Internet. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

A persistent identifier or handle used to identify objects uniquely, standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). An implementation of the Handle System, DOIs are in wide use mainly to identify academic, professional, and government information, such as journal articles, research reports and data sets, and official publications though they also have been used to identify other types of information resources, such as commercial videos. (From internal Aptara sources; edited.)

drop cap

In typesetting, an uppercase character set in a type size larger than the text and “dropped,” or nested, into lines of text, usually as the first character in the opening paragraph of a chapter or other section of text.  (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

DTD (document type definition)

In a markup language such as XML, a set of rules about the structure of a document that dictate the relationship among different tags and allowable text or elements within specified tags. Also called schema. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

A set of markup declarations that define a document type for an SGML-family markup language (SGML, XML, HTML). A DTD defines the valid building blocks of an XML document. It defines the document structure with a list of validated elements and attributes. (From internal Aptara sources; edited.)

dust jacket

Also called jacket. A protective wrapping, usually made of paper, for a clothbound book; its flaps, which fold around the front and back covers, usually carry promotional copy. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also cover.)

EA (editor’s alteration)

In typesetting, an alteration made by the designer. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Compare AA, PE, DA, alteration.)

eBook

A digital replica of a printed book that can be read on a smart device or an e-reader. E-books come in a variety of file types, the most common being ePub, pdf, and .mobi. (From internal Aptara sources.) 

em dash

A short typographical rule measuring the width of an em (M). (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.)

en dash

A short typographical rule measuring the width of an en (N). (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.)

ePub (electronic publication)

An open file standard for eBooks which can be operated across a wide range of different e-Readers. 

e-Reader

A handheld, electronic, mobile device used for storing and reading eBooks and other digital documents. 

flexibinding

In printing, A method of binding in which the pages or signatures are sewn together and the lightweight cover (sometimes with flaps) is then affixed, as in adhesive binding. The result is a publication that is lighter and less bulky than a casebound book but sturdier and more flexible than an adhesive-bound paperback. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Contrast adhesive binding, case binding, notch binding.)

folio

A page number, often placed at the outside of the running head at the top of the page. If it is placed consistently at the bottom of the page, the number is a foot folio; if it is placed at the bottom of the page on display pages only, it is a drop folio. A folio counted in numbering pages but not printed (as on the title page) is a blind folio; any folio printed is an expressed folio. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

font

A complete assortment of a given size and style of type, usually including capitals, small capitals, and lowercase together with numerals, punctuation marks, ligatures, and the commonly used symbols and accents. The italic of a typeface is considered a part of the equipment of a font of type but is often spoken of as a separate font. Often used as a synonym for typeface. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also typeface.)

FundRef

Used for a project of scholarly publishers and funding agencies that supports a standard way of reporting funding sources for published scholarly research. In order to track funding sources, funders track publications that result from their funding. These IDs are necessary since funders wish to be apprised of (and are often required to report on) the outcomes of the research they have supported. 

GB (gigabyte)

A unit of measure equaling 1000 MB (megabytes) or 10⁹ (1 billion) bytes. A byte is a basic unit of storing information electronically made up of 8 bits. (From Lifewire.com; edited.)

GIF (graphic interchange format)

A file format for compressing and storing bitmapped graphics that contain line art or text for viewing on-screen. ( See also PNG; compare JPEG.) (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

hot spot

An area of a graphics object, or a section of text, that activates a function when selected. Hot spots are particularly common in multimedia applications, where selecting a hot spot can make the application display a picture, run a video, or open a new window of information. (From webopedia.com.) (Contrast hotspot.)

hotspot

A specific geographic location in which an access point provides public wireless broadband network services to mobile visitors through a WLAN. Hotspots are often located in heavily populated places such as airports, train stations, libraries, marinas, convention centers, and hotels. Hotspots typically have a short range of access. From webopedia.com; edited) (Contrast hot spot.)

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

Authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web. HTML is similar to SGML, although it is not a strict subset. HTML defines the structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes. The correct structure for an HTML document starts with <HTML><HEAD>(enter here what document is about)<BODY> and ends with </BODY></HTML>. All the information you’d like to include in your Web page fits in between the <BODY> and </BODY> tags. 

HTML defines the structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes. The correct structure for an HTML document starts with <HTML><HEAD>(enter here what document is about)<BODY> and ends with </BODY></HTML>. All the information you’d like to include in your Web page fits in between the <BODY> and </BODY> tags. (From webopedia.com; edited.)

HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol)

The protocol, or set of instructions and syntax, for retrieving files on the Internet and for enabling links between such files. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

hypertext

The organization of digital information into associations connected by links. In a hypertext environment, objects such as text and images can contain links to other objects in the same file or in external files, which users can choose to follow. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also HTML.)

Internet

A global network connecting millions of computers. More than 190 countries are linked into exchanges of data, news and opinions. (From webopedia.com; edited.) (Compare World Wide Web.)

Java

A general purpose, high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. The Java programming language was developed by a small team of engineers, known as the Green Team, who initiated the language in 1991. (From webopedia.com.)

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

A file format commonly used to compress and store bitmapped graphics that contain photographic and other continuous-tone images for viewing on-screen. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also GIF; compare PNG.) 

justified

In typesetting, a line paced out to a specified measure, as with printed lines, so that left and right margins are aligned. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e, edited.) (Contrast ragged right.)

kerning

The selective adjustment of space between particular characters (called “letterspacing”) to improve appearance or ease of reading. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

A typographical term that refers to adjusting the space between characters, especially by placing two characters closer together than normal. Kerning makes certain combinations of letters, such as WA, MW, TA, and VA, look better. (From webopedia.com.)

Only the most sophisticated word processors and desktop publishing systems perform kerning. Normally, you can activate or deactivate kerning for particular fonts (From webopedia.com.) (Compare leading.)

LAN (local area network)

A computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most often, a LAN is confined to a single room, building or group of buildings, however, one LAN can be connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves.

A system of LANs connected in this way is called a wide-area network (WAN). The difference between a LAN and WAN is that the wide-area network spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs) and are often connected through public networks. (From webopedia.com; edited.) (Compare WAN and WLAN.)

leading (pronounced LED-ing)

A typographical term that refers to the vertical space between lines of text. The word derives from the fact that typographers once used thin strips of lead to separate lines. The leading value also includes the size of the font. For example, 10-point text with 2 points of spacing between lines would mean a leading of 12 points.

Many word processors and all desktop publishing systems allow you to specify the leading. In addition, some systems automatically adjust leading so that columns and pages have even bottom margins. This feature is called vertical justification.

Leading is also called line spacing. (Excerpted from webopedia.com; edited.)

ligature

A single character formed by joining two characters, such as o and e, f and i or f and f. Older, more decorative forms, such as joining c and t with a loop) are known as quaint characters. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.)

Some example ligatures in Latin script. Credit: Courtesy of Wikipedia.com; public domain.

markup

(1) A sequence of characters, often called tags or codes, that indicate the logical structure of a manuscript or provide instructions for formatting it. (2) The insertion of such tags in an electronic manuscript; also, traditionally, editing and coding a paper manuscript. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See codes, tags.)

MathML

An application of XML for tagging mathematical expressions. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

measure

In typesetting, the length of the line (usually in picas) in which type is set. Full measure refers to copy set the full width of the type page. Narrow measure refers to a block of copy (such as a long quotation) indented from one or both margins to distinguish it from surrounding full-measure copy, or to copy set in short lines for multicolumn makeup. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.)

metadata

Data about data. The metadata for a given publication may include, among other things, copyright information, an ISBN or ISSN, a volume or issue number, and keywords—including the title and creator of the work and a description. Metadata is a component of markup languages such as SGML, HTML, and XML. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

Metadata describes how and when and by whom a particular set of data was collected, and how the data is formatted. Metadata is essential for understanding information stored in data warehouses and has become increasingly important in XML-based web applications. (From webopedia.com; excerpted.) 

For example, metadata can include data embedded within a webpage that is used to provide a summary of the content of the webpage. This information is often read by web crawlers to categorize a webpage in search results. (See also SEO (search engine optimization)).

natural language

A human language. For example, English, French, and Chinese are natural languages. Computer languages, such as FORTRAN and C, are not. (Excerpted from webopedia.com.) (See also natural language processing.)

natural language processing (Sometimes NLP*)

The branch of artificial intelligence that deals with analyzing, understanding, and generating the languages that humans use naturally in order to interface with computers in both written and spoken contexts using natural human languages instead of computer languages. (Excerpted from webopedia.com.) (See also artificial intelligence, voice recognition.)

* Not to be confused with neuro-linguistic programming (also NLP), which is is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy created by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in California in the 1970s. (Excerpted from Wikipedia.com; edited.)

.NET framework

A programming infrastructure created by Microsoft for building, deploying, and running applications and services that use .NET technologies, such as desktop applications and web services. (From webopedia.com.)

notch binding

In printing, a type of adhesive binding in which the untrimmed spine is notched and force-fed with glue. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Contrast adhesive binding, case binding, flexibinding.)

offset printing

Also called offset lithography. The most common type of printing used for books and journals. The pages to be printed are transferred either photographically or through computer-to-plate technology to a thin, flexible metal plate, curved to fit one of the revolving cylinders of a printing press. The image on this plate is then transferred to, or offset onto, the paper by means of a rubber blanket on another cylinder. (From The Chicago Manual of Style.) (Contrast digital printing.)

Open access (OA)

A mechanism by which research outputs are distributed online, free of cost or other barriers, and, in its most precise meaning, with the addition of an open license that removes most restrictions on use and reuse.

The main focus of the open access movement is “peer-reviewed research literature.” Historically, this has centered mainly on print-based academic journals. Conventional (non-open access) journals cover publishing costs through access tolls such as subscriptions, site licenses, or pay-per-view charges. Open access can be applied to all forms of published research output, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed academic journal articles, conference papers, theses, book chapters, and monographs. (Excerpted from Wikipedia.)

OCR (optical character recognition)

A technology that converts images of text (as from a scan of a printed page) into character data that can be manipulated like any other digital text. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

ORCID ID (or ORCID identifier)

An Open Researcher and Contributor ID is a unique ID managed by ORCID, Inc. The ORCID organization, ORCID Inc., offers an open and independent registry intended to be the de facto standard for contributor identification in research and academic publishing. All who participate in research, scholarship, and innovation are uniquely identified and connected to their contributions across disciplines, borders, and time using this ID. (Excerpted from Wikipedia.)

orphan

In typesetting, the first line of a paragraph stranded at the bottom of a page or column. An orphan can be avoided by changes in wording or spacing to the text that precedes it. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (Contrast widow.)

PE (printer’s error)

In typesetting, an error made by the typesetter (or compositor), as distinguished from an alteration made in proof by the author, editor, or designer. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e; edited.) (Compare AA, DA, EA, alteration.)

phishing

A fraudulent practice in which private data is captured on websites or through an email designed to look like it originated from a trusted third party. Typically, phishing (from “password fishing”) scams involve an email alerting the user to a problem with their bank or another account. (From Lifewire.com; edited.)

pica

A unit of type measurement equal to twelve points (approximately one-sixth of an inch). (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

Portable Document Format (PDF or .pdf)

An Adobe Systems file format—and now a formal, open standard (ISO 32000)—for stable, device-independent delivery of electronic documents. Preserving such elements as fonts, formatting, and pagination, PDF is used not only as the basis for many printed publications but also as a format for electronic publications, including many journal articles and e-books. (See also PostScript (PS).) (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

A file format developed by Adobe Systems in 1992. A PDF file captures formatting information from a variety of desktop publishing applications, making it possible to send formatted documents and have them appear on the recipient’s monitor or printer as they were intended. This is because a PDF will maintain the original fonts, images, graphics as well as the exact layout of the file.(From webopedia.com; for supplemental reading see All About Adobe PDF (webpedia.com).)

PostScript (PS)

An Adobe Systems programming language used to describe pages (in terms of trim size, font, placement of graphics, and so forth) and to tell output devices how to render the data. Portable Document Format (PDF), a descendant of PostScript, is somewhat more flexible. (See also PDF.) (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

PNG (portable network graphic)

A file format for compressing and storing bitmapped graphics that contain line art or text for viewing on-screen. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also GIF; compare JPEG.)

PubMed

A free search engine accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. The United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health maintains the database as part of the Entrez system of information retrieval. (From Wikipedia.)

PubMed ID (or PMID)

A unique number assigned to each PubMed citation. 

ragged right

In typesetting, a page set with an uneven right-hand margin, as with printed lines. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (Contrast justified.)

repro

An abbreviation for reproduction copy. A type of photographic proof generated by the typesetter that reflects the changes made in page proof. Many typesetters now provide final laser proof, generated from the electronic files, instead of repro.*  (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

* Years ago checking that final corrections had been made on the actual repro was the absolute final step before sending that repro to the printer.

The repro itself was a waxed proof glued to lightweight cardboard.

 It was common for production staff to maintain a “morgue” of repro from previously printed material. If a misspelling or other typos were discovered in the repro due to go to the printer, the production editor would look for the correct word in old repro and cut it out using an X-acto knife. Being able to successfully cut and paste onto repro was a highly valuable skill that saved time and expense, since otherwise incorrect copy would have to be returned to the typesetter.

resolution

(1) The number of pixels per unit of measure used to form an image. In the United States, image resolution is calculated per inch; the more pixels per inch, the higher the quality of the image. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

(2) The number of actual dots per unit of measure at which an image or page is output, usually by a printer or an image-setting device. In the United States, output resolution is usually expressed per inch; the more dots per inch, the higher the quality of the output. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

search engine

A program that searches documents for specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. A search engine is really a general class of programs, however, the term is often used to specifically describe systems like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! Search that enable users to search for documents on the World Wide Web.  (From webopedia.com.)

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

A methodology of strategies, techniques, and tactics used to increase the amount of visitors to a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) — including Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines. (From webopedia.com.)

SaaS (Software as a Service)

A software delivery method that provides access to software and its functions remotely as a web-based service. Software as a Service allows organizations to access business functionality at a cost typically less than paying for licensed applications since SaaS pricing is based on a monthly fee. Also, because the software is hosted remotely, users don’t need to invest in additional hardware. Software as a Service removes the need for organizations to handle the installation, set-up and often daily upkeep and maintenance. Software as a Service may also be referred to as simply hosted applications. (From webopedia.com.)

server

A type of computer or device on a network that manages network resources. Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks. On multiprocessing operating systems, however, a single computer can execute several programs at once. A server in this case could refer to the program that is managing resources rather than the entire computer. (From webopedia.com; excerpted.)

SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language)

An international standard for constructing sets of tags. SGML is not a specific set of tags but a system for defining vocabularies of tags (the names of the tags and what they mean) and using them to encode documents. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See XML, HTML.)

A system for organizing and tagging elements of a document. SGML was developed and standardized by the International Organization for Standards (ISO) in 1986. SGML itself does not specify any particular formatting; rather, it specifies the rules for tagging elements. These tags can then be interpreted to format elements in different ways.

SGML is used widely to manage large documents that are subject to frequent revisions and need to be printed in different formats. Because it is a large and complex system, it is not yet widely used on personal computers. However, the growth of Internet, and especially the World Wide Web, is creating renewed interest in SGML because the World Wide Web uses HTML, which is one way of defining and interpreting tags according to SGML rules. (From webopedia.com; edited.)

spam

Unsolicited email sent in bulk to a large number of email addresses, which usually advertises a product.  (From Lifewire.com; edited.)

tag

(1) In SGML and languages derived from SGML, a generic marker used to specify and (when paired) delimit an element in the structure of a document. The process of adding tags to a manuscript is known as tagging or markup. (2) More informally, a synonym for code. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See also code, markup; SGML; XML.)

template

Something that establishes or serves as a pattern for reference. 

In spreadsheet and database applications, a template is a blank form that shows which fields exist, their locations, and their length. In spreadsheet applications, for example, a template is a spreadsheet in which all the cells have been defined but no data has yet been entered. In some word processing applications, template is used in place of style sheet. (Excerpted from webopedia.com.)

In the context of file formats, a template can be a standardized non-executable file type used by computer software as a pre-formatted example on which to base other files, especially documents. (Excerpted from Wikipedia.)

A pre-developed page layout in electronic or paper media used to make new pages with a similar design, pattern, or style. (Excerpted from Wikipedia.)

typeface

A collection of fonts with common design or style characteristics. A typeface may include roman, italic, boldface, condensed, and other fonts. The various typefaces are designated by name: Baskerville, Caslon, and Times Roman, for example. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)  (See also font.)

voice recognition

The field of computer science that deals with designing computer systems that can recognize spoken words. Note that voice recognition implies only that the computer can take dictation, not that it understands what is being said. Comprehending human languages falls under a different field of computer science called natural language processing. (Excerpted from webopedia.com.) (See also artificial intelligence, natural language processing.)

WAN (wide area network)

A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs).

Computers connected to a wide-area network are often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be connected through leased lines or satellites. The largest WAN in existence is the Internet. (From webopedia.com; edited.) (Compare WLAN and LAN.)

widow

In typesetting, a short, paragraph-ending line appearing at the top of a page. Widows should be avoided when possible by changes in wording or spacing that either remove the line or lengthen it. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (Contrast orphan.)

wiki

A website designed to allow visitors to edit and contribute content. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.)

A website that allows visitors to make changes, contributions, or corrections. Origin: WikiWikiWeb, a website with such programming introduced in 1995. (From Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.) 

WLAN (wireless local-area network)

A type of local-area network that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate between nodes (meaning a computer or other device). (From webopedia.com; edited.) (Compare WAN and LAN.)

word processor

Software or a device that allows users to create, edit, and print documents. It enables the user to write text, store it electronically, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it. 

Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. Today, most word processors are delivered either as a cloud service or as software that users can install on a PC or mobile device. (From webopedia.com; edited.) (Contrast desktop publishing programs.) 

World Wide Web

Also called the web. The Internet’s most widely used information-retrieval service. The World Wide Web* uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to allow users to request and retrieve documents (web pages and multimedia objects) from other computers on the Internet. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (Compare internet.)

A system of Internet servers that support specially formatted documents. The documents are formatted in a markup language called HTML (HyperText Markup Language) that supports links to other documents, as well as graphics, audio, and video files. (From webopedia.com; edited.)

* Many people consider “World Wide Web” and “internet” to be synonymous but that’s not the case. The World Wide Web (or just “web”) is a way of accessing the information over the internet. For further reading: The Difference Between the Internet and World Wide Web (webopedia.com).

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)

Pronounced “wizēˌwig”, “WYSIWYG” refers to an application is one that enables the user to see on the display screen exactly what will appear when the document is printed. This differs, for example, from word processors that are incapable of displaying different fonts and graphics on the display screen even though the formatting codes have been inserted into the file. WYSIWYG is especially popular for desktop publishing. (From webopedia.com.)

For web applications, a WYSIWYG application allows developers to view the final product instead of the HTML while a document or interface is being edited. Some common examples of WYSIWYG editors include Microsoft Word and Adobe Dreamweaver. (From webopedia.com.)

XML (extensible markup language)

A subset of the SGML standard, used for structuring documents and data on the Internet. (From The Chicago Manual of Style, 16e.) (See SGML, HTML.)