Podcasting Glossary of Terms

Blog
A short form for weblog, a frequent and chronological publication of comments and thoughts on the web. They usually include philosophical reflections, opinions on the Internet and social or political issues.

BITMAP
Another image format used for simple graphics. When a file is saved as a BITMAP it takes the following format - "filename.bmp"

Content
Meaning or message contained and communicated by a work of art, including its emotional, intellectual, symbolic, thematic, and narrative connotations.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
Image format used for simple graphics and sometimes animation. When a file is saved as a GIF it takes the following format - "filename.gif"

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
Most websites are written using HTML. HTML is a programming language that allows web designers to arrange text, images, and links in a document that is viewable on the Internet.

Internet & World-Wide Web
The Internet is a network of millions of computers that spans the world. The World-Wide Web is the collection of all the websites stored on these computers. The vast majority of information on the Internet is free of charge and largely uncensored.

Internet Browsers
A browser is a program that allows you to view websites on the Internet. The most widespread application is Microsoft's Internet Explorer. There are others available such as Firefox.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
A popular electronic image format for compressing photographic images. When a file is saved as a JPEG it takes the following format - "filename.jpg"

PDF (Portable Document Format) A format developed by Adobe for representing documents in their original format - like a series of pages in a book. A PDF file can describe documents containing any combination of text, graphics, and images. When a file is saved as a PDF it takes the following format - "filename.pdf"

Podcast
Podcasting, a portmanteau of Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting", is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription, usually at no cost. It first became popular in late 2004, used largely for audio files.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication)
It is an alternative means of accessing the vast amount of information that now exists on the world wide web. Instead of the user browsing websites for information of interest, the information is sent directly to the user. More information can be found here.

Search Engines
A search engine allows you to search for and find information on the Internet by using keywords or categories.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
This is the technical term for an Internet address.