Internet Definitions

When you read an Internet term that is not familiar to you, you have a number of reference choices — none of which are perfect.

Let’s say that you wonder what “URL” means.

Your first step is to do a search.  If you enter “URL” into a Google search, the first search results paragraph gives you a short explanation and offers Wikipedia for more information.

By the way, an URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is, simply stated, a web address.

Usually, if an unfamiliar word or words pops up, doing a search will get you the answer.

If you wish to go further, here are three definition sites:

• Basic Internet Definitions
• NetSmartz
• Webopedia

Or send me an email (dalegarden@gmail.com) requesting that I define your unfamiliar term online  — as shown in the example below.

Definitions Requested

Hyperlink

First, “hyperlink” is usually worded as “link” and almost everyone knows what a link is.

More completely, a hyperlink is a word, several words, or an image that you click and you are taken to a new Internet location.  That location may be a different spot on the current document you are viewing.  Or you may be taken to a new document, to a new page or to a different web site.

Hyperlinks (or links) are typically blue and underlined, but sometimes links are other colors and/or not underlined.  When you place your cursor over a hyperlink, whether it is text or an image, the arrow will change to a small hand pointing at the link.  When you click, you go to the new location.