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Packet
Information moves around the Internet in 'packets'; chunks of data each with their own destination address. Think of packets as sealed envelopes containing data, with addresses written on them. They all go through the system, and usually end up at the correct destination. The more envelopes the system must handle, the slower the process becomes.

Page
A World Wide Web 'page' is the name given to a basic Web document, such as the one you are viewing at the moment.

Peering Agreement
An agreement between carriers of IP traffic whereby no charge is made for interconnection of networks.

PKZIP / PKUNZIP
Utilities for easily compressing and uncompressing DOS and Windows files. They use the .zip filename extension.
See Also:WinZip, ZIP Files

Plugin
There are many things that your browser can do such as displaying images and web pages. Other things are beyond its capabilities and that's where the plug-ins are introduced. Shockwave and RealAudio are examples of plug-ins required for audio and video.

POP
(Post Office Protocol) provides a store-and-forward service, intended to move Email on demand from an intermediate server to a single destination machine like a PC or PDA

PPP
(Point to Point Protocol) PPP is a kind of Internet connection that allows a computer to use Internet protocols to become a part of the Internet. Requires a modem, a standard telephone line and an account from a service provider.

Private Key
Please see the TechDesk Article Digital Signatures

Protocol
Method by which computers communicate to each other over the Internet in order to provide a service.
See Also:FTP, HTTP, IP, NNTP, POP, PPP, SLIP, SMTP, TCP

PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network. This is the telephony infrastructure currently provided by the UKs incumbent telecoms operator, BT.

PTO
Public Telecommunications Operator

Public Access Provider
An organization that provides Internet access for individuals or other organizations, often for a fee.

Public Domain
Refers to software that anybody can use or modify without authorisation.
See Also:Freeware, Shareware, Open-Source

Public Key
Please see the TechDesk Article Digital Signatures

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