Online terminology can be perplexing, confusing, and often referred to as internet jargon or digital language. It plays a crucial role in understanding the online landscape, making it essential to be well-versed in the language of the web. Whether you’re a seasoned internet user or just beginning to explore the virtual realm, here are some popular online terms, and their meanings, to help you navigate the digital world with ease.
Cookies- A cookie is a small piece of data that’s stored on your computer, smartphone or tablet when you visit a website. Most websites pop up with a message asking you to ‘accept cookies’. Cookies allow the website to track information about your activity on the website, such as how
many times you’ve visited and how long you spent on the website. You don’t have to accept cookies, but it might mean that you can’t access some websites.
Icon- An image or symbol which represents an app or function on your phone, tablet or computer screen. You usually ‘tap’ on an icon to open an app.
Browser- The computer software or app you use to access the internet – including Google Chrome and Safari.
3G/4G/5G- Mobile data that you can use on your smartphone or tablet without using Wi-Fi is transmitted using 3G, 4G or 5G. The higher the
number, the faster the connection. The names stand for ‘3rd/4th/5th generation’ network.
Address bar- The address bar is at the top of your web browser (such as Safari or Google Chrome). It’s where the address of a webpage (or URL)
appears. You can type a web address straight into the address bar – for example, typing ‘www.theenergycu.com’ into the address bar will take you to our website.
Tabs- Tabs sit at the very top of your internet browser. You can click on the ‘+’ symbol to open a new tab, where you can visit a different website without losing access to the webpage you’re currently on. Some apps might also have tabs at or near the top or bottom of the screen, which you can click on to switch between different parts of the app.
Apps- (applications) A type of computer program that you can download for your computer, tablet, or smartphone. There are thousands of different apps available for lots of different things – from playing games and puzzles, to online shopping and banking. You download apps from the Google Play Store if you have an Android phone or tablet, or the App Store if you have an Apple device.
