Broadband Glossary "U" Definitions

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Welcome to our Broadband Glossary. We compiled a comprehensive collection of Broadband and Internet related terms and definitions. To look for a definition or term, simply click on the letter that matches the first letter of the word you are searching for. If the term you want is a numeral, you will find it under the 0-9 listing.

We intend for our Broadband Glossary to be ever expanding. As new technology is released, we will add these definitions to our Glossary. If you cannot find the term you are searching for, please contact us and we will add it to the Broadband glossary as quickly as possible. We hope that you find this Broadband Glossary easy to navigate and that you find the term you're looking for.

URL or Uniform Resource Locator

A typical URL looks something like this: http://www.DSL-Experts.com/

Upload

To send a file from your computer to another computer or Web server over the Internet. (Opposite of download.) Also see Throughput (Throughput Speed).

Upload Speed

The rate that information is transferred from your computer to the Internet.

USB Port

Short for Universal Serial Bus, a new external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps (12 million bits per second). A USB port is a rectangular socket found either on the back or front of your computer. Most computers that you buy today come with one or two USB sockets. A single USB port can be used to connect peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, and keyboards. USB also supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot plugging. Many computers now have USB ports already installed. The following operating systems do not support USB: Windows 95/98a, Windows NT, and Macintosh.

Usenet

Also known as USENET, Usenet Newsgroups, or Usenet News. The official name for Internet newsgroups. Usenet discussion groups cover a variety of topics.

User ID

A combination of alphanumeric, numeric or letter characters used to log in to a secure section of a Web site. Often used in conjunction with a password. Also known as a user name.

User name

A one-word name (or "handle") that identifies you on the Internet. Many Web sites require you to register with them by entering a user name and password before you can access their sites.

Whenever you sign up with an ISP for Internet access or an e-mail account, you normally are given either a user name or allowed to pick one. Your user name can be anything. It can be a shortened version of your own name (for instance, "JDoe" if your full name is "John Doe" or "Jane Doe"), or it can just be something creative and anonymous. Choose something that's both easy to type and remember.