Appendix D. Defining Terms

Techies love lingo. And as you adopt technology in your real estate business, you'll encounter a lot of these terms. (And real estate has its own lingo, which newer agents may not know, either.) This appendix defines the technology and real estate terms used in the book, so you can always refresh your memory when needed.

10BaseT: A standard that lets data be sent and received at speeds of up to 10 Mbps over an Ethernet network. See also Ethernet; Mbps.

100BaseT: A standard that lets data be sent and received at speeds of up to 100 Mbps over an Ethernet network. See also Ethernet; Mbps.

1XRTT: See CDMA2000 1XRTT.

3G: Third-generation cellular network service that sends and receives both data and voice, providing data connection speeds of about 100 Kbps to 500 Kbps to a laptop or handheld device over a cellular network. (The laptop or handheld needs a special 3G card or built-in 3G radio that is compatible with the specific service you subscribe to.) There are several types of 3G service: the slower CDMA2000 1XRTT, GPRS, and EDGE services, and the faster CDMA2000 EVDO and HSDPA services. See also CDMA2000 1XRTT; CDMA2000 EVDO; cellular network; EDGE; GPRS; HSDPA; radio.

802.11: A family of standards for wireless networks that generally can transmit data in a radius of about 100 feet inside a building and up to 300 feet in an open area: 802.11a transmits data at up to 54 Mbps, 802.11b transmits data at up to 11 Mbps, and 802.11g transmits data at up to 54 Mbps. 802.11a uses a different portion of the radio spectrum than 802.11g, so it's less prone to interference from common household radios such as those in some cordless phones and garage door openers, but few products are based on 802.11a. Note that 802.11g and 802.11b use the same radio spectrum and that both types of equipment can communicate with each other, although even a single 802.11b device on a wireless network will force all the 802.11g equipment on the network to slow down to 802.11b speeds. See also Mbps; Wi-Fi.

802.11i: A security standard for wireless networks that provides a secure way to transmit the user's password, so a hacker can't intercept it and log on as you. See also WPA.

802.1x: A security standard for networks, both wired and wireless, that helps verify that a device trying to log into the network is who it claims to be. This security is usually turned on automatically if you enable the firewall in your router or in your operating system. See also firewall; router.

AIFF (Apple Audio Interchange Format File): AIFF is the Mac OS X standard format for sound and music files. See also MP3; WAV.

bit: The smallest unit of measurement for data. A bit is an individual digit (0 or 1) in the sequence of digits that makes up computer data. Conceptually, a bit is like a letter in a human alphabet. See also byte; Kbps; Mbps.

BlackBerry: A handheld device from Research in Motion that allows access to e-mail almost anywhere; some versions add a personal organizer, cell phone, and/or Internet access. See also smartphone.

blog: Short for Web log, it is essentially an opinion page you publish on the Web that readers can add their own comments to.

bookmark: A link to another Web page or to another page within a PDF file. It is essentially a shortcut that you can create for easy access to pages you want to go to repeatedly. See also browser;link; PDF.

broadband: High-speed connections, typically to the Internet, using technology such as DSL and cable modems. See also DSL;cable modem.

browser: A software program that displays Web pages. See also HTML.

burn: Slang for writing data to a recordable CD or DVD. It'scalled burn because a laser beam etches the data onto the disc, using its high heat to do so. See also CD-R; CD-RW; DVD-R;DVD-RW.

byte: A set of eight bits, a byte is the standard measurement for data size. Data is typically segmented into bytes by computers and networks; much like human language is segmented into words. See also bit; K; MB.

cable modem: A device that connects computers to the Internet over cable TV lines. Typically, digital cable service is required to use a cable modem, and there is usually an extra fee for the Internet access as well.

campaign: An effort to reach current, past, and potential customers through a series of marketing efforts such as placing ads, sending e-mails, and mailing postcards. A campaign is something that you plan and then execute over a period of time in stages rather than a one-shot effort.

cascading style sheets (CSS): These files define the formatting of text and other parts of your Web page, so visitors see a consistent design for your site no matter how their browser is set. Each Web page contains a link to the CSS file on your Web server so the browser can read the CSS formatting and apply them to your pages.

CDMA2000 1XRTT: One of the technologies used to provide 3G data service on cellular networks. Often shortened to 1XRTT, the spelled-out version of this term (Code Division Multiplex Access First-Generation Radio Transmission Technology) is never used and makes sense only to a super techie. This technology is fairly slow, providing about 30 Kbps to 80 Kbps, and is being replaced with a technology called CDMA2000 1XEVDO. Of the major U.S. carriers, both Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless offer 1XRTT service (Sprint calls the service PCS Vision, while Verizon calls it NationalAccess). See also 3G;CDMA2000 1XEVDO.

CDMA2000 1XEVDO: One of the technologies used to provide 3G data service on cellular networks. Often shortened to EVDO, the spelled-out version of this term is never used and makes sense only to a super techie. This technology offers data speeds of about 100 Kbps to 300 Kbps. Of the major U.S. carriers, both Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless offer 1XRTT service (Sprint calls the service PCS Mobile Broadband, while Verizon calls it BroadbandAccess). See also 3G; CDMA2000 1XRTT.

CD-R: A recordable CD. You cannot change any data written to the CD. In some cases, you can write more than once to a CD (called a multisession disc), but each session will appear as if it were a separate CD on the user's computer. See also burn;CD-RW; DVD-R; DVD-RW.

CD-RW: A rewritable CD. You can erase and rewrite data on the CD just as you can on a hard drive, although after a certain number of rewrites (the number of rewrites will vary based on the type and brand of CD-RW disc), the CD-RW may not allow any further changes. See also burn; CD-R; DVD-R; and DVD-RW.

cellular network: The system that lets cellular phones, also called mobile phones, communicate with each other. The phones send and receive radio signals to and from each other through a series of radio towers that pass signals along. See also 3G; radio frequency.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface): CGI is a protocol by which your Web site can run programs on Web pages, such as processing forms that users complete. The most common languages for such programs are Perl and PHP. See also JavaScript.

clickthrough: A measurement of how many times a specific link on a Web page is clicked by users. It is used to gauge how effective specific links, especially those in Web-based ads, are in attracting people.

comma-separated value (CSV): A file format in which each item is arranged consistently in the list and separated by a comma, so the program opening the file knows where each item begins and ends. It is typically used for lists and databases, such as a mailing list. For example, each line of a mailing list might be arranged first,last,address,city,state,zip.

CompactFlash (CF): See memory card.

compression: A mathematical technique to make information take less space in a computer file. Some forms of compression are lossy, meaning that some details are removed to reduce the file size. (For example, the JPEG image format uses lossy compression, while the TIFF image format does not.) Compression can be applied to any kind of information including text, graphics, sounds, and video. See also JPEG; TIFF.

crop: To remove outside portions of an image, usually by drawing a rectangle around what you want to keep and then telling the software program to delete, or crop out, the material outside the rectangle.

CRT (cathode ray tube): A CRT is the technology used in many TV sets and computer monitors. An electronic gun sends light rays onto a screen, which then glows where the rays hit to present the picture you see. CRTs, often just called "monitors," are usually atleast as deep as they are high, taking up a foot or more of space on your desk. See also LCD.

CSS: See cascading style sheet.

CSV: See comma-separated value.

dialog box: Also referred to simply as a dialog, an interface element commonly used in software programs to provide various options that you select and then apply by clicking a button such as OK or Apply.

dialup: See modem.

digital zoom: A mathematical way to enlarge an image. Rather than actually get more detail by using a more powerful lens (called optical zoom), the device or software essentially guesses at what the details would look like when making the image bigger. These guesses are based on common patterns.

DNS (domain name server): A DNS contains a list of Web site addresses, so when a user types a URL into a browser, the DNS looks up which Web server contains that Web site and then connects the browser to that Web server. See also domain; URL.

domain: A location on the Web or on a network that contains one or more files. Typically, a domain is a specific Web address, such as www.grumanhomes.com, that contains a set of Web pages and other resources. (It can also be a similar location within a corporate network.)

download: To bring information from a device (such as a hand-held or the Internet) into the computer or device you are using. See also upload.

DPI (dots per inch): Digital images are stored in a grid, with each grid point being a dot. The dpi value is the number of points that make up an image when the image is printed. (The term ppi is used when the image is displayed on-screen.) The higher the dpi, the more realistic the image looks, since the human eye blends the individual dots into a continuous image. See also ppi.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): DSL technology lets standard phone lines be used to transmit data for connections to the Internet. Typically, a converter device, called a DSL modem or DSL router, is needed to enable the connection. Note that there is usually an extra fee for the Internet access in addition to the phone service charges. See also cable modem; modem; router.

DVD-R: A recordable DVD. You cannot change any data recorded on to the DVD. In some cases, you can write more than once to a DVD (called a multisession disc), but each session will appear as if it were a separate DVD on the user's computer. See also burn;CD-R; CD-RW; DVD-RW.

DVD-RW: A rewritable DVD. You can erase and rewrite data on the DVD just as you can on a hard drive, although after a certain number of rewrites (the number will vary based on the type and brand of DVD-RW disc), the DVD-RW may not allow any further changes. See also burn; CD-R; CD-RW; DVD-R.

EDGE: One of the technologies used to provide 3G data service on cellular networks. The full name is Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (GSM is the Global System for Mobile Communications, one of the two basic types of cellular networks), but no one ever uses its full name. This technology is fairly slow, providing about 70 Kbps to 130 Kbps, and is being replaced with a technology called HSDPA. Of the major U.S. carriers, only Cingular Wireless/AT&T Wireless offers EDGE service (in its Wireless Data Connect service). See also 3G; GPRS; HSDPA.

Ethernet: A standard for wired networks. It is the near-universal type of wired network in use today; for all practical purposes, this term is synonymous with wired network. See also 10BaseT;100BaseT.

export: To deliver information from a program, database, or file into another program, database, or file without retyping it. See also import.

EVDO: See CDMA2000 1XEVDO.

flash memory card: See memory card.

farm: A set of potential customers with whom you repeatedly market your services. Typically, a farm is a geographic area, such as a neighborhood, but it could also be a group of people with like interests, such as members of a club or profession.

filename extension: Both Windows and Mac OS X add a three- or four-letter code at the end of a filename, called a filename extension. This code appears after a period; for example, the filename extension in mylist.doc is doc, which is the code for a Microsoft Word document. These filename extensions are often not displayed when you open folders on your computer; instead, you see an icon that gives you a visual representation of the filename extension.

firewall: A device or software program that blocks unauthorized access to your computer or network.

Flash: A file format from Adobe Systems' Macromedia division for animation files. Adobe also provides the Flash Player to display these files and the Flash Professional software to create and edit them. People often refer to all of these as simply "Flash." See also QuickTime.

flat panel: See LCD.

format: A specific representation, such as the font applied to text or the way data is stored in a file. The word is used to describe the act of applying attributes to text, graphics, and other objects in a print layout or in a Web page, as well as to describe the arrangement of data in a computer file (such as the PDF file format or the TIFF file format).

GB (gigabyte): A gigabyte, or 1,024 megabytes, is the same as 1,048,576 (1024x1024) K, or 1,073,741,824 bytesroughly 1 billion bytes. See also byte; MB.

GHz (gigahertz): Gigahertz is a measurement of processing speed in chips. 1 GHz is 1,024 megahertz, and 1 hertz is a single computation per second.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): GIF is a common format for Web graphics and can be opened directly by any browser.

GPRS: One of the technologies used to provide 3G data service on cellular networks. The full name is Global Packet Radio Service, but no one ever uses its full name. This technology is very slow, providing about 30 Kbps to 50 Kbps, and has largely been replaced with a technology called EDGE, which is now being replaced with a technology called HSDPA. Of the major U.S. carriers, only Cingular Wireless/AT&T Wireless offers GPRS service (in its Wireless Data Connect service). See also 3G; EDGE; HSDPA.

hacker: A person who tries to access computers and networks without authorization, usually to steal information or cause damage.

handheld: A small device that can be held in one hand and typically includes electronic calendar and address book capabilities. Some models also provide e-mail access, phone service, Web browsing, and/or basic word processing and spreadsheet capabilities. See also PDA; smartphone.

hardware: Physical technology devices such as computers, phones, modems, monitors, printers, and cards.

high-speed connection: Typically used to describe fast connections to the Internet using technologies such as cable modems and DSL, and is often called broadband. What constitutes "high-speed" changes over time, but when this book was published in 2006, any connection to the Internet over 300 Kbps was considered high-speed, although most broadband connections available to urban and suburban customers are three to 20 times faster than that.

HELO domain: The domain from which e-mail is being sent; essentially, the sender's domain. HELO is used by e-mail servers to identify potential spam by helping to verify that e-mail is coming from the actual sender rather than by someone pretending to be the sender. Bulk e-mail delivery programs typically let you enter the HELO domain information so e-mail servers can cross-check that against the actual source of e-mails they receive.

hot spot: A location that provides Wi-Fi wireless Internet service, usually for a per-use or monthly fee. See Wi-Fi.

HSDPA: One of the technologies used to provide 3G data service on cellular networks. The full name is High Speed Downlink Packet Access, but no one ever uses its full name. This technology offers data speeds of 300 Kbps to 500 Kbps. Of the major U.S. carriers, only Cingular Wireless offers HSPDA service (in its BroadbandConnect service). See also 3G.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): HTML is the set of codes used to create Web pages. Browsers read that code and then translate it into the pages they display.

hues: Shades of colors.

hyperlink: See link.

IDX (Internet Data Exchange): IDX is an access method to an MLS that lets agents and brokers provide Web site visitors limited access to the MLS database. Typically, visitors can search only current listings but not get the full details. The idea is that visitors can educate themselves about the market but will still need to rely on agents as the source of detailed property information and of past sales information used to help assess appropriate listing and offer prices. See also VOW.

image advertising: Advertising that promotes a brand or person to raise public awareness of that brand or person rather than to sell a specific product. For example, an ad promoting a specific agent is image advertising, while an ad promoting a specific listing is not.

image resolution: The degree of detail in an image; the greater the resolution, the more detail is stored in the image file. See also DPI; pixel; PPI.

import: To bring information into a program, database, or file from another program, database, or file without retyping it. See also export.

Internet Protocol (IP): The standard by which computers connect to the Internet and exchange data over it.

IP: See Internet Protocol.

ISP (Internet service provider): An ISP delivers access to the Internet, usually through a subscription service.

JavaScript: A programming language you can use to embed programs in your Web pages. These programs run in the browsers of your visitors, not on your server, so their access to data is more limited than CGI programs, which run on the Web server. (Note that JavaScript is a different language than Java, which professional programmers use to create custom applications for large companies.) See also CGI.

JPEG (Joint Photographers Expert Group): The JPEG format is a common image format for Web graphics that can be opened by any browser. Unlike other image formats for the Web, JPEG images can have lower quality due to the use of compression to make images take less space and download faster. Image-editing programs often let you control the trade-off between quality and file size.

K (kilobyte): A kilobyte is 1,024 bytesroughly a thousand bytes. File sizes are often measured in K. See also bit; byte; MB.

Kbps (kilobits per second): A measure of how fast data is sent and received. Because there are eight bits in a byte, a 1K file would contain 8,000 bits and at a speed of 300 Kbps would take about 26.7 seconds to transmit. See also bit; byte; K; MB; Mbps.

keylogger: A program that is secretly running on a computer to capture the user's keystrokes in the hopes of detecting passwords, account numbers, and other valuable information for use by data thieves. See also malware.

LAN (local area network): A LAN is a set of devices (such as computers and printers) connected using wired or wireless technology so they can exchange data with each other. LANs are typically confined to a common space such as an office or building. See also WAN.

layout tool: Software that you use to arrange items (such as text, buttons, and images) on a page and apply formatting such as font and color to those items. Examples include Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, and QuarkXPress.

LCD (liquid crystal display): LCD is the technology that permits the creation of flat screens an inch or so thick that also use less power than conventional CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. LCDs are used in laptops, in handheld devices, and in flat-panel monitors that connect to desktop PCs. See also CRT.

link: Also called a hyperlink, this is a method by which a user can click a piece of text or an image on a Web page and be taken to another Web page. You implement a link using an HTML <A HREF> tag. See also HTML; tag.

lossy: A form of compression that removes data and thus quality. See also Compression.

mailing list: A file containing a list of addresses, such as e-mail addresses or postal addresses.

malware: Any form of software that is designed to steal data, corrupt files, or hijack your computer to send out spam. Various forms include keyloggers, Trojan horses, spyware, and viruses. Most are attached to data files (such as music) or programs that are downloaded from the Internet, but they can also be secretly attached to e-mails and Web pages. See also keylogger; spyware;Trojan horse; virus.

MB (megabyte): A megabyte is 1,024 K, or 1,048,576 (1,024x1,024) bytesroughly 1 million bytes. See also byte; K.

Mbps (megabits per second): A measure of transmission speed. Because there are eight bits in a byte, a 1 MB file would contain80,000 bits and at a speed of 300 Kbps would take about 267 seconds to transmit.

megapixel: A megapixel is 1,024 pixelsa unit of measurement for image resolution capability of devices such as digital cameras. It refers to the actual number of pixels that the camera can detect per image. See also pixel.

memory card: A small storage device, usually the size of a dime or quarter, that needs no power to store data. (The technology that allows such storage retention without power is called flash memory.) It's typically used in digital cameras. There are several formats of memory cards, so memory card readers that you attach or have in your computer typically have several slots, one for each of the popular card types. Popular card types include CompactFlash (CF), Memory Stick, Multimedia Card (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), and Smart Memory (SM).

Memory Stick: See memory card.

META: The META tag is a specific instruction used in HTML code to include identifying information in a Web page. Examples include keywords used by search engines. See also HTML; tag.

MHz (megahertz): A standard measurement of processing speed in chips. 1 MHz is 1,024 hertz, and 1 hertz is a single computation per second.

MLS (Multiple Listing Service): The MLS is a private database of past and current residential property listings for a specific area of a state. MLSs are often run by a local Realtors association or offered exclusively to members of such an association as part of membership dues or as an extra-cost service. An MLS is meant to help agents exchange information on properties for sale, so buyer's agents can easily identify possible properties for their clients. Most MLS systems now provide access through the Internet, and many offer a portion of their data at no charge to the general public to help promote the listings. See also IDX; VOW.

modem: Short for modulator/demodulator, a device that connects a computer to another computer or to a network. When used by itself, the word modem typically means a device that lets a computer use a standard phone line to connect to another computer (called dial-up access). The word modem is usually used as part of a phrase, such as cable modem or DSL modem. See also cablemodem; DSL.

moderator: A person who monitors comments posted at a public or private bulletin board, chat room, or forum and who edits or removes inappropriate comments. This person may also have the authority to decide who has posting privileges.

MP3: The MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 format is a standard file format for sound and music files on a variety of playback devices such as iPods; it is also supported on Windows and Mac OS X PCs as a sort of universal audio format. (Even though MPEG is a file format for video, the MP3 variant of this format uses its highly efficient compression technology to make sound files small, enabling an MP3 CD to hold the equivalent of six or more regular CDs.) See also AIFF; MPEG; WAV.

MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group): MPEG is a format for video files and is a standard on Windows and Mac OS X computers.

Multimedia Card (MMC): See memory card.

Multisession disc: A CD or DVD that has several partitions, or sections, of data. Each partition appears on the computer as if it were a separate disc. See also CD-R; DVD-R; partition.

network: A set of connections among devices to exchange data. See also LAN; wireless network.

optical zoom: The use of a lens to get more detail, such as in a camera or pair of binoculars. This type of zoom (as compared to digital zoom) provides the best details for photography. See also digital zoom.

pane: In a software program, a pane is a portion of a dialog box. A dialog box might have several panes, each with a label inside a tab (it looks just like a tab in a paper file folder). When you click a tab, its pane comes to the front of the dialog box, obscuring the others. Panes let software creators stuff lots of features into a single dialog box, typically grouping related functions together so the user can switch among them within the same dialog box.

partition: A virtual disc on a hard drive, CD, or DVD, a partition appears as if it were a physically separate drive or disc, even though it is stored with other partitions on the same drive or disc. See also CD-R; DVD-R.

PDA (personal digital assistant): A PDA is a handheld device that typically offers personal organizer functions such as a calendar and address book. The best-known PDAs are the various models from Palm and Hewlett-Packard's iPaq. See also handheld; smartphone.

PDF (Portable Document Format): PDF, developed by Adobe Systems, is a file format for documents that can be created by a variety of programs and be read by most browsers and by the free Adobe Reader program. PDF has thus become a standard way to deliver documents to people by e-mail, over the Web, and on disc.

Perl: A popular programming language used to create CGI scripts. See also CGI.

PHP: A popular programming language used to create CGI scripts. See also CGI.

pixel: A picture element, the individual dot in a digital image. Similar to a bit, it is the smallest building block of a digital image. See also bit; DPI; PPI.

PPI (pixels per inch): Digital images are stored in a grid, with each grid point being a point or dot. The ppi value is the number of points that make up an image when displayed on-screen. (The term dpi is used when the image is printed.) See DPI.

prospect: A person you are marketing to or engaging with in the hopes the person will become a client. The term is short for "prospective client."

QuickTime: A format for video and animation files from Apple Computer. QuickTime VR is a companion format for 360-degree images that users can pan through; the "VR" stands for virtual reality. Apple also offers the QuickTime Player software to display QuickTime files as well as the QuickTime Pro software to create and edit them. People often refer to all of these as simply QuickTime. See also Flash.

radio: A device that sends and receives signals, such as for cellular phones, wireless networks, television, and talking houses. The radio signals can travel over different radio frequencies, just as different colors of light travel over different light frequencies. The government has decided which radio frequencies can be used for what kind of signals to ensure compatibility between devices and reduce interference between different kinds of devices. See also cellular network; talking house; wireless network.

resample: A mathematical technique to adjust the number of pixels in an image as the image is enlarged or shrunk. The goal is to add or delete pixels so the resized image ends up with the same PPI (and DPI) as the original, despite its new size, so the image resolution on the monitor or printer remains consistent. When an image is enlarged, pixels are added; when an image is shrunk, pixels are removed. See also DPI; pixel; PPI.

RJ11: The name of the standard for phone plugs.

RJ45: The name of the standard for Ethernet plugs. See also Ethernet.

robot: See spider.

router: A device that manages the communication among devices on a network or between networks. A router is typically used to connect computers on a LAN to the Internet.

RSS (Real Simple Syndication): RSS technology lets users' computers automatically collect information from Web sites and present it to the user in a single program, similar to an electronic clipping service. The Web sites have to be RSS-enabled so the RSS clients know what information to collect, and users must specify which sites they want to collect the RSS information from, usually through subscription services or via an RSS sign-up link on a Web site.

search bot: See spider.

search engine: A computer system and database that lets users enter a phrase or set of words and returns a list of Web pages whose content seems to match the words. Google is perhaps the best known of these search engines. See also spider.

search robot: See spider.

Secure Digital (SD): See memory card.

server: A device that contains and delivers ("serves up") files, typically over a network. When such a device is connected to the Internet and provides access to Web pages, it is called a Web server.

SLR camera: A single lens reflex camera is what most people think of when they visualize a camera: one with a lens that protrudes from the front. With an SLR camera, the photographer sees exactly the same image that is exposed to the film and can adjust everything by turning dials and clicking buttons.

Smart Memory (SM): See memory card.

smartphone: A cell phone that also includes personal organizer functions such as a calendar and address book as well as basic e-mail and Web access. See also BlackBerry; PDA; Treo.

software: Computer programs that accomplish specific sets of tasks, such as reading e-mail, editing text, or formatting Web pages.

spam: Unwanted e-mail, usually delivered in bulk and often promoting sham products or services. often sent by people who mask their identity so they cannot be traced.

spider: A program that traverses the Web looking for pages to add to search engines' indexes of available content. Also called a search robot or search bot. See also search engine.

spyware: A program secretly installed on a computer that typically monitors what the user does or captures personal information and then sends that information on to someone else. See also malware.

SSID (service set identifier): The SSID is essentially the name given to a wireless access point or router, so users can tell what they're connecting to when they initiate a Wi-Fiwireless connection. Wi-Fiaccess points and routers typically come with software to configure them, including their SSID; if left unconfigured, the SSID is usually Default or the model number of the device. See also 802.11; Wi-Fi.

tag: An HTML command. Examples of tags include<A HREF> for defining hyperlinks, <META> for embedding information about a Web page, <B> for making text bold, and <FONT COLOR> for specifying text color. Browsers read these tags to get the instructions on how to display the Web page, and Web creation software lets you write such tags directly (in code view) or creates them for you based on how you format page components using dialog boxes and menus (in design view).

talking house: A radio transmitter placed at a property listed for sale that plays a marketing message about the property. Visitors tune their car radios to a radio frequency usually listed on the for-sale sign so they can hear it.

templates: Documents used as the basis for other documents. They contain the basic elements of, for example, a printed document or Web document, so users don't have to re-create those elements each time they create a page. Instead, they open a template, save a copy with a new name, and then modify and add to the elements supplied in the template as needed for that new page's contents.

text frame: A container for text in a layout program.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): A format for images such as photo graphs. Most layout programs can open and display TIFF files, so they are commonly used in print layouts. But because TIFF files cannot be displayed by Web browsers, you must typically convert them to the GIF or JPEG format for use on the Web.

transaction: A specific real estate deal, such as selling a specific property to a particular buyer.

Treo: A handheld device from Palm that combines a personal organizer with a cell phone and that also can access the Internet from almost anywhere. See also smart phone.

Trojan horse: A destructive program that is secretly attached to or embedded in another seemingly legitimate program. See also malware.

UDF (Universal Disk Format): The standard for storing files on a DVD on both Windows and Mac OS X computers.

unified messaging: A set of technologies that lets voice mail, faxes, and even e-mails be received through a central e-mail or Web account. Typically, you pay for these services as a monthly subscription.

upload: To send information from a device (such as a handheld) or computer you are using to another device, another computer, or the Internet. See also download.

virtual phone number: A phone number that routes incoming calls to a different phone number. The difference between call forwarding and a virtual phone number is that call forwarding transfers a call from one phone to another, while a virtual phone number is not actually connected to a phone. Instead, it is like a shortcut or alias to another phone number, so you could, for example, have a phone number in three different area codes that all ring through to the same phone. See also VoIP.

virus: A destructive program that is secretly attached to or embedded in a seemingly legitimate file or e-mail. See also malware.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): VoIP technology routes phone calls over the same networks that carry Internet and Web traffic, bypassing the standard phone networks. Using VoIP can lower costs, plus allows the phone calls to contain more than voice information; they can also transmit faxes, for example. Because the phone calls are converted into audio files while traversing the Internet, messages can be forwarded via e-mail to others and even stored on your PC. (If you listen to the message or call on a phone, the phone converts that audio file back to sound, so you would never have known that it traveled as an audio file.)

VOW (virtual office Web site): A service that agents and brokers can use to communicate with their clients. While there is no standard definition, generally speaking, VOWs are accessible only by clients, not the public at large, and provide services such as MLS search, disclosure files, and transaction histories. However, in practice, the term VOW is often used to mean an IDX. See also IDX.

WAN (wide area network): A network that is accessible over a large geographic area. It typically means a subscription-based network such as a dial-up network, a cellular network, or a broadband network as opposed to a private, local network managed by a company such as your broker for internal use. See also broadband; LAN; network.

WAV: The Microsoft Windows standard format for sound and music files. It comes from the term wave file to mean a file that records the sound-wave patterns in audio recordings. See also AIFF; MP3.

Web site domain: See domain.

WEP (Wired Equivalency Protocol): A security mechanism to protect login passwords when connecting over a wireless network. Provided with early 802.11 equipment, it was not very secure, so most 802.11 equipment built since 2004 uses the improved WPA technology. See also 802.11; WPA.

Wi-Fi: An industry standard that ensures the interoperability of 802.11 standards-based equipment. Although only equipment certified to be interoperable should use the label Wi-Fi, the term has become synonymous with 802.11, which is the set of standards that enable wireless networking. Technically speaking, 802.11 components from different vendors aren't guaranteed to work with each other unless they are Wi-Ficertified. See also 802.11.

wireless network: A set of connections between devices such as computers and handhelds using radio frequencies instead of wires to send and receive data. The most well-known type of wireless network uses the 802.11 standard and is popularly called Wi-Fi. See also 3G; 802.11; LAN; network; radio; Wi-Fi.

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access): Sometimes called WPA-PSK(pre-shared key), the WPA protocol is a security mechanism to protect login passwords when connecting over a wireless network. It is based on the 802.11i standard, although the WPA designation assures compatibility with other WPA-labeled products, while the 802.11i designation doesn't guarantee compatibility with other vendors' products. See also 802.11i.

zoom: See also digital zoom; optical zoom.