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search directory
A search directory, such as Yahoo! Directory, is a catalog of web sites organized by category to allow users to easily browse for the information they need. Unlike search engines, which locate and display relevant information based on a defined formula using an automated software program, search directories are organized by real people who discover new sites and relevant information by exploring the Web themselves and reviewing email submissions. A successful submission to a search directory can help bring traffic to your web site. Find out how to submit your site.

search engine
A search engine, such as Google, is an online tool that helps users of the World Wide Web find the sites and information they're looking for. Most search engines use automated programs (sometimes called spiders) to look for relevant information based on keywords entered by the user, and search not only web sites' content but also their web addresses, number of pages, and links. Search engines are one of the top ways users can find your web site or online store. Learn how to promote your site.

server
A server is a computer attached to a network whose function is to provide (or serve up) data or other resources to client computers. A web server, for example, sends web pages to the Internet when asked for them by a browser. Other kinds of servers you might encounter are email servers (which manage email distribution), application servers (computers that run applications used by other computers), and workgroup servers (which allow multiple users to share data).

service announcements
Whenever we make changes to our system, improve your web hosting tools, or become aware of any other issue that might affect your site, we want you to be the first to know. We'll notify you immediately by posting a "New Service Announcement" alert at the top of your Web Hosting Control Panel. Just click the link for more information.

signature
A signature is a personalized bit of content attached to the end of an outgoing email message — a footer. With Business Email's Signature feature, you can automatically add personal contact information, a quote or favorite saying, or anything else you'd like at the end of your outgoing email messages. (Your signature will be attached only to messages you send using the Yahoo! interface. To learn how to add an email signature in your own email program, please refer to your client's documentation.) Learn more.

Site Statistics
Yahoo!'s Site Statistics feature allows you to view reports on your site traffic and performance. Available reports include a summary of page views over the last week or month; your total daily page views; profiles of your site visitors, such as which browsers or operating systems they use; and referrer information. You can use this information to make decisions about how to improve your site. Learn more.

SiteBuilder
Our most comprehensive site building tool, Yahoo! SiteBuilder gives you the most control over your web site. Designed for beginners but with the features and flexibility that intermediate to advanced users want, SiteBuilder offers more than 380 fully customizable designs, support for audio and video, email forms, and more. Plus SiteBuilder is also the only Yahoo! Web Hosting tool compatible with Yahoo! Merchant Solutions. Learn more.

SiteWizards
See Yahoo! Wizards.

SMTP
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used for sending email on the Internet. Most email programs use SMTP to send messages from one computer to another; the messages can then be retrieved with an email program using POP. You can think of POP and SMTP as two sides of the same email coin: SMTP sends your email; POP retrieves it. (This is why you need to specify both the POP and SMTP settings when you set up your email software.) Learn more about using POP and SMTP.

Snapshot Backups
Snapshot Backups provide a convenient, automatic way to save copies of your web site files without using valuable disk space. When you create your site, you automatically activate Snapshot Backups, which stores a copy, or takes a "snapshot," of your web site files every four hours, nightly, and weekly, recording changes to your files. These backups can prove useful if you need to restore a lost or damaged file, or even if you'd just like to review changes made to your site. Learn more.

spam
Spam, or junk mail, refers to unsolicited email that you receive in your inbox. With Business Email, we automatically filter emails we detect as spam into your Bulk folder.

SSH (Secure Shell)
SSH refers to both an application and a protocol for accessing networked computers securely. One can use an SSH client (a computer program) to sign in to and complete tasks on another computer in the network, while the SSH protocol — used alone or in combination with other protocols — is often used when the secure transmission of data is required, such as in sending files or remotely accessing another computer. Yahoo! does not currently support SSH access; however, we hope to offer this feature with your Web Hosting or Merchant Solutions plan in the future.

SSI (Server Side Includes)
SSI is a scripting language commonly used in web sites to display the contents of one page in another. You might use SSI to include contact information at the bottom of every page of your site, for example. Although SSI directives can be added to HTML pages, they are not supported by all servers. For information on using SSI with your plan, we recommend visiting the Webmaster-Showcase.net web site.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
SSL is an accepted standard protocol for transferring information securely across the Internet. It encrypts data passed between the server and the browser, ensuring that unauthorized parties cannot interpret sensitive, confidential, or personal information such as phone numbers and addresses. You can use Yahoo!'s SSL secure server to protect data passing through your web site, such as responses collected through email forms. Learn more.

starter web page
When you sign up for Yahoo! Web Hosting, we automatically create a placeholder web page for you at your web address (such as http://www.widgetdesigns.com). Your visitors will see this default "Under Construction" page when they go to your web address until you replace it. The starter web page feature allows you to customize your placeholder page by displaying your name, contact information, and some details about your business in a professional-looking, predesigned template. Your starter web page establishes a presence at your domain until you are ready to build a more comprehensive, business-class web site. Learn more.

Starter Web Page Wizard
The Starter Web Page Wizard allows you to build a single placeholder web page using limited text and one of our eight predesigned templates. You may display some basic company or personal information but not add graphics, HTML code, or other design features. With the Starter Web Page Wizard, you can create your starter web page quickly to establish a web presence until you're ready to build a full-featured, customized web site. Learn more.

status
When you set up an email address for someone in Business Mail, that person's address will change from one state (or status) to another. If the user's status is active, the user has accepted your invitation and started using the email address; if the status is pending, the user hasn't activated the address. If the status is pending, make sure the person received your invitation (did you send it to the correct address?), and if it did arrive, remind the user to get started! You can check a user's activation status from your Email Control Panel.

subdirectory
See directory.

subdomains
A subdomain, also known as a "third-level" domain, is a great way to create memorable web addresses for various areas of your web site. For instance, Yahoo! uses subdomains such as mail.yahoo.com and music.yahoo.com to distinguish its services. Yahoo! Web Hosting makes it easy to create subdomains. Learn more.

symlink
A symlink, or "symbolic link," is a type of entry that can be used in Unix-based computer systems to refer to another file or directory. The symlink is an alias for the other file or directory, and can in some cases function as a shortcut to that element. Symlinks are sometimes used to help navigate complicated file systems or to trick restrictive software applications into interpreting files a certain way. Yahoo! does not support the use of symlinks on members' sites.