ICDL Online Essentials key terms

A software application used to request, download, and display web pages, allowing a user to move between sites and interact with online content.

The unique address of a resource on the web, typically made up of a protocol, a domain name, and a path that points to a specific page or file.

The human-readable part of a web address that identifies a website, such as the organisation name plus an ending like .com or .org.

Text, an image, or a button that, when clicked, takes the user to another page, file, or section of a document.

A separate viewing area within a single browser window that lets a user keep several web pages open at once and switch between them.

A saved link to a web page stored in the browser so the user can return to it quickly without retyping the address.

A record kept by the browser of the pages a user has visited, usually with dates and times, which can be searched or cleared.

A store of temporary copies of web page files kept by the browser so pages load faster on later visits, which can become outdated.

The process of copying a file from a remote server to the user's own device, for example saving a document or an installer.

The process of sending a file from the user's device to a remote server, such as attaching a document to a web form or cloud folder.

The page a browser is set to open when it starts or when the home button is pressed; it may also mean the main page of a website.

An online service that indexes web pages and returns a list of results matching the words or phrases a user enters.

A significant word or phrase typed into a search engine to describe the information the user is looking for.

A special symbol or word used in a query to refine results, such as quotation marks for an exact phrase or a minus sign to exclude a term.

The list of web pages returned by a search engine in response to a query, usually ranked by relevance and shown with titles and short summaries.

A search result or advertisement that a business has paid to display, usually marked as an ad and placed near other results.

A search technique that combines keywords with logical words such as AND, OR, and NOT to include or exclude terms and narrow results.

A source of information whose author, publisher, and evidence can be checked, making its content trustworthy enough to cite or act on.

The practice of confirming a piece of information by comparing it against two or more independent sources before relying on it.

A method of sending written messages and files over the internet to one or more recipients using an email address.

A unique identifier for an email account, written as a user name, the @ symbol, and a domain name, such as [email protected].

A file such as a document, image, or spreadsheet sent along with an email message and opened or saved by the recipient.

A field used to send a copy of an email to additional recipients so that everyone can see who else received the message.

A field used to send a copy of an email to recipients whose addresses are hidden from the other people receiving the message.

An email command that sends a response to the original sender and to every other recipient listed in the To and CC fields.

A block of text automatically added to the end of outgoing emails, often containing the sender's name, job title, and contact details.

A single address that forwards a message to many subscribers at once, used to send announcements or newsletters to a group.

The accepted rules of polite and considerate behaviour when communicating online, such as avoiding all capitals and staying on topic.

A secret string of characters used to prove a user's identity and protect an account from unauthorised access.

A login method that requires two different proofs of identity, such as a password plus a one-time code sent to a phone.

A scam in which a fake message or website tricks a person into revealing passwords, card numbers, or other private details.

Unwanted bulk email, often advertising or fraudulent, sent to large numbers of recipients without their request.

Software designed to harm or exploit a device or steal data, including viruses, worms, spyware, and ransomware.

A program that scans files and downloads for known harmful software, blocks it, and removes it from the device.

A security tool that monitors network traffic and blocks connections that do not match the rules set to protect the device.

A secure version of the web protocol that encrypts data between the browser and the website, shown by a padlock in the address bar.

A small file a website stores on the user's device to remember settings, logins, or browsing behaviour between visits.

The trail of information a person leaves online through posts, searches, and website visits, which others may be able to find.