The internet has its own vocabulary – and with many acronyms and abbreviations, it can be easy to lose track of what they all mean. Below is a list of commonly used terms you may encounter while using the internet.

• App – Short for application, an app is a small computer software program that you download onto your computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV. An app is usually used to perform a specific function such as gaming, streaming, shopping, or social networking.
• Bandwidth – Also known as data usage, bandwidth refers to the amount of data you send through a modem connection.
• Browser – A free program you use to access content on the internet. Examples of include: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox.
• E-mail – A way to send messages electronically, opposed to sending messages through the postal service. E-mail allows for messages to be received almost instantly.
• eMTA – An embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter is a cable modem with telephony capability.
• DOCSIS – DOCSIS refers to the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification, an international telecommunications standard that permits the addition of high-bandwidth data transfer to an existing cable television system.
• Firewall – A piece of software or hardware that helps keep out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the internet. If you are a home user or small-business user, using a firewall is the most effective and important first step you can take to help protect your computer. It is important to turn on your firewall and antivirus software before you connect to the internet.
• Gigabyte – A gigabyte (GB) is a measure of data storage capacity. It is roughly equal to a billion bytes.
• HTML – HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language and is a code that tells your browser how to read and organize a website’s content. Any time you visit a website, the HTML code tells your computer how to display the content.
• IoT – Short for Internet of Things, IoT refers to the growing variety of devices capable of connecting to the internet, such as vehicles, thermostats, lights, doorbells, garages, locks, appliances, security cameras and more. Learn more: Internet of Things and Security.
• IP Address – IP Address stands for Internet Protocol Address. An IP address allows for one computer to communicate to another through the internet. Every device that connects to the internet has an IP address.
• ISP – ISP stands for Internet Service Provider.
• Mbps – Mbps stands for megabits per second. It is the most common measurement of internet speed, or the rate at which data is transferred from one location to another.
• Modem – a device that connects to Sparklight's cable internet service. Some modems also provide the functionality of a router.
• Network – A network is when two or more computers are connected to each other.
• Phishing – The act of scammers trying to collect your personal information by means of sending an email that appears to be from a reputable source. Learn more: Tips to identify and report a Phishing Email. 
• Router – A separate device from a modem that manages internet connectivity to multiple devices within your home and typically also provides wireless connectivity.
• SSID – SSID stands for Service Set Identifier, which is a unique ID that consists of up to 32 characters and is used for naming wireless networks.
• Spam – Unsolicited or junk email you may receive.
• URL – Short for Uniform Resource Locators, a URL is the web address of an internet page. An example of a URL would be: http://www.examplewebsite.com/mypage
• WiFi – Allows devices to connect to the internet wirelessly without having to directly connect to your modem.