Internet Glossary - O
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
Open Directory Project
A directory project run by thousands of volunteer editors. The main URL
is www.dmoz.org.
Operating System
Also known as an "OS," this is the software that communicates
with computer hardware on the most basic level. Without an operating system,
no software programs can run. The OS is what allocates memory, processes
tasks, accesses disks and peripherials, and serves as the user interface.
With an operating system, like Windows, the Mac OS, or Linux, developers
can write code using a standard programming interface (known as an API).
Without an operating system, programmers would have to write about ten
times as much code to get the same results.
Optimization
Changes made to a Web page to improve the positioning of that page in
search engines. Optimization may involve design/layout changes, new text
for meta tags, headlines and Web page content.
Opt-in
To purposefully accept some situation or condition ahead of time. For
example, to opt-in to an e-mail campaign means that you want to receive
periodic newsletters or information, which may include advertising from
the publisher or third parties. An opt-in program implies that you can
cancel the service, or "opt-out." A lot of spam is sent out
under the guise that, at one point, you did opt-in for the program, which
may or may not be true.
Opt-out
Opt-out is a method of requiring a targetted individual to explicitly
respond to a solicitation in order to keep from receiving some service,
usually used in marketing.
Outbound Link
A link from a web site to a different web site.
