Blog Jargon: Learning the Terms

A report from Pew/Internet shows that the blogosphere is still foreign to the majority of Internet users. In June 2005, Pew/Internet reported the average American Internet user is not sure what podcasting is or what an RSS feed does. And last January, Pew Internet found that 68 percent of online Americans don't know what a blog is. So what do these terms mean? AFB offers some basic definitions below.

What is a Blog?

Web logs, or simply blogs, are online journals that are frequently updated. Posts appear in reverse chronological order on a common web page. New content can also be read through RSS readers provided through sites such as Bloglines, Feedster, NewsGator, or My Yahoo! Blogs.

What is the Blogosphere?

This popular term refers to the total universe of blogs and blog-related web sites.

What is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication technology. RSS feeds allow Internet users to receive updated content from blogs or news sites in real time.

What is a Feed Aggregator or RSS Feed Reader?

RSS feed readers, or aggregators, are programs that check for, download, and organize new content from blogs and news sites, which is delivered through RSS. Users do not have to consume their blog content via an RSS reader, because they exist on regular web pages, written in HTML. However, many users find getting feeds of blog updates via an aggregator to be more efficient than checking blogs without knowing whether or not they have been updated. It has been described as TiVo for the web.

What is Podcasting?

Podcasting, which derives its name from Apple's iPod and "broadcasting," allows users to subscribe to audio programming that is automatically delivered to their computers. Some podcasts are professionally produced, like talk shows and music broadcasts, while others are less formal daily diaries and running commentary between friends.