- FAQ -(Frequently Asked
Questions) Pronounced FAK, shorthand for an information
file about some system. In Usenet newsgroups, you should
always read any FAQs you can find because if you ask a
question that is already covered in the FAQ you are
likely to be "flamed".
- fiber optics -
A data transmission medium consisting of fine glass
fibers. Light emitting diodes introduce light into one
end of the fiber and it bounces off the inside of the
surface of the fiber until it reaches the other end,
where a detector converts the light signals back to
electrical signal.
- field -In a
database, one coherent part of a record, such as the
name/address/title/ID of personnel record.
- finger -Originally
a UNIX command requesting information about another
registered UNIX account-holder.
- firewall - A
device that protects a private network from unauthorized
public access. A computer set up to monitor traffic
between an Internet site and the Internet. It is designed
to keep unauthorized outsiders from tampering with a
computer system thereby increasing a servers security.
- flame -A
deliberately abusive message in e-mail or Usenet post.
- flow chart -Visual
aid used by computer programmers to sketch the overall
logic of a complicated program.
- folder -Logical
grouping of files in disk storage.
- fortune cookie - An
inane/witty/profound comment that can be found around the
net.
- fractals - A
fractal is a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can
be subdivided in parts, each of which is (at least
approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole. Fractals
are generally self-similar (bits look like the whole) and
independent of scale (they look similar, no matter how
close you zoom in).
- frames - A term
used to describe a viewing and layout style of a web
site, it refers to the simultaneous loading of 2 or more
web pages at the same time within the same screen.
Originally developed by Netscape and implemented in their
Navigator 2.0 browser, today many other popular web
browsers support this feature. If you are seeing this
dictionary, it means that your browser supports frames.
My entire site is in frames.
- frame relay - In
a data transmission, the process of dividing data into
groups of bits and adding a header and check sequence to
form a frame.
- FTP -(File Transfer
Protocol) One of orignal protocols on the Internet, which
allows for very efficient transfer of entire data files
between computers but discourages interactive browsing.