Glossary
The following glossary is for your reference. We've included terms you will encounter as you set up and use Direct Access®. A comprehensive glossary of financial planning terms is available online in the Information Center channel.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | U | V | W

128-bit Encryption	A standard of technology that helps protect data by scrambling it before it is sent through the Internet. The encrypted information can only be decoded with the right key. The longer the key, the longer it takes to break the code. Keys are measured in bits which means that a 128-bit key has 2128 different possible combinations. return to menu
Address	(1) The location of an item in memory. (2) The location of a site on the Internet, also referred to as a URL. return to menu
Application	A set of instructions written for the computer to follow, also called a program, or software. return to menu
ATM	Automated Teller Machine. return to menu
Available Balance	Funds available for immediate use. return to menu
Backslash (\)	Symbol used in MS-DOS to separate directories and filenames. return to menu
Backup	A copy made of a file, in case the original is destroyed. return to menu
Baud	A unit that measures speed of transmission of data through a modem. Modems are rated by baud rate which can vary from (slower) 2400, 9600 to (faster) 57.6 kb (called fifty-seven-dot-six). return to menu
Bit	Abbreviation for binary digit, which can be either 0 or 1. Bits are used to measure the capability of a microprocessor to process data such as 16-bit or 32-bit, 32 being the faster of the two. return to menu
Bookmark	Just like pages in a book, you can bookmark pages on the World Wide Web for easy access. For example, bookmarking the Direct Access Home Page gives you a quick shortcut to that page. Your Web browser provides this feature which can be called either "bookmark" or "add to favorites". return to menu
Boot	Start the computer. return to menu
BPS	Bits per second usually used for modem speed. return to menu
Browser	A program that enables you to view Internet locations. Examples of browsers are Netscape Navigator, Netscape Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. return to menu
Business Day	A day on which business is transacted between Monday and Friday, excluding holidays. Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays are considered part of the next business day. Refer to the Direct Access User Agreement for more information on business days. return to menu
Byte	The amount of memory needed to store one character such as a letter or number. return to menu
Cabling	The wires that connect the different parts of the computer. return to menu
Carrier detect	A signal used to establish a connection between two modems through a telephone line. return to menu
Certificate of Deposit	A bank account that pays a fixed or variable amount of interest over a fixed period of time. Also known as a "CD". return to menu
CD-ROM	Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. return to menu
Channel	An area on the screen used to navigate through an application. In Direct Access, this area is at the bottom of the screen. return to menu
Citibank Account	Relationship Banking System terminology for an integrated relationship account that includes five categories: checking, savings, loans, Citibank credit cards, and investments through Citicorp Investment Services. return to menu
Click	Push down and release the mouse button. return to menu
Client	A computer that is requesting data from another computer. For example, when you use your computer to download your account information from Citibank's computer, your computer is the client and Citibank's computer is the server. return to menu
Commercial Online Service Provider	A company (like America Online) that provides access to the Internet in addition to its own proprietary content and services. return to menu
Communications software	A program used to transfer data from one computer to another through a modem or network. return to menu
COM Port	Communications port, also called Connection port. return to menu
Configure	Modify or customize a computer's or an application's settings to accommodate your needs. return to menu
Connect time	The amount of time spent connected by modem to another computer. return to menu
Connection Port	See COM Port. return to menu
CPU	Central Processing Unit, a small chip in a computer where all the basic calculating is done. Also called the processor. return to menu