A Helpful Guide To Web Hosting Lingo

Knowing your HTMLs from your HTTPs can be hard – here’s a guide that can help you get all your acronyms in a row.
Computer sciences and acronyms are like two peas in a pod – they just go together. From the early days of the internet at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), back when it was called ARPANET (The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), the letters were flying around at top speed arranging themselves into what would become the tech lingo of the future.  
From this momentous event came an onslaught of acronyms  forming complex ideas or tasks used in the technical industry. For technical people most of these come easily, but for the everyday man or woman some of these can leave us scratching our heads in confusion.
Never fear, Midphase is here to help you integrate yourself into the world of web hosting jargon – not that you’ll need it. Midphase offers around-the-clock support – all jargon free – to help you host your website with ease. But in the event that you want to impress your non-technical friends at a dinner party, here is a helpful guide to all of our favorite acronyms:
DDoS – Distributed Denial of Service
A DDoS attack is when a server is confronted with a malicious attack and is either overwhelmed with requests or is infected with a Trojan. Once attacked the server won’t be able to tell the difference between real requests and infected requests. DDoS attacks can affect an entire server, not just the intended target and can lead to server downtime unless a service is employed to protect servers from such malicious behavior.  
FTP – File Transfer Protocol
The standard network protocol used to move files from one computer to another through a network like the internet. Using FTP you have the ability to transfer information from one place to the other.
gTLD – Generic Top Level Domain
Domains that extend beyond the 20-something original web address endings like .com, .net and .org. These additional web address endings have slowly been released to the public since 2013 and are quickly becoming a preferred choice for new domains.  
HTML – HyperText Markup Language
The building blocks of the World Wide Web. HTML was created in 1990 and supports just about every website you have ever seen. This programming language allows web browsers to read the content you have provided for your website.   
HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol
The basic tool we use for data communication. HTTP is used to retrieve data from servers across the web to bring it to your computer screen.
IP – Internet Protocol
Internet protocol controls the data packets being sent across the internet as well as the addressing scheme that directs packets on their route from sender to receiver.
POP – Post Office Protocol
Post office protocol is used to retrieve emails from an email server. Most email servers use POP and SMTP, but with the arrival of POP2, SMTP is no longer required.  
RAID – Redundant Array of Independent Disks
RAID is a specific method for backing up information on a server so that in the case of an emergency the data can easily be retrieved. The RAID system will store data on a number of servers for easy access.
SMTP – Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
This protocol allows users to send email back and forth between two hosts. SMTP is used on all email systems to forward or retrieve emails from servers.
SQL – Standard Query Language
Standard Query Language protocol is used to request information from databases. This pre-defined etiquette allows the server to look for specific data once the query is sent. Servers that have this capability are called SQL servers.   
SSL – Secure Sockets Layer
SSL was created as a way of communicating sensitive information between two hosts. Information such as credit card numbers or identifying information is encrypted before sending, then decoded once the information reaches its proper destination.
TCP – Transmission Control Protocol
The TCP allows two users or hosts to connect and share information. Specifically, the TCP ensures that data packets arrive in the same condition they are sent and have not been intercepted or corrupted along the way.
TLD – Top Level Domain
Top level domains are domains that are installed in the root zone of the internet organization, or namespace. TLD can be used synonymously for any domain name such as .com, .co.uk, .org, as well as for gTLDs like .club, .xyz and .online.   
VPN – Virtual Private Network
A VPN is powered by the internet and allows users to exchange information as if there were a link between the two devices. VPNs are often found in offices that are far apart geographically, so data can be sent quickly between two locations.

Now that you have a handle on the ABCs of web hosting, it is time that you put your newly found education to use. Set up your own website, VPN or cloud to manage your business and your data more efficiently.

Let us help you manage your online presence at Midphase.com