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Quick Reference

From top tips and best practice guides to protocols and biometrics -- Webopedia's Quick Reference section will help you understand how technology works. We know that complicated technology can be intimidating, so our Quick Reference articles break it down to just the facts and information you need to start learning more about common computer, Internet and technology topics.

Webopedia Guide to Twitter Hashtags for Technology Topics New

This Webopedia.com guide to Twitter hashtags for technology and computing topics provides descriptions of some of the most popular tech-related hashtags used in Twitter today.

Android Apps to Secure Your Device Data New

Do you need to secure your Android device? From password managers to finding a lost or stolen device, here are three Android security apps worth checking out.

Small Business Marketing Guide New

This Webopedia Small Business Marketing Guide will help you manage online, Web-based marketing campaigns that will expand your customer base.

44 Cloud Computing Terms Defined New

From planning a private cloud project to finding an online cloud storage provider, Webopedia's A-Z Cloud Computing Glossary will help you understand the language that has surfaced around the topic of cloud computing. 

The Top Private Cloud Project Mistakes You Need to Avoid New

When it comes to your private cloud project it's easy to make mistakes that in hindsight look obvious, but can be hard to predict if you lack experience with cloud infrastructures.

Webopedia's Quick Reference Area

Use this reference section for information on common Internet and computer facts and occurrences.

  • 10 Essential Social Networking Tools to Save Time

    These free social networking tools that can help you manage numerous social networking and bookmarking accounts, plus save you time by aggregating your updates across multiple social sites.

  • 15 Free and Open Source Calculators for Students

    For students who need a calculator that offers memory, trigonometric, graphs or even factorial functions, this list of 15 free calculators for use on your laptop, desktop or mobile device will get you started with solving complex equations.

  • 20 Ways to Shorten a URL

    If you need to shorten a long URL try this list of 20 free online redirection services.

  • 30 Free Web Tools and Open Source Software Tools for Students

    Commercial software purchases can quickly eat away at the budget you have. The good news is that there are many free Web tools and open source software for students that will help you stay on task and organize your busy student life.

  • A Guide to Selling on eBay

    Ready to dive into online auctions? Our Getting Started guide offers information, tips and resources to help you list your first item on eBay.

  • A Quick Guide to Internet Telephony

    Discover how hardware and software enables people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls.

  • Acronym Guide to Web Stacks

    Web stacks contain an operating system, Web server, database server and programming language. One of the best-known Web stacks is LAMP, but there are many others.

  • All About Blade Servers

    Whether you call it a server blade or blade server, there is no denying that these cost-efficient, slim and less power-consuming servers are a hit for high-performance computing as well as for the small and midsize business (SMB).

  • All About Hypervisors

    As virtualization - or at least talk of it - spreads through the enterprise, the word hypervisor is popping up everywhere. To understand what a hypervisor is, you first have to have a basic understanding of system virtualization.

  • How Do Web Browsers Work?

    A Web browser is actually a software application that runs on your Internet-connected computer. It allows you to view Web pages, as well as use other content and technologies such as video, graphics files, and digital certificates, to name a few.

  • All Data Formats and File Extensions: Complete List

    View more than four thousand file extensions and file formats in our complete list of data file formats.

  • An Introduction to Data File Formats and Their File Extensions

    Ever encounter a file extension you've never seen before? Check this page for more 3,700 data formats and their corresponding file extensions.

  • An Introduction to Fonts

    Postscript versus TrueType, bit-map versus vector, screen versus printer. ... Font technology changed the way we used computers, but why are they so darn confusing?

  • Android Apps to Secure Your Device Data

    Do you need to secure your Android device? From password managers to finding a lost or stolen device, here are three Android security apps worth checking out.

  • Best Linux Vendors for Small Business Computing

    You can always download Linux for free and install it yourself, but that's not always the best option for a small business.

  • Brief Timeline of the Internet

    Although we think of the Internet as a new entity, its origins date back over 40 years. Here's a brief timeline highlighting important dates in Internet history.

  • BYOD Security White Papers and Resources for Businesses

    Effective BYOD (bring your own device) management starts with knowing the benefits of having employees use consumer technologies at work, then learning the security risks and implementing corporate BYOD security.

  • Characters and ASCII Equivalents

    Here are some of the more commonly used characters and their ASCII equivalents.

  • Cloud Computing Terms Defined

    An in-depth look at cloud computing for small business, cloud terminology, cloud technologies, private versus public clouds and cloud computing vendors.

  • Common Image Editing Terminology

    In this Webopedia Quick Reference, we'll define the common image editing program terminology to help you learn the basics of editing digital images.

  • Common Router IP and Settings

    A list of many common broadband wired and wireless router settings and a description of what function it performs.

  • Connect With Us On Facebook

    Get instant access to the Internet.com's contests, promotions, downloads, special features and more via our Facebook pages. Plus, check out our Facebook FAQ.

  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Reports Explained

    A look at the 10 most important customer relationship management (CRM) reports from your CRM system.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: A

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter A, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: B

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with B.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: C

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with the letter C.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: D

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with the letter D.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: E

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with E.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: F

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with F.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: G

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with G.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: H

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with H.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: I

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with I.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: J

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with J.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: K

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with K.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: L

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with L.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: M

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with M.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: N

    Find data formats and their file extensions starting with N.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: Numbers

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with a number, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: O

    Search for data file formats and extensions that begin with the letter O, or search more than 4,000 file extensions by the letter or number the file format starts with.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: P

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter P, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: Q

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter Q, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: R

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter R, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: S

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter S, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: Symbols

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with a symbol, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: T

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter T, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: U

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter U, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: V

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter V, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: W

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter W, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: X

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter X, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: Y

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter Y, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Data Formats and File Extensions: Z

    Find data file formats and file extensions that start with the letter Z, or view thousands of file extensions and file formats in the complete list.

  • Deciphering Internet E-mail

    Sure, you use e-mail everyday of the week, but what do you really know about the technology that has profoundly changed how we communicate.

  • Dial-Up Modem Standards

    The CCITT has classified dial-up modems according to modulation standards. Listed here are the standards and their different transmission speeds.

  • Digital Camera Quick Reference

    If you can't keep up with advances in digital camera, you're not alone. We help you make sense of megapixels, zero in on the zooms (digital, optical and total) and delve into everything from price points to paper to printers.

  • DRAM Memory Guide

    Think deciding what computer to buy can be complicated? Just wait until you need to upgrade your system memory. We go inside Random-Access Memory (RAM) with a special focus on DRAM, which is - for now, anyway - the most common and affordable variety.

  • Ecommerce Trustmarks

    Displaying an e-commerce trustmark helps online businesses show customers they are a member of a professional accreditation organization. Here are tips for choosing a trustmark program for your online business.

  • Ecommerce Web Hosting Guide

    The first major task to complete before you can launch your ecommerce business is finding the right ecommerce hosting provider. In this Webopedia Ecommerce Web Hosting Guide we offer links and how-to articles to help any small business owner or entrepreneur get ready to launch their first electronic commerce website. Topics covered include essential ecommerce website services, ecommerce software and tips for finding an ecommerce web hosting provider.

  • Electronic Shopping Carts & Payment Processing

    Thanks to myriad products and services, doing business on the Web has been easier. However, before you can open for business, you need to understand how to offer products and accept payments.

  • Essential Android Security Apps

    The Android mobile operating system the most vulnerable from a security standpoint. We look at 5 essential security apps.

  • Ethernet Designations

    IEEE 802.3 specifies a series of standards for telecommunication technology over Ethernet local-area networks. This chart details the different Ethernet designations and how they differ from one another.

  • Fiber Optical Networks

    By transmitting data digitally over fiber, optical networks offer increased bandwidth as well as provide higher capacity and reduce overall costs.

  • File Size Conversion Table

    Giga, mega, tera, kilo? What do they mean? Do you need to find out how many megabytes are in a petabyte, or home many decimal places a gigabyte holds? Use this quick reference chart to compare computer data file sizes.

  • Free Business and Home Office Software

    Check out our guide to free business and home office software that will help you manage common computing tasks.

  • Getting Your System Ready For Windows Vista

    If you plan to upgrade to Vista, there are some things you need to consider first such as which verison, data backup and file transfer.

  • Google Products & Services

    Google, as you know, is much more than search. It's blogging, mapping, hopping, research and more. In fact, Google now has so many services it's hard to keep them straight. Use this quick reference to get a grip on Google.

  • Google Search Tips and Shortcuts

    While Google produces fast search results, this list of quick and easy shortcuts that will help improve your Google searches.

  • Graphics File Formats

    Graphics file formats are not created equal. Each is designed to address a specific issue. Knowing not only which one to use, but when and how to use it is the key to presenting pleasing images efficiently.

  • Handy Keyboard Shortcuts

    Redundant point-and-click actions can slow you down. These keyboard shortcuts save time and help you get exactly where you want to be in seconds in Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Chrome.

  • How to Clean Common Computer Parts and Devices

    From dusty computer fans to fingerprints on compact discs, computer parts and devices can get awfully dirty. Here are some tips to help keep things clean.

  • How to Create a Facebook Group

    Looking to build your own Group on Facebook? Here are step-by-step tips for setting up your own groups.

  • How to Create an RSS Feed

    In the second installment of RSS how-to, we look at some of the nonrequired (optional) channel and item tags, discuss RSS specifications in-depth and look at feed syndication and aggregators.

  • How to Create an RSS Feed

    Follow our step-by-step instructions and you'll be creating your own RSS feeds in no time.

  • How to Lock and Backup a Smartphone

    There are steps you can take to keep your smartphone data safe. Learn how to lock and backup (sync) your device.

  • How to Share iTunes Music on Your Network

    If you'd like to make your music colllection available from other computers on your network, the iTunes sharing feature makes that possible.

  • HP Servers: ProLiant Guide

    HP servers in the ProLiant server line is spread across all categories of servers, including rack, tower, blade and scale-out lines. For anyone confused about HP server names or trying to determine which server would fit best for a specific function, the first step is understanding the OEM's five basic categories.

  • internet.com's Technology & Discussion Forums

    Internet.com's community forums are a useful resource for getting questions answered and sharing knowledge about specific subjects. The following list contains descriptions of and links to some of the most active and helpful technology forums. Ask a question, or help others find the answers to theirs.

  • Introduction to Mobile Devices

    Today's mobile devices are multi-functional devices capable of hosting a broad range of applications for both business and consumer use.

  • IPv4 to IPv6: Security Policies to Consider

    How a default enterprise security policy could be adapted for your organization's particular needs.

  • IRQ Numbers

    Prior to plug and play devices, users had to set IRQ values of devices manually when adding the device, such as a modem or printer, to a system. The following list of IRQ numbers specifies what each of the 16 IRQ lines are used for.

  • LCD Versus Plasma

    If you're looking a flat-screen TV, the one question, other than price, that plagues most people is which is better, LCD or Plasma? Here's point-by-point comparison.

  • Maximum Dedicated Bandwidths

    How fast is fast? Chart puts into perspective line speeds used in Internet backbones, LANs, and WANs.

  • Microprocessor Comparison Chart

    Clear up any or all processor confusion with this cut-to-the-chase comparison chart.

  • Microsoft Windows Vista

    For years, computer users heard of a mysterious new operating system from Microsoft, codenamed Longhorn. In 2005, Microsoft officially removed the Longhorn codename and announced the operating System under the official name of Windows Vista.

  • N-Tier Application Architecture

    N-tier application architecture provides a model for developers to create a flexible and reusable application. By breaking up an application into tiers, developers only have to modify or add a specific layer, rather than have to rewrite the entire application over, if they decide to change technologies or scale up.

  • Need a Mobile Web Browser? Try This List of 7 Free Downloads.

    Mobile phones and tablets will come with a browser, but depending on your mobile operating system there might be alternative mobile browsers you can use on the device.

  • Network Security Appliances

    Popular with business and enterprise, Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances combine firewall, gateway anti-virus, and intrusion detection system (IDS) or intrusion prevention capabilities into a single platform.  

  • Network Topologies

    Not all networks are designed the same. Here are diagrams of five of the most common network layouts.

  • Online Personal Ads & Dating Chat Abbreviations

    If you've ever looked at online and local personal ads and wonder exactly what all those abbreviations and slang terms mean, this guide will help you decipher the dating text chat and personals ad lingo.

  • Open Source Security Software

    From anti-spam tools to application firewalls there are many open source software offerings that can replace popular security software.

  • Phase Change Memory (PCM)

    Abbreviated as PCM, phase change memory is a type of non-volatile memory that is much faster than the common flash memory, and it also uses up to one-half the power. It works by using a semiconductor alloy that can be changed rapidly between an ordered, crystalline phase having lower electrical resistance to a disordered, amorphous phase with much higher electrical resistance. Because no electrical power is required to maintain either phase of the material, so phase-change memory is non-volatile.

  • eBay and Classified Abbreviations

    With the growing popularity of online buying and selling, Internet and online classified lingo has also grown. Use our Guide To Understanding eBay & Auction Acronyms to stay up to date with the jargon.

  • Public IM Services

    From AIM to Meebo to Yahoo Messenger, here's a list of the leading public (and free) instanting messaging services.

  • Quick Reference: Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

    A Wi-Fi hotspot is defined as any location in which 802.11 (wireless) technology both exists and is available for use to consumers. Here are the factors you need to consider before you connect.

  • Quick Reference: What You Need in a Hosting Plan

    If you own a Web shop, it's especially important to find a company that offers a variety of cost-effective plans for e-commerce. We offer some tips on what to consider when shopping for a Web hosting provider.

  • Removable Storage Reference

    Regardless of how big hard drive capacities get, there will always be a need for removable storage. We look at three technologies used to record and store data on the removable media: magnetic, optical and solid state.

  • Server Types

    Different servers do different jobs, from serving e-mail and video to protecting internal networks and hosting Web sites. Learn about the many types of servers used today.

  • Server Virtualization: 10 Reasons to Invest

    This Top 10 list of reasons to invest in server virtualization is aimed at system and virtualization administrators.

  • Small Business Computing Essentials Computing Essentials

    Small businesses have computing needs different from large enterprises. These special reports from Webopedia's sister site www.smallbusinesscomputing.com help the small business entrepreneur cut to the chase and provide the user with much needed fundamentals.

  • Small Business Marketing Guide

    This Webopedia Small Business Marketing Guide will help you manage online, Web-based marketing campaigns that will expand your customer base.

  • Small Business Open Source Software

    Open source software offers small businesses the same low costs and flexibility that enterprises enjoy. So why don't more small businesses opt for open source?

  • Smiley Faces and Emoticons

    A text smiley face -- often called a smiley or emoticon -- is used in text message and online chat communications to convey an emotion. Learn how to make text smiley faces in this Webopedia.com text message and online chat guide.

     

     

  • Social Media Management Tools

    5 tools to help small office and home office business owners mange social media marketing.

  • Social Networking Sites

    Web-based social networking services offer a way for individuals or groups to create a profile of themselves, then share that profile with other members of the social networking community.

  • Spam Spam Spam: A Webopedia Guide to Combating Spam

    I hate spam. You hate spam. We all hate spam. Webopedia offers this collection of articles and Web resources to help you weed out this pernicious Internet presence.

  • Storage Management

    A guide to help you understand enterprise storage management technologies and issues. The phrase Storage management, or Storage Resource Management (SRM) is a general storage industry term used to describe the tools, processes, and policies used to manage storage networks and storage services such as virtualization, replication, mirroring, security, compression, traffic analysis, and other services. The phrase also encompasses other storage technologies, such as process automation, storage management and real-time infrastructure products, and storage provisioning. With the volume of data being produced and stored within organizations growing at a rapid rate, managing that data and the hardware that stores it can be a major headache.

  • Storage Networking

    A storage network is used by IT departments to connect different types of storage devices with data servers for a larger network of users, but to really understand it, you need our guide.

  • Webopedia Guide to Twitter Hashtags for Technology Topics

    This Webopedia.com guide to Twitter hashtags for technology and computing topics provides descriptions of some of the most popular tech-related hashtags used in Twitter today.

  • Text Messaging & Chat Abbreviations

    1,375 online chat and text message abbreviations indexed! If you've ever received a text message or online chat message that you don't understand, this Webopedia Quick Reference list of text abbreviations will help you translate the chat lingo.

  • The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

    Use this handy guide to compare the different layers of the OSI model and understand how they interact with each other.

  • The History of Blogging

    The origins of blogging go further back than the Internet to the days of personal diaries, chronicles and other written forms of personal musings.

  • The Top Private Cloud Project Mistakes You Need to Avoid

    When it comes to your private cloud project it's easy to make mistakes that in hindsight look obvious, but can be hard to predict if you lack experience with cloud infrastructures.

  • Tips for Implementing ITIL

    ITIL is a widely accepted approach to IT service management and provides a set of best practices drawn from the public and private sectors internationally. Here's how to make it work for you.

  • Tips to Diagnose and Fix a Slow Running Computer

    There are many reasons why your computer could be running slowly, but here are some easy steps you can take to figure out what is causing the slow down.

  • Top 15 Twitter Tools For Small Business Marketing

    A look at the 15 Twitter tools that will help you to further take advantage of using Twitter as a small business marketing tool.

  • Tweak Your Android Homescreen with Customized Launchers

    Free and inexpensive launchers help you get the user experience you want on an Android mobile phone.

  • Twitter Dictionary: A Guide to Understanding Twitter Lingo

    Webopedia's Twitter Dictionary will help you understand Twitter chat, Twitter abbreviations and Twitter slang.

  • Types of Internet Connections

    While technology changes at a rapid pace, so do Internet connections. The connection speeds listed below is a general snapshot, representing general average to maximum speeds at the time of publication.

  • Understanding Computer Certifications

    Have you heard about a computer certification program but are not sure if it is right for you? Use this handy guide to find out more information and help you decide. Part 1/3

  • Understanding Computer Certifications, Page 2

    Have you heard about a computer certification program but are not sure if it is right for you? Use this handy guide to find out more information and help you decide. Part 2/3

  • Understanding Computer Certifications, Page 3

    Have you heard about a computer certification program but are not sure if it is right for you? Use this handy guide to find out more information and help you decide. Part 3/3

  • Understanding Small Business Networking Terms

    This list of networking terms will help a small business better understand the world of wired and wireless networking.

  • Video Codecs Explained

    Confused over codecs? Feel like you're the only one who doesn't know MPEG-2 from MPEG-4? Your secret is safe with us. Just read this complete guide to today's video codecs and you'll be talking like an expert.

  • Web Search Engines & Directories

    Microsoft's Bing, Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, Business.com ... if you're looking for information on the Web, there are a number of search engines from to choose. They are all different, yet they have inherent similarities.

  • Web Search Engines & Directories, Page 2

    Microsoft's Bing, Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, Business.com ... if you're looking for information on the Web, there are a number of search engines from to choose. They are all different, yet they have inherent similarities.

  • Web Search Engines & Directories, Page 3

    Microsoft's Bing, Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, Business.com ... if you're looking for information on the Web, there are a number of search engines from to choose. They are all different, yet they have inherent similarities.

  • Web Server Error Messages

    Ever encounter an error on your way to a Web site? Of course you have. Don't worry; you'll be glad to know most of them have nothing to do with your PC. It's usually the other guy's fault -- the Web server, that is. Here are some of the more common errors you'll see while surfing the Internet.

  • 44 Cloud Computing Terms Defined

    From planning a private cloud project to finding an online cloud storage provider, Webopedia's A-Z Cloud Computing Glossary will help you understand the language that has surfaced around the topic of cloud computing. 

  • Well-Known TCP Port Numbers

    In TCP/IP and UDP networks, a port is an endpoint to a logical connection and the way a client program specifies a specific server program on a computer in a network. This list of well-known port numbers specifies the port used by the server process as its contact port.

  • What Are IT Channel Partners and Channel Programs?

    Channel partner is the common phrase used to describe a business-to-business (B2B) relationship where a smaller company or organization partners with a corporate manufacturer to market and sell that producer's products, services or technologies.

  • What Is a MAC Address?

    Tips on how to find a MAC address, Identifying Unknown Devices, DHCP and more.

  • What Is A Proxy Server?

    Proxy servers can dramatically improve performance for groups of users. They can also be used to filter requests.

  • What is an Enterprise Application?

    Enterprise application, enterprise app, enterprise software, and finally, enterprise application software (EAS) are all commonly used phrases to describe applications -- or software -- that a that a business would use to assist the organization in solving enterprise problems.

  • What is an OEM Company?

    OEM is short for original equipment manufacturer. This article explains the role of an OEM company and the OEM Business model.

  • What You Need to Know About Motherboards

    Every computer has one, but few people think about what they do. Here's look at how a motherboard works and an explanation of why you should know.

  • Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing

    Networking tips to share your broadband (or even dial-up) connection in Windows

  • Wireless Networking Standards

    Wireless networking is becoming increasingly important to businesses, both small and large. Use this chart to make sense out of all the wireless local-area network standards.

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