| Tag | The symbols used in Markup languages such as HTML and XML. HTML tags are identified by a keyword enclosed in angle brackets, e.g. <table>. They usually come in pairs marking the opening (beginning) and closing (end) of a tagged section, and in both HTML and XML the closing tag has a Slash before the keyword, e.g. </table>. |
| TCP/IP | Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol - The suite of Protocols that are the underlying mechanism of the Internet. On a strictly need-to-know basis, unless you are a network technician or a programmer who wants to understand the technical nitty-gritty of the mechanisms of the Internet and other TCP/IP networks, then you don't need to know any more. This encyclopaedia is aimed at teachers and other laymen, and we have to draw the line somewhere! See also DHCP, DNS, FTP, HTTP, IMAP, NNTP, POP3, SMTP. |
| Text | Usually used to describe computer files that consist only of printable characters, usually in ASCII format, which allows them to be read with any kind of Text Editor. Most Log files and configuration files are text files, and both HTML and XML are also examples of text-based formats. Technical note: Paradoxically, even text files are actually Binary, i.e. just ones and noughts, but usually each Byte represents an alphanumeric character. The de facto standard for Text files is English-centric ASCII, but world-aware standards such as UTF-8 are increasingly being used. |
| Thin Ethernet | An obsolete form of Ethernet cabling. Thin Ethernet uses coaxial cable, similar to TV aerial cable, and does not need Hubs because the cable goes directly from computer to computer in a chain. This is one of its weaknesses because if the chain is broken while in use the network stops working, which often causes some or all of the computers to "Crash". Thin Ethernet used to be very common, but it has been replaced in most cases by Fast Ethernet or better. |
| Thumbnail | A miniature, literally "thumbnail-sized", representation of a picture. It is a conventional paradigm, especially on Web Sites, that clicking on a thumbnail will Link to a much larger, better quality version of the same picture. |
| TIA | Thanks In Advance - Shorthand often used by people who regularly contribute to Internet discussions such as Newsgroups. |
| TLA | Three Letter Acronym. :-) |
| TLD | Top Level Domain - The last part (highest level) of an Internet domain name, i.e. the bit after the last Dot in a WebSite domain or e-mail address. The two-letter TLDs are country-specific, e.g. .uk = UK, .de = Deutschland, and allocation of these is controlled by a local organisation. In the UK it is Nominet. |
| TP | Twisted Pair - A type of cabling. See Twisted Pair. |
| Traffic | The to-ing and fro-ing of data on a Network. Networks are like road systems - they have a finite useful traffic capacity that is much lower than the designers tell you (see Bandwidth), and once it is exceeded things start to slow down and eventually grind to a halt. |
| Trojan | A type of Virus which can be harmful but which does not replicate itself. Go to www.sophos.com if you want to find out more about viruses. |
| Twisted Pair | Usually means the type of wire used for "Category 5" cabling. It is similar to domestic telephone cable, but thicker. There are 8 wires, twisted together as 4 pairs, hence the name. "Twisted Pair" is sometimes used loosely to mean "Category 5" or "Fast Ethernet". The twists are very important because they dramatically reduce the amount of interference that is picked up on long cable runs. |
| Tx | Transmit or related to transmitting. |