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META Tags
META tags always go in the HEAD section of the document. META NAME tags include descriptions and keywords. This HTML code helps some search engines classify and rank a web page. META HTTP-EQUIV tags can indicate to the web browser how to display the page. There are many more uses for META tags.
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)
A method of attaching multimedia files (images, audio, video) or an application to an email message, which would otherwise only be capable of transmitting ASCII characters. Most servers and email clients are now MIME compliant.
Modem
A modulator demodulator, or device that allows a computer to receive and transmit data over standard telephone lines. A modem takes digital data and converts it to analog data, and the modem at the other end takes the analog data and converts it back to digital. Most computers use modems to connect to the Internet and the World Wide Web.
MySQL
The MySQL database is the world's most popular open source database and runs on more than 20 platforms including Linux, Windows, OS/X, HP-UX, AIX, and Netware.



Metaverse
From the novel "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, this term describes a virtual online representation of reality.
MIME
An acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, MIME is a messaging standard that allows Internet users to exchange e-mail messages enhanced with graphics, video and voice. MIME file types are also used in Mosaic.
Mosaic
This is the common name of a World Wide Web multimedia browser program developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. The official, copyrighted name of the program is NCSA Mosaic(tm).
MPEG
The acronym for Moving Pictures Expert Group, MPEG is an international standard for video compression and desktop movie presentation. A special viewing application is needed to run MPEG files on your computer.

Mail
In web terms: the same as e-mail.

Mail Server
See e-mail server.

MB
Same as Megabyte. 10MB is ten megabytes.

Megabyte
1024 kilobytes. Commonly rounded down to one million bytes.

Meta Data
Data that describes other data. (See also Meta Tags).

Meta Search
The method of searching for meta data in documents.

Meta Tags
Tags inserted into documents to describe the document.
Learn more about meta tags in our HTML tutorial

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
A standard protocol for communication between computers and musical instruments.
Learn more about MIDI in our Media tutorial

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)
An Internet standard for defining document types. MIME type examples: text/plain, text/html, image/gif, image/jpg.
Learn more about MIME types in our Media tutorial

MIME Types
Document types defined by MIME.

Modem
Hardware equipment to connect a computer to a telephone network Typically used to connect to the Internet via a telephone line.

Mosaic
The first commonly available web browser. Mosaic was released in 1993 and started the popularity of the web.

MOV
A codec for computer video developed by Apple. Common file extension for QuickTime multimedia files.

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3)
An audio compression format specially designed for easy download over the Internet.

MP3 File
An file containing audio compressed with MP3. Most often a music track.

MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group)
An ISO standard codec for computer audio and video.

MPG
Common file extension for MPEG files.

MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System)
A general disk based computer operating system (See OS). Originally developed by Microsoft for IBM computers, then developed by Microsoft as a basis for the first versions of Windows.

Multimedia
In web terms: A presentation combining text with pictures, video, or sound.

MySQL
Free open source database software often used on the web.


MAC

Media Access Control. A network protocol used to control the access to the network by different devices.

MAC Address

Media Access Control address (also hardware or physical address). Every device on the Local Area Network has an unique MAC address. It is used to identify devices and to control access to the network using MAC protocol.

Mailing List

A way of having a group discussion with list subscribers by email. Emails are sent to all list subscribers. Popular mailing list programs, like Listserv and Majordomo, allow for automated subscription and un-subscription from a mailing list. Some hosting plans allow creation of mailing lists.


Mailserver

The Internet host (together with the appropriate software) that is used to send, receive and forward email messages.

Mainframe Computer

A powerful computer used for computing-intensive tasks.

MBps

MegaBytes (MB) per second, 1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes

Mbps

Megabits (Mb) per second, 1Mb = 1,048,576 bits

Megabyte (MB)

1MB = 1024 KiloBytes = 1,048,576 bytes

MHz

MegaHertz = 1.000.000 Hertz

Microsoft Access

Microsoft's low-end relational database included with the MS Office suite. Here is the official site for Microsoft Access. Cheaper NT hosting plans sometimes include MS Access database.

Microsoft FoxPro

Microsoft's RAD tool for creating relational databases. FoxPro is a part of Microsoft's Visual Studio. Here is the official MS FoxPro site.

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft's high-end SQL database running on Windows systems. Here is the official Microsoft SQL Server site.

MIME

(Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) a method of including binary data and other multimedia content within email messages.

Mirror site

An FTP site that stores the exact content of some other site. Mirroring is done in order to minimize the load on a particular server and also to increase reliability.

Miva Empressa

Miva's XML based server-side scripting language. Available for multiple platforms. Here is Miva Empressa home page.

Miva Merchant

Browser-based storefront development and management system for merchants. Here is Miva Merchant home page.

Modem

MOdulator-DEModulator. A device used to transform digital data sent by a computer to analog format suitable for transmission over a telephone line. It also transforms analog signals back to the digital form. A modem is required for the dial up connection to the Internet.

MP3

An extremely popular lossy audio compression format. Widely used over the Internet.

MPEG

(Motion Picture Experts Group) video compression format for movies or animations.

mSQL (Mini SQL)

Light-weight relational database. Here is mSQL home page.

Multicast

A message that is sent to a specific group of hosts.

MySQL

Most popular open-source relational database. Many Unix-based plans allow MySQL databases. Here is MySQL home page.