D
Daemon
Pronounced demon or damon, a process that runs in the background and performs a specified operation at predefined times or in response to certain events. The term daemon is a UNIX term, though many other operating systems provide support for daemons, though they're sometimes called other names. Windows, for example, refers to daemons and system agents and services. Typical daemon processes include print spoolers, e-mail handlers, and other programs that perform administrative tasks for the operating system.
Database
A database is a structured set of records, such as a mailing list. A web browser can access a public database by Perl Scripts. There are many ways for a user to find information in a database. When the data is structured as a table in a single file, a user need only browse the page and use the browser's "find" feature. However, to search a relational database spread over many files, a sophisticated CGI script is required to access the data.
Data Transfer
The outward bound traffic from a web site, with the exception of e-mail. Any HTML, graphic, audio or video file that is accessed by someone viewing your site is included. High rates of data transfer indicate a heavily trafficked site.
Dedicated Line
A permanently connected telephone line between two computer systems. Dedicated lines make up the bulk of the Internet.
Dedicated Server
A dedicated server is a single computer in a network reserved for serving the needs of the network. For example, some networks require that one computer be set aside to manage communications between all the other computers. A dedicated server could also be a computer that manages printer resources. In a web hosting context a dedicated server is a server allocated to one customer.
Dial-up
An "on ramp" to the Internet-the service which allows one to "dial" into the Internet through their communication lines.
Digital Certificate
An attachment to an electronic message used for security purposes. The most common use of a digital certificate is to verify that a user sending a message is who he or she claims to be, and to provide the receiver with the means to encode a reply.
Digital Picture
A photograph stored in a format recognizable and usable by computers.
Directory
A major division on a hard drive or server used to divide and organize files.
Directories
A directory is a web site that focuses on listing web sites by individual topics. A search engine lists pages, where as a directory lists web sites. On the World Wide Web, a directory is a subject guide, usually organized by major topics and subtopics. The best-known directory is Yahoo! Many other sites now use a Yahoo!-like directory including major portal sites like Excite, Netscape, Lycos, CNET, MSN, and AOL.com. Niche portals like Garden.com (for gardeners), Fool.com (for investors), SearchNT.com (for Windows NT administrators), etc. are also considered directories.
Disk Storage Space
In a shared hosting environment, the amount of server disk storage allocated to your account. This space can be used to store HTML and graphics files, programs or scripts, mail messages, compressed files, or other files that make up your web site. This does not include the log files, as they are owned by the processes on the server.
DLT
Short for Digital Linear Tape, a type of magnetic tape storage device. DLTs are half an inch wide and the cartridges come in several sizes ranging from 20 to over 40 GB. DLT drives are faster than most other types of tape drives, achieving transfer rates of 2.5 MBps.
DNS
Short for Domain Name System (or Service), an Internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Because domain names are alphabetic, they're easier to remember. The Internet however, is really based on IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name, therefore, a DNS service must translate the name into the corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name www.example.com might translate to 198.105.232.4.
Domain
The name for a company, organization, or individual's Internet connection. Individual computers within this domain all end with the domain as a part of their host name.
Download
To transfer a file from another computer to your computer.
Dynamic Web Pages
Web pages more animated and more responsive to user interaction than previous versions of HTML. Dynamic web pages are constructed using the DHTML language (standard HTML, style sheets and programming).