Contents GlossaryTo find a term in the glossary, click the letter of the alphabet that is the first letter in the term you want to look up.
AanalogThe traditional format in which audio and video are transmitted by using a wave or analog signal. An analog signal may not work with digital speakers; computers use digital signals. BbandwidthA network's capacity for transferring an amount of data in a given time. See also: bit rate bit rateThe number of bits transferred per second. See also: bandwidth, multiple bit rate (MBR) broadbandA transmission medium designed for high-speed data transfers over long distances. Cable modem services and DSL are examples of broadband networks. bufferAn area of computer memory reserved for temporarily holding data before that data is used on the receiving computer. Buffering protects against the interruption of data flow. CcaptionText that accompanies images or videos, either as a supplemental description or a transcript of spoken words. codecAn abbreviation for compressor/decompressor. Software or hardware used to compress and decompress digital media. See also: compression compressionA process for removing redundant data from a digital media file or stream to reduce its size or the bandwidth used. See also: codec connection speedThe maximum rate, in bits per second, at which data can be transferred between a network and a computer or device. DdecryptTo convert encrypted content back into its original form. See also: encrypt digital rights management (DRM)A technology that provides a persistent level of protection to digital content by encrypting it with a cryptographic key. Authorized recipients (or end users) must acquire a license in order to unlock and consume the content. downloadTo transfer a file over a network in response to a request from the device that receives the data. Downloaded content is kept on the receiving device for playback on demand. In contrast, streamed content is played as it is delivered. See also: streaming DRMSee definition for: digital rights management (DRM) EencodeTo convert audio and video content to a specified digital format. encryptTo programmatically disguise content to hide its substance. See also: decrypt Ffile formatThe structure or organization of data in a file. File format is usually indicated by the file name extension. See also: file name extension, file type file name extensionA set of characters added to the end of a file name that identifies the file type or format. See also: file format, file type file typeA description of the content or format of a file. File type is usually indicated by the file name extension. See also: file format, file name extension firewallA combination of hardware and software that enforces a boundary between two or more networks and prevents unauthorized access to a private network. frameOne of many sequential images that make up video. frame rateThe number of video frames displayed per second. Higher frame rates generally produce smoother movement in the picture. HHTTPSee definition for: Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)The Internet protocol used to deliver information over the World Wide Web. Iintelligent streamingA type of streaming that detects network conditions and adjusts the properties of a video or audio stream to maximize quality. See also: streaming Llicensed fileA Windows Media file that has an associated license restricting the playing of that file. The restrictions stated in the license vary depending on the license creator. See also: digital rights management (DRM) MMBRSee definition for: multiple bit rate (MBR) See also: bit rate Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)The committee that creates international standards for coding audio-visual information to a digital, compressed format. The acronym MPEG is appended to the beginning of individual specifications developed by the committee. For example, MPEG-2 refers to the standard, ISO/IEC - 11172. MPEGSee definition for: Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) multiple bit rate (MBR)A characteristic of a data stream in which the same content is encoded at several different bit rates in order to optimize content delivery. PplaylistA list of digital media content. portA connection point in a computer through which a peripheral device or another computer can communicate. protocolA set of formats and procedures that enable computers to exchange information. See also: Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) proxy serverA server located on a network between client software, such as a Web browser, and another server. It intercepts all requests to the server to determine whether it can fulfill them itself. If not, it forwards the request to another server. Ssampling rateThe frequency of sampling. The higher the sampling rate (that is, the more samples taken per unit of time), the more closely the digitized result resembles the original. streamingA method of delivering digital media across a network in a continuous flow. The digital media is played by client software as it is received. Typically, streaming makes it unnecessary for users to download a file before playing it. See also: download, intelligent streaming TTCPSee definition for: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)The protocol within TCP/IP that governs the breakup of data messages into packets to be sent via IP, and the reassembly and verification of the complete messages from packets received by IP. UUDPSee definition for: User Datagram Protocol (UDP) User Datagram Protocol (UDP)A connectionless transport protocol in the TCP/IP protocol stack that is used in cases where some packet loss is acceptable, for example, with digital media streams. WWindows Media fileA file containing audio, video, or script data that is stored in Windows Media Format. Depending on their content and purpose, Windows Media files use a variety of file name extensions, such as: .wma, .wme, .wms, .wmv, .wmx, .wmz, or .wvx. Windows Media FormatThe format used by Microsoft Windows Media Technologies (or a third-party product that incorporates a licensed Windows Media technology) to author, store, edit, distribute, stream, or play timeline-based content. |