Glossary

This glossary includes definitions developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. for their Java and J2EE glossaries. When Sun is the source of a definition, that is indicated.

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  

A

abstract schema

Part of an entity bean's deployment descriptor that is used to define the bean's relationships, persistent fields, or query statements.

abstract test

A component or unit test that is used to test Java interfaces, abstract classes, and superclasses; that cannot be run on its own; and that does not include a test suite. Before an abstract test can be run, it must be made concrete by applying the abstract test to a public class that implements the interface, extends the abstract class, or inherits from the superclass.

Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT)

In Java programming, a collection of GUI components that were implemented using native-platform versions of the components. These components provide that subset of functionality which is common to all operating system environments. (Sun) See also Swing Set.

access bean

An enterprise bean wrapper that is typically used by client programs, such as JSP files and servlets. Access beans hide the complexity of using enterprise beans and improve the performance of reading and writing multiple EJB properties.

access control

In computer security, the process of ensuring that only authorized users can access the resources of a computer system in authorized ways.

accessibility

An attribute of a software or hardware product that is usable by individuals who have disabilities.

access intent

Metadata that optimizes the run-time behavior of an entity bean with respect to concurrency control, resource management, and database access strategies.

Action class

In Struts, the superclass of all action classes.

ActionForm class

In Struts, the superclass of all form-bean classes.

action mapping

A Struts configuration file entry that associates an action name with an Action class, a form bean, and a local forward.

action program

A type of EGL program part that delivers interactive pages to Web browsers.

action set

In Eclipse, a group of commands that a perspective contributes to the main toolbar and menu bar.

activation

In EJB, the process of transferring an enterprise bean from secondary storage to memory. (Sun) See also passivation.

activity log

See WebSphere log file.

agent

A program that automatically performs some service, such as data collection, without user intervention or on a regular schedule.

Agent Controller

A daemon process that resides on each deployment host and provides the mechanism by which client applications either launch new host processes or attach to agents that coexist within existing processes on the host.

aggregation

The structured collection of data objects for subsequent presentation within a portal.

alias

In EGL generation, a name that is placed in the output source file in place of the name that was in the EGL source code. In most cases, the original name is aliased because it was not valid in the target generation language.

anonymous user

A portal user who has not logged in to the portal with a valid user ID and password. Anonymous portal users have access to those public places that have been designated as open to anonymous users. See also authenticated user.

Apache

An open-source Web server. IBM offers a Web server, called the IBM HTTP Server, which is based on Apache.

APAR

See authorized program analysis report.

API

See application programming interface.

applet

A small application program that performs a specific task and is usually portable between operating systems. Often written in Java, applets can be downloaded from the Internet and run in a Web browser.

application client

In J2EE, a first-tier client component that executes in its own Java virtual machine. Application clients have access to some J2EE platform APIs, for example JNDI, JDBC, RMI-IIOP, and JMS. (Sun)

Application Client project

A structure and hierarchy of folders and files that contain a first-tier client component that executes in its own Java virtual machine.

application programming interface (API)

An interface that allows an application program that is written in a high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system or another program.

application server

A server program in a distributed network that provides the execution environment for an application program.

association

(1) In enterprise beans, a relationship that exists between two container-managed persistence (CMP) entity beans. There are two types of association: one-to-one and one-to-many.

(2) For XML documents, the linkage of the document itself to the rules that govern its structure, which may be defined by a Document Type Definition (DTD) or an XML schema.

ASYNC

See asynchronous.

asynchronous (ASYNC)

Pertaining to events that are not synchronized in time or do not occur in regular or predictable time intervals. For example, input events are controlled by the user; the program can read them later.

attribute

A characteristic or trait of an entity that describes the entity; for example, the telephone number of an employee is one of that employee's attributes. An attribute may have a type, which indicates the range of information given by the attribute, and a value, which is within that range. In XML, for example, an attribute consists of a name-value pair within a tagged element, that modifies features of the element.

authenticated user

A portal user who has logged in to the portal with a valid account (user ID and password). Authenticated users have access to all public places. See also anonymous user.

authentication

The verification of the identity of a user or a user group to a portal.

authentication-proxy server

A server or component of a server that enables user or user group authentication for the portal.

authorized program analysis report (APAR)

A request for correction of a defect in a current release of an IBM-supplied program.

authorization

The method that determines which portlets a user or a user group can access.

AWT

See Abstract Window Toolkit.

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B

B2B

See business-to-business.

B2C

See business-to-consumer.

base time

The time spent executing a particular method. Base time does not include time spent in other Java methods that this method calls.

basic program

A type of EGL program part that performs tasks without interacting with users in real time.

bean

A definition or instance of a JavaBeans component. See also JavaBeans.

bean class

In Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) programming, a Java class that implements a javax.ejb.EntityBean class or javax.ejb.SessionBean class.

bean-managed persistence (BMP)

Pertaining to an entity bean that manages its own persistence. See also container-managed persistence.

bind

To establish a connection between software components on a network using an agreed-to protocol. In Web services, the bind operation occurs when the service requestor invokes or initiates an interaction with the service at run time using the binding details in the service description to locate, contact, and invoke the service.

BMP

See bean-managed persistence.

bottleneck

A place in the system where contention for a resource is affecting performance.

bottom-up development

In Web services, the process of developing a service from an existing artifact such as a Java bean or enterprise bean rather than a Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) file. See also top-down development.

bottom-up mapping

In Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) programming, an approach for mapping enterprise beans to database tables, in which the schema is first imported from an existing database and then enterprise beans and mappings are generated.

boundary class

In performance profiling, a class that is normally excluded in the filtering criteria, but which is directly invoked by the classes that are included as filters.

branch

In the CVS team development environment, a separate line of development where changes can be isolated. When a programmer changes files on a branch, those changes do not appear on the main trunk or other branches.

breakpoint

A temporary marker that a programmer sets in source code so that execution can be interrupted by external intervention or by a monitor program such as a debugger.

build

To create or modify resources, usually based on the state of other resources. A Java builder converts Java source files into executable class files, for example, and a Web link builder updates links to files whose name or location has changed.

build path

The path that is used during compilation of Java source code, in order to find referenced classes that reside in other projects.

build plan

An XML file that defines the processing necessary to build generation outputs and that specifies the machine where processing takes place.

business entity

In Web services programming, a data structure type that contains information about the business that has published the service, such as etc. The business entity is specified when the service is registered.

business method

A method of an enterprise bean that implements the business logic or rules of an application. (Sun)

business service

In Web services programming, a data structure type that contains information about groups of Web services.The business service structure is specified when a service is registered.

business-to-business (B2B)

Refers to Internet applications that exchange information or execute transactions between businesses. See also business-to-consumer.

business-to-consumer (B2C)

Refers to the subset of Internet applications that exchange information or execute transactions between businesses and consumers. See also business-to-business.

bytecode

Machine-independent code generated by the Java compiler and executed by the Java interpreter. (Sun)

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C

call stack

A list of data elements that is constructed and maintained by the by the Java virtual machine (JVM) for a program to successfully call and return from a method.

cascading style sheet (CSS)

A file that defines a hierarchical set of style rules for controlling the rendering of HTML or XML files in browsers, viewers, or in print. A CSS includes a defined order of precedence to address cases when the definitions of any style element in a document conflict.

catch up

To update the resources in the workbench from the team stream by accepting the incoming changes from the stream.

channel

A specialized Web application within a portal to which a user can subscribe.

cheat sheet

An interface that guides users through the wizards and steps required to perform a complex task, and that links to relevant sections of the online help.

check in

In certain software configuration management (SCM) systems, to copy files back into the source code repository after changing them.

check out

In certain software configuration management (SCM) systems, to copy the latest revision of a file from the source code repository so that it can be modified.

cHTML

See Compact Hypertext Markup Language.

class

In object-oriented design or programming, a model or template that can be used to create objects with a common definition and common properties, operations, and behavior. An object is an instance of a class.

class file

A compiled Java source file.

class hierarchy

The relationships between classes that share a single inheritance. In Java programming, all classes inherit from the Object class.

class loader

Part of the Java virtual machine code that is responsible for finding and loading class files. A class loader affects the packaging of applications and the run-time behavior of packaged applications deployed on application servers.

CLASSPATH

In the execution environment, an environment variable keyword that specifies the directories in which to look for class and resource files. See also class path.

class path

A list of directories and JAR files that contain resource files or Java classes that a program can load dynamically at run time. See also CLASSPATH.

class statistics

Statistical information that includes information such as the number of instances of the class in the application, the CPU time spent in that class, the number of calls made to the class, and so on.

client

A system or process that is dependent on another system or process (usually called the server) to provide it with access to data, services, programs, or resources. See also server, host.

client proxy

An object on the client side of a network connection that provides a remote procedure call interface to a service on the server side.

client/server

Pertaining to the model of interaction in distributed data processing in which a program on one computer sends a request to a program on another computer and awaits a response. The requesting program is called a client; the answering program is called a server. See also distributed application.

clipboard

An area of computer memory, or storage, that temporarily holds data. Data in the clipboard is available to other applications.

clock time

The elapsed time in real time. Clock time differs from CPU time as thread switches and process context switches introduce uncertainty in performance calculation; clock time does not account for this execution behavior.

CMP

See container-managed persistence.

code assist

See content assist.

collaboration

Working together in a joint intellectual effort. Collaboration is enhanced when a portal provides features that bring people together in the virtual places in which they work and the information that they need to achieve their business goals. Portal collaboration features provide personal- and community-based places where users find other people, applications, and information. In a place, portlets display application content in sizable, movable frames, and pages help to categorize place content. The people awareness feature lets place members see and contact each other.

Collaborative Components

UI-neutral API methods and tag libraries that allow developers who are writing portlets for WebSphere portals to add Lotus Software collaborative functionality to their portlets.

collaborative filtering

Personalization technology that calculates the similarity between users based on the behaviors of a number of other people and uses that information to make recommendations for the current user.

collaborative portal

A highly personalized desktop-to-Web tool designed for specific audiences and communities of users that organizes information, applications, and services for effective community building at the corporate level and for personal use by individuals.

Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)

An architecture and a specification for distributed object-oriented computing that separates client and server programs with a formal interface definition. See also Internet Inter-ORB Protocol.

Compact Hypertext Markup Language (cHTML)

A format for publishing hypertext information on wireless devices.

compilation unit

A portion of a computer program sufficiently complete to be compiled correctly.

complex type

In XML, a type that allows elements in its content and may carry attributes. See also simple type.

component

(1) In Eclipse, one or more plug-ins that work together to deliver a discrete set of functions.

(2) In object-oriented programming, a reusable object or program that performs a specific function and is designed to work with other components and applications. JavaBeans is a well-known architect for creating components.

component test

An automated test of one or more components of an enterprise application, which may include Java classes, EJB beans, or Web services. A component test consists of a Java test script based on the JUnit framework, plus validation actions, initialization points, timing constraints, and associated test data that is maintained separately from the test script.

composer

In EJB, a class used to map a single complex bean field to multiple database columns. Composition is needed for complex fields that are themselves objects with fields and behavior.

concrete portlet

In the IBM Portlet API, a logical representation of a portlet object distinguished by a unique configuration parameter (PortletSettings). You can have multiple concrete portlets for each portlet object.

Concurrent Versions System (CVS)

An open-source, network-transparent version control system.

configuration file

A Struts file that contains information about data sources, form beans, global forwards, and action mappings.

connection factory

A set of configuration values that produces connections that enable a J2EE component to access a resource. Connection factories provide on-demand connections from an application to an enterprise information system (EIS).

connector

(1) A servlet that provides a portlet access to external sources of content, for example, a news feed from a Web site of a local television station.

(2) In J2EE, a standard extension mechanism for containers to provide connectivity to enterprise information systems (EISs). A connector consists of a resource adapter and application development tools (Sun). See also container.

container

(1) A column or row that is used to arrange the layout of a portlet or other container on a page.

(2) In J2EE, an entity that provides life-cycle management, security, deployment, and run-time services to components. (Sun) Each type of container (EJB, Web, JSP, servlet, applet, and application client) also provides component-specific services. See also resource adapter, connector.

container-managed persistence (CMP)

In J2EE technology, data transfer between the variables of an entity bean and a resource manager administered by the entity bean container. See also bean-managed persistence.

container-managed transaction

A transaction whose boundaries are defined by an EJB container. An entity bean must use container-managed transactions. (Sun)

container transaction

See container-managed transaction.

content assist

A feature of some source editors that prompts the user with a list of valid alternatives for completing the current line of code or input field.

content management

Software designed to help businesses manage and distribute content from diverse sources.

content model

The representation of any data that may be contained inside an XML element. There are four kinds of content models: element content, mixed content, EMPTY content, and ANY content.

content provider

A source for content that can be incorporated into a portal page as a portlet.

context root

The Web application root, which is the top-level directory of an application when it is deployed to a Web server.

control

See widget.

converter

In EJB programming, a class that translates a database representation to an object type and back.

copy helper

An access bean that contains a local copy of attributes from a remote entity bean. Unlike Java bean wrappers, copy helpers are optimized for use with a single instance of an entity bean.

CORBA

See Common Object Request Broker Architecture.

create method

In enterprise beans, a method defined in the home interface and invoked by a client to create an enterprise bean. (Sun)

CSS

See cascading style sheet.

cumulative time

The time that a method spends on the execution stack, including both time spent in the method itself and in other methods that it calls.

custom action

In JSP programming, an action described in a portable manner by a tag library descriptor and a collection of Java classes and imported into a JSP page by a taglib directive. (Sun)

custom finder

See finder method.

customization

The modification of a portal page or portlet by a user. WebSphere Portal enables a user to customize a portal page by modifying the page layout and by selecting which portlets will display per device. Compare with personalization and portlet configuration.

customizer

A Java class (implementing the java.beans.Customizer interface) that is associated with a bean to provide a richer user interface for that bean's properties.

custom tag

An extension to the JavaServer Pages (JSP) language that performs a specialized task. Custom tags are usually distributed in the form of a tag library, which also contains the Java classes that implement the tags.

CVS

See Concurrent Versions System.

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D

DAD

See document access definition.

DAD script

A file that is used by the DB2 XML Extender, either to compose XML documents from existing DB2 data or to decompose XML documents into DB2 data.

DADX

See document access definition extension.

DADX group

A folder that contains database connection (JDBC and JNDI) and other information that is shared between DADX files within the group.

DADX run-time

In a DADX Web service, the period of time during which SOAP requests are sent to the new Web service. The DADX run-time environment provides information to the DADX Web service, including the HTTP GET and POST bindings, the test page, WSDL generation, and the translation of DTD data into XML schema data.

daemon

A program that runs unattended to perform continuous or periodic functions, such as network control.

data class

An access bean that provides data storage and access methods for caching enterprise bean properties. Unlike copy helpers, data class access beans work with enterprise beans that have local client views as well as remote client views.

data definition

A data object that defines a database or table.

data item

In EGL, an area of memory that is not in a structure and is based either on a data item part or on an explicit primitive-type description such as CHAR(3).

data object

Any object (such as tables, views, indexes, functions, triggers, and packages) that can be created or manipulated using SQL statements.

data object filter

A control that allows the exclusion of data objects (such as tables and schemas) from the tree view of the database.

data part

An EGL definition that specifies a data structure. The types of data parts are dataItem, dataTable, and record parts.

data source

In JDBC, an interface that provides a logical representation of a pool of connections to a physical data source. Data source objects provide application portability by making it unnecessary to supply information specific to a particular database driver.

DB2

A family of IBM licensed programs for relational database management.

DB2 XML Extender

A program that is used to store and manage XML documents in DB2 tables. Well-formed and validated XML documents can be generated from existing relational data, stored as column data, and the content of XML elements and attributes can be stored in DB2 tables.

deadlock

A condition in which two independent threads of control are blocked, each waiting for the other to take some action. Deadlock often arises from adding synchronization mechanisms to avoid race conditions.

debug engine

The server component of the debugger, whose client/server design enables both local and remote debugging. The debug engine runs on the same system as the program being debugged.

debugger

A tool used to detect and trace errors in computer programs.

debugging session

The debugging activities that occur between the time that a developer starts a debugger and the time that the developer exits from it.

declaration

In Java programming, a statement that establishes an identifier and associates attributes with it, without necessarily reserving its storage or providing the implementation. (Sun)

default portal page

The page that displays to a user at initial portal deployment and before the user completes enrollment. Sometimes used as a synonym for home page.

default public place

A place whose membership automatically includes all portal users and which appears in the Places selector for every user. A user is always a member of this place.

deploy

To place files or install software into an operational environment. In J2EE, this involves creating a deployment descriptor suitable to the type of application that is being deployed.

deployment code

Additional code that enables bean implementation code written by an application developer to work in a particular EJB run-time environment. Deployment code can be generated by tools that the application server vendor supplies.

deployment descriptor

An XML file that describes how to deploy a module or application by specifying configuration and container options. For example, an EJB deployment descriptor passes information to an EJB container about how to manage and control an enterprise bean.

deployment directory

The directory where the published server configuration and Web application are located on the machine where the application server is installed.

deprecated

Pertaining to an entity, such as a programming element or feature, that is supported but no longer recommended, and that might become obsolete.

deserializer

A method that deserializes a serialized variable into object data. See also serializer.

directive

A first-failure data capture (FFDC) construct that may be contained in a WebSphere Application Server symptom database in order to provide information and suggested actions to assist a diagnostic module in customizing the data that is logged.

discover

In UDDI, to browse the business registry to locate existing Web services for integration.

distributed application

An application made up of distinct components that are physically located on different computer systems, connected by a network. See also client/server.

distributed trace

Collected data that describes interactions in a distributed application execution.

document access definition (DAD)

An XML document format used by DB2 XML Extender to define the mapping between XML and relational data.

document access definition extension (DADX)

An XML document format that specifies how to create a Web service using a set of operations that are defined by DAD documents and SQL statements.

Document Object Model (DOM)

A system in which a structured document, for example an XML file, is viewed as a tree of objects that can be programmatically accessed and updated.

document type definition (DTD)

The rules that specify the structure for a particular class of SGML or XML documents. The DTD defines the structure with elements, attributes, and notations, and it establishes constraints for how each element, attribute, and notation can be used within the particular class of documents.

DOM

See Document Object Model.

DOM element

One member of a tree of elements that is created when an XML file is parsed with a DOM parser. DOM elements make it easy to quickly identify all elements in the source XML file.

DTD

See document type definition.

dynaform

An instance of a DynaActionForm class or subclass that stores HTML form data from a submitted client request or that stores input data from a link that a user clicked.

dynamic Web content

Programming elements such as JavaServer Pages (JSP) files, servlets, and scripts that require client or server-side processing for accurate run-time rendering in a Web browser.

dynamic Web project

A project that contains resources for a Web application with dynamic content such as servlets or JavaServer Pages (JSP) files. The structure of a dynamic Web project reflects the J2EE standard for Web content, classes, class paths, the deployment descriptor, and so on.

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E

EAR

See enterprise archive.

EAR project

See enterprise application project.

e-business

The transaction of business over an electronic medium such as the Internet.

Eclipse

An open-source initiative that provides ISVs and other tool developers with a standard platform for developing plug-compatible application development tools.

editor area

In Eclipse and Eclipse-based products, the area in the workbench window where files are opened for editing.

EGL

See Enterprise Generation Language.

EGL build file

An XML file with an .eglbld extension, used to store definitions of EGL build parts.

EGL keyword

A term that begins an EGL statement that is neither a function invocation nor an assignment statement. Keywords include add and delete.

EGL source file

A text file with an .egl extension, used to store definitions of EGL data, logic, and UI parts.

EGL statement

A directive that is coded into an EGL function part to cause an action when the generated program runs. Examples include an EGL assignment statement and an EGL add statement.

EIS

See enterprise information system.

EJB

See Enterprise JavaBeans.

EJB bean

See enterprise bean.

EJB container

A container that implements the EJB component contract of the J2EE architecture. This contract specifies a run-time environment for enterprise beans that includes security, concurrency, life cycle management, transaction, deployment, and other services. An EJB container is provided by an EJB or J2EE server. (Sun) See also EJB server.

EJB context

In enterprise beans, an object that allows an enterprise bean to invoke services provided by the container and to obtain information about the caller of a client-invoked method. (Sun)

EJB factory

An access bean that simplifies the creating or finding of an enterprise bean instance.

EJB home object

In EJB, an object that provides the life cycle operations (create, remove, find) for an enterprise bean. (Sun)

EJB inheritance

A form of inheritance in which an enterprise bean inherits properties, methods, and method-level control descriptor attributes from another enterprise bean that resides in the same group.

EJB JAR file

A Java archive that contains an EJB module. (Sun)

EJB module

A software unit that consists of one or more enterprise beans and an EJB deployment descriptor. (Sun)

EJB object

In enterprise beans, an object whose class implements the enterprise bean remote interface (Sun).

EJB project

A project that contains the resources needed for EJB applications, including enterprise beans, home classes, remote classes, JSP files, servlets, and deployment descriptors.

EJB query

In the EJB query language, a string that contains an optional SELECT clause specifying the EJB objects to return, a FROM clause that names the bean collections, an optional WHERE clause that contains search predicates over the collections, an optional ORDER BY clause that specifies the ordering of the result collection; and input parameters that correspond to the arguments of the finder method.

EJB query language

A query language that defines finder methods for entity beans with container managed persistence. The definition uses a language based on SQL that allows searches on the persistent attributes of an enterprise bean and associated bean attributes.

EJB reference

A logical name used by an application to locate the home interface of an enterprise bean in the target operational environment.

EJB server

Software that provides services to an EJB container. An EJB server may host one or more EJB containers. (Sun) See also EJB container.

element

(1) In the Java development tools (JDT) feature of Eclipse, a generic term that can refer to Java packages, classes, types, interfaces, methods, or fields.

(2) In markup languages such as SGML, XML, and HTML, a basic unit consisting of a start tag, end tag, associated attributes and their values, and any text that is contained between the two.

endpoint

The system that is the origin or destination of a session.

enrollment

The process of entering and saving user or user group information in a portal.

enterprise application

See J2EE application.

enterprise application project (EAR project)

A structure and hierarchy of folders and files that contain a deployment descriptor and IBM extension document as well as files that are common to all J2EE modules that are defined in the deployment descriptor.

enterprise archive (EAR)

A specialized type of JAR file, defined by the J2EE standard, used to deploy J2EE applications to J2EE application servers. An EAR file contains EJB components, a deployment descriptor, and Web archive (WAR) files for individual Web applications. See also Web archive.

enterprise bean

A component that implements a business task or business entity and resides in an EJB container. Entity beans, session beans, and message-driven beans are all enterprise beans. (Sun)

Enterprise Generation Language (EGL)

A high-level language that allows developers to focus on business logic as they create complex business applications for deployment in any of several environments, including the Web. The language simplifies database and message-queue access, as well as the use of J2EE.

enterprise information system (EIS)

The applications that comprise the existing system of an enterprise for handling company-wide information. Examples of enterprise information systems include: an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, a mainframe transaction processing system, and a legacy database system. (Sun) See also resource adapter.

Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB)

A component architecture defined by Sun Microsystems for the development and deployment of object-oriented, distributed, enterprise-level applications.

entity

In markup languages such as XML, a collection of characters that can be referenced as a unit, for example to incorporate often repeated text or special characters within a document.

entity bean

In EJB programming, an enterprise bean that represents persistent data maintained in a database. Each entity bean carries its own identity. (Sun) There are two types of entity beans: container-managed persistence (CMP) entity beans and bean-managed persistence (BMP) entity beans. See also session bean.

event set

In Java programming, a group of events fired by one bean.

Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML)

A reformulation of HTML 4.0 as an application of XML. XHTML is a family of current and future DTDs and modules that reproduce, subset, and extend HTML.

Extensible Markup Language (XML)

A standard metalanguage for defining markup languages that is based on Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). XML simplifies the process of authoring and managing structured information and transmitting and sharing structured information across diverse computing systems.

Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL)

A language for specifying style sheets for XML documents. XSL Transformation (XSLT) is used with XSL to describe how an XML document is transformed into another document. See also Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation.

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F

Faces component

One of a collection of user interface components (such as input fields) and data components (representing data such as records in a database) that can be dragged to a Faces JSP file and then bound to each other to build a dynamic Web project. See also JavaServer Faces.

Faces JSP file

A file that represents a page in a dynamic Web project and contains JavaServer Faces UI and data components. See also JavaServer Faces.

factory

In object-oriented programming, a class that is used to create instances of another class. A factory is used to isolate the creation of objects of a particular class into one place so that new functions can be provided without widespread code changes.

fast view

In Eclipse, a view that is opened and closed by clicking a button on the shortcut bar. Fast views are created by dropping views on the shortcut bar.

FFDC

See first-failure data capture.

field

In Java programming, a data member of a class.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

In TCP/IP, an application protocol used for transferring files to and from host computers.

find

See discover.

finder method

In enterprise beans, a method defined in the home interface and invoked by a client to locate an entity bean. (Sun)

fire

In object-oriented programming, to cause a state transition.

first-failure data capture (FFDC)

A problem diagnosis aid that identifies errors, gathers and logs information about these errors, and returns control to the affected run-time software.

fix pack

A cumulative collection of fixes that does not contain new functions. A fix pack can contain fixes that have not been shipped previously. Full regression testing is performed on fix packs. See also interim fix, refresh pack.

foreign key

In a relational database, a key in one table that references the primary key in another table.

form

A display screen, printed document, or file with defined spaces for information to be inserted.

form bean

In Struts, an instance of an ActionForm class subclass that stores HTML or JSP form data from a submitted client request or that stores input data from a link that a user clicked.

formGroup

In EGL, a collection of form parts. A formGroup part is generated as an output separate from an EGL program.

forward

In Struts, an object that is returned by an action and that has two fields: a name and a path (typically the URL of a JSP). The path indicates where a request is to be sent. A forward can be local (pertaining to a specific action) or global (available to any action).

frame

In hypertext markup language (HTML) coding, a subset of the Web browser window.

frameset

An HTML file that defines the layout of a Web page that is composed of other, separate HTML files.

free-form surface

The open area in a visual editor where developers can add and manipulate objects. For example, the Struts application diagram editor provides a free-form surface for representing JSP pages, HTML pages, action mappings, other Struts application diagrams, links from JSP pages, and forwards from action mappings.

FTP

See File Transfer Protocol.

full build

In Eclipse, a build in which all resources within the scope of the build are considered. See also incremental build.

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G

garbage collection

Part of a language's run-time system or an add-on library that automatically determines the memory that a program no longer uses, and recycles it for other use. Garbage collection may be assisted by the compiler, the hardware, the operating system, or any combination of the three.

getter method

A method whose purpose is to get the value of an instance or class variable. This allows another object to find out the value of one of its variables. See also setter method.

GIF

See Graphics Interchange Format.

global attribute

In XML, an attribute that is declared as a child of the schema element rather than as part of a complex type definition. Global elements can be referenced in one or more content models using the ref attribute.

global element

In XML, an element that is declared as a child of the schema element rather than as part of a complex type definition. Global elements can be referenced in one or more content models using the ref attribute.

Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)

A file format for storing images. GIF files are common on the World Wide Web because they only contain a maximum of 256 colors and are therefore very small.

group

(1) In places, two or more people who are grouped for membership in a place.

(2) A named list of users by which access levels to corporate directories, databases, and servers are assigned. Two or more individual users who are categorized for the purpose of assigning database security settings: for example, administrators must assign individuals to groups before assigning roles for each database's Access Control List.

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H

handle

In the J2EE specification, an object that identifies an enterprise bean. A client may serialize the handle, and then later deserialize it to obtain a reference to the enterprise bean. (Sun)

headless

Pertains to a program or application that can run without a graphical user interface or, in some cases, without any user interface at all. Headless operation is often used for network servers or embedded systems.

home interface

In enterprise beans, an interface that defines zero or more create and remove methods for a session bean or zero or more create, finder, and remove methods for an entity bean. See also remote interface.

home page

The top-level Web page of a portal. Sometimes used as a synonym for default portal page.

host

(1) A computer that is connected to a network and provides an access point to that network. The host can be a client, a server, or both a client and server simultaneously. See also server, client.

(2) In performance profiling, a machine that owns processes that are being profiled.

host name

In the Internet suite of protocols, the name given to a computer. Sometimes, host name is used to mean the fully qualified domain name; other times, it is used to mean the most specific subname of a fully qualified domain name. For example, if mycomputer.city.company.com is the fully qualified domain name, either of the following may be considered the host name: mycomputer.city.company.com, mycomputer.

host process

In Hyades profiling tools, an element of the application under test that can leverage the IBM Agent Architecture to externalize application behavior.

hover help

A form of online help that can be viewed by moving a mouse or other pointing device over a GUI item such as an icon or field.

HTML

See Hypertext Markup Language.

HTTP

See Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

HTTP over SSL (HTTPS)

A Web protocol for secure transactions that encrypts and decrypts user page requests and pages returned by the Web server.

HTTPS

See HTTP over SSL.

Hyades

An integrated test, trace, and monitoring environment, based on Eclipse, that provides standards, tools, and tool interoperability.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

A markup language that conforms to the SGML standard and was designed primarily to support the online display of textual and graphical information that includes hypertext links.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

In the Internet suite of protocols, the protocol that is used to transfer and display hypertext and XML documents on the Web.

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IBM Agent Architecture

A mechanism for collecting data that can be used by third-party tools on the development platform. Agent Architecture consists of several components such as the Java Profiling Agent and the Default Logging Agent which can be plugged into the overall deployment architecture.

IDE

See integrated development environment.

IIOP

See Internet Inter-ORB Protocol.

i-mode

An Internet service for wireless devices.

incremental build

In Eclipse, a build in which only resources that have changed since the last build are considered. See also full build.

infopop

A small window that displays context-sensitive help for a particular UI element and links to related online help topics.

information center

A collection of information that provides support for users of one or more products, can be launched separately from the product, and includes a list of topics for navigation and a search engine.

inheritance

An object-oriented programming technique that allows the use of existing classes as a basis for creating other classes.

initialization point

A user-defined constant or variable used to initialize the attributes of an object.

instance statistics

Statistical information that includes information about an application such as instances of different classes and their size, the packages to which the classes belong, the CPU time spent in an instance of a class, and so on. See also package statistics.

integrated development environment (IDE)

A set of software development tools such as source editors, compilers, and debuggers, that are accessible from a single user interface. In Eclipse, the IDE is called the workbench.

interim fix

A noncumulative fix that is made available to all customers. An interim fix is tested by IBM. It contains at least one APAR. See also fix pack, refresh pack..

Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP)

A protocol used for communication between Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) object request brokers. See also Common Object Request Broker Architecture.

Internet Protocol (IP)

A protocol that routes data through a network or interconnected networks. Internet Protocol (IP) acts as an intermediary between the higher protocol layers and the physical network. See also Transmission Control Protocol.

interprocess communication (IPC)

The process by which programs communicate data to each other and synchronize their activities. Semaphores, signals, and internal message queues are common methods of interprocess communication.

introspector

In Java, a class (java.beans.Introspector) that provides a standard way for tools to learn about the properties, events, and methods supported by a target bean. Introspectors follow the JavaBeans specification.

IP

See Internet Protocol.

IPC

See interprocess communication.

item

In EGL, a named area of memory that contains a single value.

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J

J2EE

See Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition.

J2EE application

Any deployable unit of J2EE functionality. This unit can be a single module or a group of modules packaged into an enterprise archive (EAR) file with a J2EE application deployment descriptor. (Sun)

J2EE Connector architecture (JCA)

A standard architecture for connecting the J2EE platform to heterogeneous enterprise information systems (EIS).

J2EE Request Profiler

The name of an agent that is attached to the application server process for the purpose of collecting data on the interception points of the application's requests.

J2EE server

A run-time environment that provides EJB or Web containers.

J2SE

See Java 2 Platform Standard Edition.

JAAS

See Java Authentication and Authorization Service.

JAR

See Java archive.

JAR file

See Java archive.

Java

An object-oriented programming language for portable interpretive code that supports interaction among remote objects. Java was developed and specified by Sun Microsystems, Incorporated.

Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE)

An environment for developing and deploying enterprise applications, defined by Sun Microsystems Inc. The J2EE platform consists of a set of services, application programming interfaces (APIs), and protocols that provide the functionality for developing multitiered, Web-based applications. (Sun) See also Java 2 Platform Standard Edition.

Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE)

The core Java technology platform. (Sun) See also Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition, Java Development Kit.

Java API for XML-based RPC (JAX-RPC)

A specification that describes application programming interfaces (APIs) and conventions for building Web services and Web service clients that use remote procedure calls (RPC) and XML. JAX-RPC is also known as JSR 101.

Java archive (JAR, JAR file)

A compressed file format for storing all the resources that are required to install and run a Java program in a single file.

Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS)

In J2EE technology, a standard API for performing security-based operations. Through JAAS, services can authenticate and authorize users while enabling the applications to remain independent from underlying technologies.

Java bean

See bean. See also JavaBeans.

JavaBeans

As defined for Java by Sun Microsystems, a portable, platform-independent, reusable component model. See also bean.

Java class

A class that is written in the Java language.

Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)

An industry standard for database-independent connectivity between the Java platform and a wide range of databases. The JDBC interface provides a call-level API for SQL-based database access.

Java Development Kit (JDK)

The name of the software development kit that Sun Microsystems provided for the Java platform, up to and including v 1.1.x. In v 1.2, Sun changed their product name to Java 2 SDK. Sometimes (erroneously) used to mean the Java platform or as a generic term for Java developer kit. See also Java 2 Platform Standard Edition.

Javadoc

A tool that parses the declarations and documentation comments in a set of source files and produces a set of HTML pages describing the classes, inner classes, interfaces, constructors, methods, and fields. (Sun)

Java file

An editable source file (with .java extension) that can be compiled into bytecode (a .class file).

Java Message Service (JMS)

An application programming interface that provides Java language functions for handling messages.

Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI)

An extension to the Java platform that provides a standard interface for heterogeneous naming and directory services.

Java platform

A collective term for the Java language for writing programs; a set of APIs, class libraries, and other programs used in developing, compiling, and error-checking programs; and a Java virtual machine which loads and executes the class files. (Sun)

Java Profiling Agent

The agent that is attached to the Java virtual machine (JVM) within which the profiled application runs. This is the agent that is used by default to measure the performance of a Java application as it executes.

Java project

In Eclipse, a project that contains compilable Java source code and is a container for source folders or packages.

Java run-time environment (JRE)

A subset of a Java developer kit that contains the executable files and other files that constitute the Java platform. The JRE includes a Java virtual machine, core classes, and supporting files.

JavaServer Faces

A framework for building Web-based user interfaces in Java. Web developers can build applications by placing reusable UI components on a page, connecting the components to an application data source, and wiring client events to server event handlers.

JavaServer Pages (JSP)

A server-side scripting technology that enables Java code to be dynamically embedded within Web pages (HTML files) and executed when the page is served, in order to return dynamic content to a client. See also JSP file, JSP page.

Java virtual machine (JVM)

A software implementation of a central processing unit that runs compiled Java code (applets and applications).

JAX-RPC

See Java API for XML-based RPC.

JCA

See J2EE Connector architecture.

JDBC

See Java Database Connectivity.

JDBC connection filter

A control that limits the amount of data that is transferred during the JDBC metadata load. The filter enhances performance.

JDK

See Java Development Kit.

Jetspeed

The open-source portal on which WebSphere Portal is based. Jetspeed is part of the Jakarta project by Apache.

JIT

Short for just-in-time, as in JIT compilers.

JMS

See Java Message Service.

JNDI

See Java Naming and Directory Interface.

join

An SQL relational operation that allows retrieval of data from two or more tables based on matching column values.

JRE

See Java run-time environment.

JSP

See JavaServer Pages.

JSP file

A scripted HTML file that has a .jsp extension and allows for the inclusion of dynamic content in Web pages. A JSP file can be directly requested as a URL, called by a servlet, or called from within an HTML page. See also JavaServer Pages, JSP page.

JSP page

A text-based document using fixed template data and JSP elements that describes how to process a request to create a response. (Sun) See also JavaServer Pages, JSP file.

JVM

See Java virtual machine.

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K

keyboard shortcut

A key or combination of keys that a user can press to perform an action that is available from a menu.

key class

In EJB, a class that is used to create or find an entity bean. It represents the identity of the entity bean, corresponding to the primary-key columns of a row in a relational database.

key field

In EJB, a container-managed field in an entity bean that corresponds to one of the primary-key columns of a row in a relational database. Each key field is a member of the entity bean's key class.

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launch configuration

A mechanism for defining and saving different workbench configurations that can be launched separately. Configurable options include run and debug settings.

layout box

In Page Designer, a control that allows Web designers to position text and images within the page. Layout boxes can be stacked or aligned using a grid.

layout manager

In programming graphical user interfaces, an object that controls the size and position of Java components within a container. The Java platform supplies several commonly used layout managers for AWT and Swing containers.

LDAP directory

A hierarchical directory of names that can reflect an organization's structure or geography and that is accessed via the LDAP protocol. Running LDAP on a Domino server enables the Domino Directory to serve as an LDAP directory.

link

A line or arrow that connects activities in a process. A link passes information between activities and determines the order in which they are executed.

linkage properties file

An EGL-generated or handwritten text file that can be used at J2EE run time to give details on how an EGL-generated Java program or wrapper calls other code.

listener port

An object that defines the association between a connection factory, a destination, and a deployed message-driven bean. Listener ports simplify the administration of the associations between these resources.

Literal XML

An encoding style for serializing data over SOAP protocol. Literal XML is based on an XML schema instance.

load balancing

The monitoring of application servers and management of the workload on servers. If one server exceeds its workload, requests are forwarded to another server with more capacity.

local

Pertaining to a device, file, or system that is accessed directly from a user's system, without the use of a communication line. See also remote.

local history

Copies of files that are saved in the workbench in order to compare the current version with previous versions. Subject to configurable preferences, the workbench updates the local history each time an editable file is saved.

local home interface

In EJB, an interface that specifies the methods used by local clients for locating, creating, and removing instances of enterprise bean classes. See also remote home interface.

logging agent

An agent that programmers can create in order to write data (for example Java primitives, objects, or predefined logging structures) to one or more output sources (for example text or XML), for an application under test.

logging factory

A singleton factory that is used to create, store, and destroy logging agents for public access.

logging level

In the logging tools, the indicator of the amount of logging to be done. The higher the level, the more information to be logged.

logging tools

A feature that enables developers to view and analyze WebSphere activity log files and XML log files, and to edit symptom database files.

logic part

An EGL declaration that defines a run-time sequence. The types of logic parts are program, function, library, and page handler.

log record

An entry in a log view that consists of properties and their values. A log record does not contain instances of other log records but has nested levels of entries or children.

loop

A sequence of instructions performed repeatedly until an ending condition is reached.

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M

mandatory place

A shared place, either a public place or a restricted place, in which all portal users must be members. Only portal administrators can designate a shared place to be a mandatory place. Because membership is automatic and required, portal users cannot join or leave mandatory places.

manifest

A special file that can contain information about the files packaged in a JAR file. (Sun)

map

In the EJB development environment, the specification of how an enterprise bean's container-managed persistent fields correspond to columns in a relational database table or other persistent storage. The map is used to generate deployment code.

marker bar

The gray border at the left of the editor area of the workbench, where bookmarks and breakpoints are shown.

meet-in-the-middle mapping

An approach for mapping enterprise beans to database tables in which enterprise beans and database schema are created simultaneously but independently.

membership

The state of being a portal user and a place member. Membership in the portal is controlled by the administrator during the installation and set up of portal servers. Membership in places is controlled by a place manager, who determines the level of access for each place member: participant, place designer, or place manager.

memory leak

The effect of a program that maintains references to objects that are no longer required and therefore need to be reclaimed.

metadata

Data that describes the characteristics of stored data; descriptive data. For example, the metadata for a database table might include the name of the table, the name of the database that contains the table, the names of the columns in the table, and the column descriptions, either in technical terms or business terms. Database catalogs and information catalogs contain metadata.

method

(1) In Java programming, a function that is defined in a class. (Sun)

(2) In object-oriented programming, an operation that an object can perform. An object can have many methods.

method statistics

Information about a method that includes the package (and class) to which the method belongs, the number of calls made to the method, the CPU time spent in the method, and the cumulative time spent in that method.

MIME

See Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions.

module

In J2EE programming, a software unit that consists of one or more components of the same container type and one deployment descriptor of that type. Examples include EJB, Web, and application client modules. (Sun)

monitor

In performance profiling, to collect data about an application from the running agents that are associated with that application.

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME)

An Internet standard that allows different forms of data including video, audio, or binary data to be attached to e-mail without requiring translation into ASCII text.

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NAICS

See North American Industry Classification System.

namespace

(1) In XML, a uniform resource identifier (URI) that provides a unique name to associate with all the elements and type definitions in a schema.

(2) Space reserved by a file system to contain the names of its objects.

naming service

An implementation of the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) standard.

navigation bar

A set of links to other Web pages in a Web site. For example, navigation bars are usually located across the top or down the side of a page and contain direct links to the major sections within the Web site. Navigation bars can be automatically maintained and generated by using Web Site Designer.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

In Web services, an economic classification system based on groups of goods and services that use similar or identical production processes.

notation

An XML construct that contains a note, a comment or an explanation about information in an XML file. A notation can be used to associate a binary description with an entity or attribute.

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object

In object-oriented design or programming, a concrete realization (instance) of a class that consists of data and the operations associated with that data. An object contains the instance data that is defined by the class, but the class owns the operations that are associated with the data.

object-oriented programming

A programming approach based on the concepts of data abstraction and inheritance. Unlike procedural programming techniques, object-oriented programming concentrates not on how something is accomplished but instead on what data objects comprise the problem and how they are manipulated.

Object Request Broker (ORB)

In object-oriented programming, software that serves as an intermediary by transparently enabling objects to exchange requests and responses.

open source

Pertaining to software source code that is available to the general public and does not have licensing restrictions that limit use, modification, or redistribution. Linux is an example of an open source technology.

ORB

See Object Request Broker.

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package

(1) In Java programming, a group of types. Packages are declared with the package keyword. (Sun)

(2) In J2EE, to assemble components into modules and modules into enterprise applications.

package statistics

Statistical details about a profiled application that are grouped by package. See also instance statistics.

page

A node in a portal that can contain content in addition to labels and other pages. Pages can contain child nodes, column containers, row containers, and portlets.

page handler part

An EGL-generated or handwritten text file that can be used at run time to give details on how an EGL-generated Java program or wrapper calls other code

page template

In Page Designer, a page that is used as a starting point to define consistent styles and layout for any new HTML or JavaServer Pages (JSP) page within a Web site.

palette

A range of graphically displayed choices, such as colors or collections of tools, that can be selected in an application.

parameter (parm)

A value or reference passed to a function, command or program, that is used either as input or to control the actions of the command or program. The value is supplied by a user or by another program or process.

parm

See parameter.

parse

To break down a string of information such as a command or file into its constituent parts.

participant

A member of a portal place who can visit and use the place. By default, all portal users are participants in public places. Place participants cannot edit place membership, layout, or bookmarks. Compare with place designer and place manager. See also place designer.

passivation

In enterprise beans, the process of transferring an enterprise bean from memory to secondary storage. (Sun) See also activation.

PDA

See personal digital assistant.

people awareness

The collaboration feature that provides access to people from various contexts. People awareness lets you see references to people and contact people by name through the Sametime online status indicator. Throughout the portal, wherever you see the name of a person, you can view the person's online status, send e-mail, initiate a chat, or share an application via an electronic meeting. See also person link.

persist

To be maintained across session boundaries, usually in nonvolatile storage such as a database system or a directory.

persistence

(1) A characteristic of data that is maintained across session boundaries, or of an object that continues to exist after the execution of the program or process that created it, usually in nonvolatile storage such as a database system.

(2) In J2EE, the protocol for transferring the state of an entity bean between its instance variables and an underlying database. (Sun)

person

An individual authenticated by the portal and having a person record in one or more corporate directories. Persons can be members of places, public groups within the organization's corporate directory, or personal groups that a user defines. See also personal group, public group.

personal digital assistant (PDA)

A handheld device that is used for personal organization tasks (such as calendaring, note-taking, and recording telephone and fax numbers), and networking functions such as email and synchronization.

personal group

A group of individuals whose names a user stores in a folder under personal contacts (the Contacts tab of the People window). Users who create personal groups can modify and manage these folders using the People window. Compare with public group. See also person.

personalization

Functionality provided to a portal by WebSphere Personalization. Personalization enables information to be targeted to specific users based on business rules and user profile information. Compare to customization.

personal place

A portal user's private place, which appears in the Places selector as My Place, by default. The owner of the personal place controls its content and layout, including which applications are associated with the place and which portlets are displayed. As a part of portal setup, the administrator specifies who can have a personal place. Compare with shared place.

person link

A reference to a person's name or a group name that appears with the Sametime online status indicator. The reference lets you view the person's online status, send an e-mail, start a chat, or share an application using an electronic meeting, among other actions shown on the person link menu. See also people awareness.

perspective

A group of views that show various aspects of the resources in the workbench. The workbench user can switch perspectives, depending on the task at hand, and customize the layout of views and editors within the perspective. See also view.

pervasive computing

The use of a computing infrastructure that supports information appliances from which users can access a broad range of network-based services, including Internet-based e-commerce services.

place designer

A member of a place who can edit place layout and bookmarks. See also participant, place manager.

place manager

A member of a place who can edit place membership, layout, and bookmarks. Compare with place designer and participant. See also place designer.

place member

A individual or group who has joined or been granted access to a place. Place members have three levels of access to a place: manager, designer, and participant.

place template

A format for use in creating a place. The portal provides a set of default templates for creating various types of places. Portal administrators may allow users to create, modify, and delete new templates.

plug-in

A software module, often written by a third party, that adds function to an existing program or application such as a Web browser.

pop-up menu

A menu that appears as the result of some user action (usually clicking the right mouse button) and that contains choices appropriate for the selected object in its current context. Sometimes called a context menu.

port

As defined in a WSDL document, a single endpoint defined as a combination of a binding and a network address.

portal

A single, secure point of access to diverse information, applications, and people that can be customized and personalized.

Portal Administration

The place where portal administrators set and maintain basic collaboration permissions, place records, place membership records, and server settings for companion products for advanced collaboration.

portal member

An individual or group who has a user record in the portal directory (LDAP or other directory) and can log in to the portal.

portlet

A reusable web module that runs on a portal server. Portlets have predefined roles such as retrieving news headlines, searching a database, or displaying a calendar.

portlet API

The set of interfaces and methods that are used by Java programs running within the portal server environment to obtain services.

portlet application

A collection of related portlets that can share resources with one another.

portlet control

A portlet registry setting that renders the outer frame for a portlet.

portlet framework

The set of classes and interfaces that support Java programs running within the portal server environment.

portlet mode

A form assumed by a portlet to provide a distinctive interface for users to perform different tasks. Portlet modes can include view, edit, and help.

portType

An element in a WSDL document that consists of a set of abstract operations that each refer to input and output messages that are supported by the service.

POST

In HTTP, a parameter on the METHOD attribute of the FORM tag that specifies that a browser will send form data to a server in an HTTP transaction separate from that of the associated URL.

primary key

(1) An object that uniquely identifies an entity bean within a home. (Sun)

(2) In a relational database, a key that uniquely identifies one row of a database table.

primary part

An EGL part whose name is the same as the source file in which the part resides. The primary parts are data table, form group, library, page handler, program, and UI record.

primitive type

In Java, a category of data type that describes a variable that contains a single value of the appropriate size and format for its type: a number, a character, or a Boolean value. Examples of primitive types include byte, short, int, long, float, double, char, boolean.

process object

The logical representation of a Java process. A process object is identified both by name and a process ID number (PID), and appears in the Monitors view along with the associated agents whenever a Java process is launched or attached to.

profiling

The process of analyzing the performance, resource utilization, or execution of an application.

profiling agent

An agent that does a performance analysis of, and profiles an application.

profiling filter

A mechanism for specifying which information about an application will be analyzed.

project

In Eclipse, a unit of organization used to group folders or packages. Projects are used for building, version management, sharing, and organizing resources.

public

In object-oriented programming, pertaining to a method or variable that is accessible to all classes.

public group

A group of individuals, known to all portal users, that the administrator has created or that exists in the organization's corporate directory. Only administrators can modify and manage public groups. Compare with personal group. See also person.

public place

A shared place that is open to all portal users. The person who creates the place (and who automatically becomes the place manager) designates it as a public place during place creation. Other users can become members of the place by joining it; they can terminate their membership by canceling their membership in the place. Compare with restricted place.

publish

(1) To make a Web site public, for example by putting files in a path known to the HTTP server.

(2) In UDDI, to advertise a Web service so that other businesses can find it and bind with it. Service providers publish the availability of their services through a registry.

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rapid deployment tools

Tools to rapidly develop and deploy J2EE artifacts on the server and package the J2EE artifacts into the deployed EAR file.

RDB

See relational database.

recursion

A programming technique in which a program or routine calls itself to perform successive steps in an operation, with each step using the output of the preceding step.

refactor

To transform a program, for example by renaming a package or method, while preserving its behavior.

referential integrity

(1) In Extensible Markup Language (XML) tools, the condition that exists when all references to items in the XML schema editor or DTD editor are automatically cleaned up when the schema is detected or renamed.

(2) The condition that exists when all intended references from data in one column of a table to data in another column of the same or a different table are valid.

refresh pack

A cumulative collection of fixes that contains new functions. Full regression testing is performed on refresh packs. See also fix pack, interim fix.

registered user

A portal user who has a user ID and password for logging in to the portal. Compare with anonymous user and authenticated user.

relational database (RDB)

A database that can be perceived as a set of tables and manipulated in accordance with the relational model of data. Each database includes a set of system catalog tables that describe the logical and physical structure of the data, a configuration file containing the parameter values allocated for the database, and a recovery log with ongoing transactions and archivable transactions.

relationship role

In EJB, a traversal of the relationship between two entity beans in one direction or the other. Each relationship that is coded in the deployment descriptor defines two roles.

release

To send changed files from the workbench to the team server so that other developers on the team can catch up (synchronize) with the updated version.

remote

Pertaining to a system, program, or device that is accessed through a communications line.

remote file transfer instance

A file that contains information about the method used for remotely transferring a file.

remote home interface

In enterprise beans, an interface that specifies the methods used by remote clients for locating, creating, and removing instances of enterprise bean classes. See also local home interface.

remote interface

In EJB, an interface that defines the business methods that can be called by a client. See also home interface.

remote method

A business method in the remote interface that is callable by a client.

Remote Method Invocation (RMI)

A protocol that is used to communicate method invocations over a network. Java Remote Method Invocation is a distributed object model in which the methods of remote objects written in the Java programming language can be invoked from other Java virtual machines, possibly on different hosts.

remote procedure call (RPC)

A protocol that allows a program on a client computer to run a program on a server.

remove method

In enterprise beans, a method defined in the home interface and invoked by a client to destroy an enterprise bean.

repository

A persistent storage area for source code and other application resources. In a team programming environment, a shared repository enables multi-user access to application resources.

resource

The collective term for projects, folders, subfolders, and files that can be manipulated in the workbench.

resource adapter

A system-level software driver that is used by an EJB container or an application client to connect to an enterprise information system (EIS). A resource adapter plugs in to a container; the application components deployed on the container then use the client API (exposed by adapter) or tool-generated, high-level abstractions to access the underlying EIS. (Sun) See also container, enterprise information system.

resource property

A property for a JDBC data source in a server configuration, for example the server name, user ID, or password.

restricted place

A shared place that is open to only those individuals and groups whom the place creator (or place manager) adds to the place's membership list. The person who creates the place (and who automatically becomes the place manager) designates the place as a restricted place during place creation. Compare with public place.

result set

The set of rows that a stored procedure returns.

result tree

The output document that is created when an XSL file is used to transform an XML file.

rich site summary (RSS)

An XML-based format for syndicated content.

RMI

See Remote Method Invocation.

role

In J2EE development, the function performed by an individual in the development and deployment phases of an application. The J2EE specification defines several roles, including Application Component Provider, Application Assembler, Deployer, System Administrator, and Tool Provider.

root node

In a graphical representation of data as a tree, a node that has no parents but typically has children.

RPC

See remote procedure call.

RSS

See rich site summary.

rules-based personalization

Personalization technology that enables you to customize Web content based on user needs and preferences, and business requirements.

run time

The time period during which a computer program is running.

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schema

(1) In XML, a mechanism for describing and constraining the content of XML files by indicating which elements are allowed and in which combinations. XML schemas are an alternative to the document type definition (DTD) and can be used to extend functionality in the areas of data typing, inheritance, and presentation.

(2) A collection of database objects such as tables, views, indexes, or triggers that define a database. A database schema provides a logical classification of database objects.

SCM

See software configuration management.

scope

In Web services, a property that identifies the lifetime of the object serving the invocation request.

scrapbook

An editor that can be used to experiment and evaluate Java expressions. Workbench users can run, inspect, and display snippets of code in the scrapbook.

script

A series of commands, combined in a file, that carry out a particular function when the file is run. Scripts are interpreted as they are run.

scriptlet

A mechanism for adding scripting language fragments to a JSP source file.

SDK

See software development kit.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

A security protocol that provides communication privacy. SSL enables client/server applications to communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, and message forgery.

SecureWay Directory

An LDAP directory that can store user-related data, such as the user ID, the user name, and passwords.

security role

In J2EE, an abstract logical grouping of users that is defined by the application assembler. When an application is deployed, the roles are mapped to security identities, such as principals or groups, in the operational environment. (Sun)

serializer

A method for converting object data to another form such as binary or XML. See also deserializer.

server

A definition that identifies where an application will be tested or published.

server configuration

A resource that contains information required to set up and deploy to an application server.

server project

A project that contains information about test and deployment servers and their configurations.

server-side

Pertaining to an application or component of an application that runs on a server rather than on the client. JSP and servlets are two examples of technologies that enable server-side programming.

service description

The description of a Web service, which can be defined in any format such as WSDL, UDDI, or HTML.

servlet

A Java program that runs on a Web server and extends the server's functionality by generating dynamic content in response to Web client requests. Servlets are commonly used to connect databases to the Web.

servlet container

A Web application server component that invokes the action servlet and that interacts with the action servlet to process requests.

session

(1) A logical or virtual connection between two stations, programs, or devices on a network that allows the two elements to communicate and exchange data, or the activities that occur during the establishment, maintenance, and release of the connection. A session can be activated and deactivated as requested.

(2) In J2EE, an object used by a servlet to track a user's interaction with a Web application across multiple HTTP requests.

session bean

An enterprise bean that is created by a client and that usually exists only for the duration of a single client/server session. (Sun) See also entity bean.

setter method

A method whose purpose is to set the value of an instance or class variable. This capability allows another object to set the value of one of its variables. See also getter method.

shared place

A place created for a community of people with a common purpose. Shared places can be public or restricted. The place creator (who automatically becomes the place manager) specifies whether a place is public or restricted during place creation.

shortcut bar

In Eclipse, the vertical toolbar at the left side of the workbench window that contains buttons for open perspectives and for fast views.

shortcut key

See keyboard shortcut.

Short Message Service (SMS)

A service that is used to transmit text to and from a mobile phone.

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)

A lightweight, XML-based protocol for exchanging information in a decentralized, distributed environment. SOAP can be used to query and return information and invoke services across the Internet.

simple type

In XML, a type that cannot have element content and cannot carry attributes. Elements that contain numbers (and strings, and dates, and so on) but do not contain any sub-elements are said to have simple types. See also complex type.

single signon

A mechanism to verify a user across multiple applications through a single authentication challenge.

singleton

A class that can be instantiated only once. A singleton class cannot be an interface.

singleton factory

A class with a static method to instantiate a singleton class. This class cannot be an interface.

skeleton

Scaffolding for an implementation class.

SMS

See Short Message Service.

SOAP

See Simple Object Access Protocol.

SOAP encoding

Rules for serializing data over the SOAP protocol. SOAP encoding is based on a simple type system that is a generalization of the common features found in type systems in programming languages, databases, and semi-structured data.

software configuration management (SCM)

The tracking and control of software development. SCM systems typically offer version control and team programming features.

software development kit (SDK)

A set of tools, APIs, and documentation to assist with the development of software in a specific computer language or for a particular operating environment.

solution

In the symptom database that is used to analyze WebSphere activity logs, information about why an error might have occurred and how to recover from it.

source tree

The XML input document that is transformed by an XSL stylesheet.

SQL

See Structured Query Language.

SQLJ

See Structured Query Language for Java.

SQL query

A component of certain SQL statements that specifies a result table.

SSL

See Secure Sockets Layer.

stack

An area in memory that stores temporary register information, parameters, and return addresses of subroutines.

stack frame

A section of the stack that contains the local variables, arguments, and register contents for an individual routine, as well as a pointer to the previous stack frame.

stateful session bean

A session bean with a conversational state. (Sun) See also stateless session bean.

stateless session bean

A session bean with no conversational state. All instances of a stateless bean are identical. (Sun) See also stateful session bean.

static Web pages

A web page that can be displayed without the additional client- or server-side processing that would be required for JavaServer Pages, servlets, or scripts.

static Web project

A project that contains resources for a Web application with no dynamic content such as servlets or JavaServer Pages (JSP) files, or Java code. A static Web project can be deployed to a static HTTP server and does not require additional application server support.

stored procedure

A block of procedural constructs and embedded SQL statements that is stored in a database and that can be called by name. Stored procedures allow an application program to be run in two parts, one on the client and the other on the server, so that one call can produce several accesses to the database.

stream

In the CVS team programming environment, a shared copy of application resources that is updated by development team members as they make changes. The stream represents the current state of the project.

string

In programming languages, the form of data used for storing and manipulating text.

Structured Query Language (SQL)

A standardized language for defining and manipulating data in a relational database.

Structured Query Language for Java (SQLJ)

A standard for embedding SQL in Java programs, defining and calling Java stored procedures and user-defined functions, and using database structured types in Java.

structured viewing

The tabular aspect of the Design view of the XML editor that separates the structural constituents of an XML document, such as elements and attribute types, from values, such as attribute values and textual content.

Struts module

A Struts configuration file and a set of corresponding actions, form beans, and Web pages. A Struts application comprises at least one Struts module.

Struts project

A dynamic Web project with Struts support added.

stub

A small program routine that substitutes for a longer, possibly remote, program. For example, a stub might be a program module that transfers procedure calls (RPCs) and responses between a client and a server. In Web services, a stub is an implementation of a Java interface generated from a Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) document.

style sheet

A specification of formatting instructions that, when applied to structured information, provides a particular rendering of that information (for example, online or printed). Different style sheets can be applied to the same piece of structured information to produce different presentations of the information.

subclass

In Java, a class that is derived from a particular class, either directly or indirectly.

subquery

In SQL, a subselect used within a predicate. For example, a select-statement within the WHERE or HAVING clause of another SQL statement.

superclass

In Java, a class from which a particular class is derived, perhaps with one or more classes in between.

supertype

In a type hierarchy, a type that subtypes inherit attributes from.

Swing Set

A collection of GUI components that runs consistently on any operating system that supports the Java virtual machine (JVM). Because they are written entirely in the Java programming language, these components provide functionality above and beyond that provided by native-platform equivalents. See also Abstract Window Toolkit.

symptom

In the logging tools, an error message. A symptom can have a solution associated with it in the symptom database.

symptom database

An XML file of symptoms including one or more string match patterns with one or more associated solutions that is used in the analysis of event and error messages that occur in a WebSphere activity log.

syntax highlighting

In source editors, the ability to differentiate text and structural elements, such as tags, attributes, and attribute values, using text highlighting differences, such as font face, emphasis, and color.

system menu

A drop-down menu that is activated by clicking the icon at the left of a window's title bar and that allows users to restore, move, size, minimize, or maximize the window.

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tag library

In JSP technology, a collection of tags identifying custom actions described using a taglib descriptor and Java classes. A JSP tag library can be imported into any JSP file and used with various scripting languages. (Sun)

TCP

See Transmission Control Protocol.

TCP/IP

See Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.

TCP/IP monitoring server

A run-time environment that monitors all requests and responses between a Web browser and an application server, as well as TCP/IP activity.

template library

The database, known as the Portal Template Catalog, that stores place template specifications and portlets forms, subforms, and profiles.

test case

A set of tasks, scripts, or routines that automate the task of testing software.

test harness

A series of script files used to enable a DB2 database for use by the DB2 XML Extender. A test harness is optionally created when a DAD file is generated from a relational database to XML mapping. Once enabled, it tests composing XML from data as well as decomposing XML files into relational data.

test pattern

A template used for the automatic generation of component tests. There are several test patterns available for testing both Java and EJB components. See also component test.

test suite

A collection of test cases that define test behavior and control test execution and deployment.

textUI program

A type of EGL program part that interacts with the user by way of a character-based display. The display appears in a 3270 screen or a command window, not in a Web browser.

theme

The style element that gives a place a particular look. The portal provides several themes, similar to virtual wallpaper, from which you can choose when creating a place.

thread

A stream of computer instructions that is in control of a process. A multithread process begins with one stream of instructions (one thread) and may later create other instruction streams to perform tasks.

thread contention

A condition in which a thread is waiting for a lock or object that another thread holds.

thumbnail

An icon-sized rendering of a larger graphic image that permits a user to preview the image without opening a viewer or graphical editor.

timeout

A time interval that is allotted for an event to occur or complete before operation is interrupted.

timing constraint

A specialized validation action used to measure the duration of a method call or a sequence of method calls

tooltip

See hover help.

top-down development

In Web services, the process of developing a service from a Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) file. See also bottom-up development.

top-down mapping

In EJB, an approach for mapping enterprise beans to database tables, in which existing enterprise beans and their design determines the database design.

transcoding technology

Content adaptation to meet the specific capabilities of a client device.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

A communications protocol used in the Internet and in any network that follows the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards for internetwork protocol. TCP provides a reliable host-to-host protocol between hosts in packet-switched communications networks and in interconnected systems of such networks. It uses the Internet Protocol (IP) as the underlying protocol. See also Internet Protocol.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

An industry-standard, nonproprietary set of communications protocols that provide reliable end-to-end connections between applications over interconnected networks of different types.

trigger

In database technology, a program that is automatically called whenever a specified action is performed on a specific table or view.

trunk

In the CVS team development environment, the main stream of development, also referred to as the HEAD stream.

type

(1) In a WSDL document, a container for data type definitions using some type system (such as XSD).

(2) In Java programming, a class or interface.

typedef

In EGL, a part definition that can be used as a model of format.

type hierarchy

The complete context for a Java class or interface including its superclasses and subclasses.

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UDDI

See Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration.

UDDI Business Registry

A collection of peer directories that contain information about businesses and services.

UDDI registry

A distributed registry of businesses and their service descriptions that adheres to the Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) standard for managing the discovery of Web services. UDDI registries come in two forms, public and private, both of which are implemented in a common XML format.

UDF

See user-defined function.

UI part

An EGL declaration that is used for data presentation. The types of UI parts are forms, form groups, and UI records.

UI record

In EGL, a data structure that makes communication possible between an action program and a specific Web page. This type of record is used to migrate VisualAge Generator Web transactions.

UML

See Unified Modeling Language.

Unified Modeling Language ( UML UML)

A standard notation for the modeling of real-world objects as a first step in developing an object-oriented design methodology. UML is defined by the Object Management Group (OMG).

Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)

A unique address that is used to identify content on the Web, such as a page of text, a video or sound clip, a still or animated image, or a program. The most common form of URI is the Web page address, which is a particular form or subset of URI called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URI typically describes how to access the resource, the computer that contains the resource, and the name of the resource (a file name) on the computer. See also Uniform Resource Name.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

The unique address of a file that is accessible in a network such as the Internet. The URL includes the abbreviated name of the protocol used to access the information resource and the information used by the protocol to locate the information resource.

Uniform Resource Name (URN)

A name that uniquely identifies a Web service to a client. See also Uniform Resource Identifier.

United Nations Standard Products and Services Classification (UNSPSC)

An open global standard for classifying products and services based on common function, purpose, and task.

Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI)

A set of standards-based specifications for service description and discovery over the Internet.

UNSPSC

See United Nations Standard Products and Services Classification.

URI

See Uniform Resource Identifier.

URL

See Uniform Resource Locator.

URN

See Uniform Resource Name.

user-defined function (UDF)

A function that is defined to DB2 by using the CREATE FUNCTION statement and that can be referenced thereafter in SQL statements. A user-defined function can be an external function or an SQL function.

user group

A collection of users that enroll with a portal.

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validation

The checking of data or code for correctness or for compliance with applicable standards, rules, and conventions.

validation action

A mechanism for verifying whether the actual value of a variable at run time corresponds to the expected value of that variable.

validator

A program that checks data or code for correctness or for compliance with applicable standards, rules, and conventions.

version control

The coordination and integration of the history of work submitted by a team.

view

In Eclipse-based user interfaces, any pane in the workbench that is outside the editor area and can be stacked (dragged and dropped) on top of other views. Views provide different ways to look at or work with the resources in the workbench.

visual bean

A component that is visible to the end user of the graphical user interface of a Java application. In AWT and Swing, visual beans inherit from java.awt.Component.

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WAP

See Wireless Application Protocol.

WAR

See Web archive.

watchpoint

A breakpoint that suspends execution when a specified field or expression is modified.

Web application

An application that is accessible by a Web browser and that provides some function beyond static display of information, for instance by allowing the user to query a database. Common components of a Web application include HTML pages, JSP pages, and servlets.

Web archive (WAR)

A compressed file format, defined by the J2EE standard, for storing all the resources required to install and run a Web application in a single file. See also enterprise archive.

Web browser

A client program that initiates requests to a Web server and displays the information that the server returns.

Web container

A container that implements the Web component contract of the J2EE architecture. (Sun)

Web diagram

A Struts file that uses icons and other images on a free-form surface to help application developers visualize the flow structure of a Struts-based Web application.

Web module

A unit that consists of one or more Web components and a Web deployment descriptor. (Sun)

Web project

A container for other resources such as source files and metadata that corresponds to the J2EE-defined container structure and hierarchy of files necessary for Web applications to be deployed.

Web resource

Any one of the resources that are created during the development of a Web application, for example Web projects, HTML pages, JSP files, servlets, custom tag libraries, and archive files., Any one of the resources that are created during the development of a Web application for example Web projects, HTML pages, JavaServer Pages (JSP) files, servlets, custom tag libraries, and archive files.

Web resource collection

A list of URL patterns and HTTP methods that describe a set of resources to be protected. (Sun)

Web server

A software program that is capable of servicing Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requests.

Web service

A software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. It has an interface described in a machine-processable format (specifically Web Services Description Language (WSDL)).

Web Services Description Language (WSDL)

An XML-based specification for describing networked services as a set of endpoints operating on messages containing either document-oriented or procedure-oriented information.

Web Services Invocation Language (WSIL)

An XML document format that facilitates the discovery of existing Web services and provides a set of rules for how inspection-related information should be made available for consumption.

Web site

A related collection of files available on the Web that is managed by a single entity (an organization or an individual) and contains information in hypertext for its users. A Web site often includes hypertext links to other Web sites.

WebSphere

An IBM brand name that encompasses tools for developing e-business applications and middleware for running Web applications.

WebSphere Application Server

Web application server software that runs on a Web server and that can be used to deploy, integrate, execute, and manage e-business applications.

WebSphere log file

A file that is generated by WebSphere Application Server to collect information regarding application execution, including error and information messages. Also called an activity log.

WebSphere Personalization

Software that can target information for specific portal users.

WebSphere Site Analyzer

Software that can measure the activity and effectiveness of a portal.

what you see is what you get

See WYSIWYG.

widget

A reusable user interface component such as a button, scrollbar, control area, or text edit area, that can receive input from the keyboard or mouse and can communicate with an application or with another widget.

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)

An open industry standard for mobile Internet access that allows mobile users with wireless devices to easily and instantly access and interact with information and services.

Wireless Markup Language (WML)

A markup language based on XML that is used to present content and user interfaces for wireless devices such as cellular phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants.

wizard

An active form of help that guides users through each step of a particular task.

WML

See Wireless Markup Language.

workbench

The user interface and integrated development environment (IDE) in Eclipse and in the Rational Developer products, which are based on Eclipse.

workspace

In Eclipse, the collection of projects and other resources that the user is currently developing in the workbench. Metadata about these resources resides in a directory on the file system; the resources might reside in the same directory.

wrapper

An object that encapsulates and delegates to another object to alter its interface or behavior in some way. (Sun)

WSDL

See Web Services Description Language.

WSDL definition name

The name of a service definition that describes network services as collections of communication endpoints capable of exchanging messages.

WSDL document

A file that provides a set of definitions that describe a Web service in Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) format.

WSDL file

See WSDL document.

WSIL

See Web Services Invocation Language.

WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)

A capability of an editor to continually display pages exactly as they will be printed or otherwise rendered.

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Xalan processor

An XSLT processor that is part of the Apache project. See also XSL Transformation.

XHTML

See Extensible Hypertext Markup Language.

XMI model

A context-sensitive model that various views can load, and analyze. XMI models are the primary entities that are persisted as a result of profiling or logging an application.

XML

See Extensible Markup Language.

XML catalog

A catalog that contains rules specifying how an XML processor should resolve references to entities. Use of a catalog eliminates the need to change URIs within XML documents as resources are moved during development.

XML log file

A log file in XML format that is created by a logging agent and used to record plug-in loading events and information.

XML parser

A program that reads XML documents and provides access to their content and structure. The XML parser generates a hierarchically structured tree, then passes data to viewers and other applications for processing, and finally returns the results to the calling application.

XML Path Language (XPath)

An XSL sublanguage designed to uniquely identify or address parts of a source XML document, for use with XSLT. XPath also provides basic facilities for manipulation of strings, numbers and Booleans.

XML Schema Definition Language (XSD)

A language for describing XML files that contain schema.

XPath

See XML Path Language.

XPath expression

An expression that searches through an XML document and extracts information from the nodes (any part of the document, such as an element or attribute) in that document.

XSD

See XML Schema Definition Language.

XSL

See Extensible Stylesheet Language.

XSL stylesheet

Code that describes how an XML document should be rendered (displayed or printed).

XSLT

See XSL Transformation.

XSLT function

Function that is defined by the XSL Transform (XSLT) specification for the manipulation of numbers, strings, Boolean values, and node-sets.

XSL Transformation (XSLT)

A standard that uses XSL stylesheets to transform XML documents into other XML documents or fragments or HTML documents. See also Xalan processor.

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Z

zip

One or more files compressed and stored in a single file with a name ending in .zip.

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