backbone - The top level in a hierarchical network. Stub and transit networks which connect to the same backbone are guaranteed to be interconnected. See also: stub network, transit network.
bandwidth - Technically, the difference, in Hertz (Hz), between the highest and lowest frequencies of a transmission channel. However, as typically used, the amount of data that can be sent through a given communications circuit.
baseband - A transmission medium through which digital signals are sentwithout complicated frequency shifting. In general, only one communication channel is available at any given time. Ethernet is an example of a baseband network. See also: broadband, Ethernet.
binary - A numbering system involving the use of '1' and '0' eg. 11001001
bounce - The return of a piece of mail because of an error in its delivery.
Browser - Interactive software program for accessing the Internet. The graphical interface displays pictures, text, and multimedia elements such as video and sound clips. Interaction is through mouse point and click actions.
Browser Add-ons - Applications that make your browser do even more. Examples range from simple address books to programs that automatically download web pages for offline reading. Helper-apps and Plug-ins are both types of Browser Add-ons.
BTW - By The Way
Bulletin Board System (BBS) - A computer, and associated software, which typically provides electronic messaging services, archives of files, and any other services or activities of interest to the bulletin board system's operator. Although BBS's have traditionally been the domain of hobbyists, an increasing number of BBS's are connected directly to the Internet, and many BBS's are currently operated by government, educational, and research institutions. See also: Electronic Mail, Internet, Usenet.
Bundled Applications - Applications that are packaged together. Some web browsers, for instance, come packaged with ftp and gopher. Others have integrated e-mail, telnet, and news readers as well. With an integrated package, there's just 1 installation, not 3-6. And you access them all from a single place.
