Moodle Docs: Glossary

## Glossary

This page contains a number of definitions for many of the words and expressions you may encounter while working with Moodle.

If you don't find the answer here try the Using Moodle course on moodle.org, and search the forums for keywords. You may have to try a few different search phrases before you find a resolution.

If you still can't find any answers then we can recommend Google, or try posting your question on the appropriate forum in Using Moodle - someone should be able to help you.

### Active-X

A method of scripting (controlling) certain functions in a web page, used only by Microsoft Internet Explorer.

### applet

Most recent browsers can run these small programs if the Java feature in the browser has been enabled.

### ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Certain file types require that you upload in ASCII mode when using your FTP program. It's usually best to choose " AUTO " in your FTP settings.

### binary

Certain file types require that you upload in binary mode when using your FTP program. It's usually best to choose " AUTO " in your FTP settings.

### Cascading Style Sheets

Please see CSS below.

### CSS

Abbreviation for "Cascading Style Sheets". CSS is used as a template to make it easier to update the look (style) of many web pages at the same time and CSS also makes it possible to have several pages that all follow a similar theme.

### CVS

Concurrent Versioning System is simply a method of storing files on a server that helps coordinate many people working on those files. To "check out" files from a CVS server means to copy the very latest versions to your own computer.

### database

An electronic collection of information, stored in tables of data. For example, Moodle contains a table of all users in a site. MySQL is a brand of database software.

### dataroot

The place where Moodle can save uploaded files. This directory should be readable and writeable by the web server user but it should not be accessible directly via the web.

### domain name

A name given to a computer or a group of computers. eg moodle.org You can buy new domain names on the Internet.

### download

To move your files from a server "down" to your personal computer. Also see FTP and upload.

### directory

Please see dirroot

### dirroot

A root directory has content and a name. This root directory may contain several sub-directories and the name is the location on your server where your Moodle files will reside after you upload them.

### FTP

File Transfer Protocol - a method a copying files from one computer to another. For example, you might FTP your Moodle files from your home computer to your web server

### hosting provider

A business that will host your web site for a monthly fee. You provide a domain name that you own, and after they've set it up for you, then you can copy your files to their server and set up your site.

### html

HyperText Markup Language - a language used to create web pages.

### index

When a web address specifies a directory (eg http://yoursite.com/moodle/) instead of a file (eg http://yoursite.com/moodle/index.php), then the web server needs to assume the name of the file. The files it looks for to use in this case are called the index files.

### Java

A programming language that can be used to write applets that may run within web pages. Moodle doesn't use any of it.

### javascript

A scripting language that can be used to write small programs in web pages, such as popup menus. Moodle uses a little Javascript.

### Moodle

The word Moodle is an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment

### MySQL

MySQL is the world's most popular open source database, recognized for its speed and reliability.

### nightly

A Moodle Nightly is built automatically every day from the most recent code, and is available from the Moodle web site. It can be useful if you don't have CVS, but you want to try the latest features. It can also contain bugs, since they haven't been well-tested.

### PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language which executes commands on the server side then delivers dynamic HTML pages to the web browser. Your server must be PHP enabled in order to run Moodle.

### server

This is where your web site or database, or both, resides. You may choose to run your own server or have a hosting provider look after this for you.

### style sheet

Please see CSS above.

### upload

To upload is simply to move your files from your computer to a server. Also see FTP.

### URL

A Uniform Resource Locator is the address that is used to reach a website.

### XHTML - Extensible Hypertext Markup Language

XHTML will, eventually, replace HTML as the language used to program web pages for display in your web browser. XHTML will, hopefully, make writing code for browsers easier as XHTML code will cause the page to display exactly the same in any web browser.

### XML

Extensible Mark-up Language is just what the name implies, extensible. The programmer has a very wide latitude when writing XML as the programmer may choose to add instructions as she/he writes. This is in direct opposition to HTML which has a clearly defined and documented set of instructions available and no freedom exists to " extend " this set of rules. Due to its' extreme versatility XML may be the end of the evolutionary path for HTML. also see XHTML

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Moodle Documentation

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