Glossary of Terms


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Hypertext
 
 
 

 

"A special type of database system, invented by Ted Nelson in the 1960s, in which objects (text, pictures, music, programs, and so on) can be creatively linked to each other. When you select an object, you can see all the other objects that are linked to it. You can move from one object to another even though they might have very different forms" (Webopedia, 2002).
 
Hypermedia
 
 

 

"An extension to hypertext that supports linking graphics, sound, and video elements in addition to text elements. The World Wide Web is a partial hypermedia system since is supports graphical hyperlinks and links to sound and video files" (Webopedia, 2002).
 
Node 
 
 

 

A node is a unit of information in a hypertext system. Units of information are sometimes called chunks.  The closest comparison to a node outside the hypertext world is a document. Nodes are linked together to form a path (World Wide Web Consortium, 1995).
 
Path
 
An ordered set of nodes that provide a sequence in which nodes can be read. 
 
Links
 
 
 
 
Methods of connecting nodes of information together in a hypertext environment.  Links can be internal, referring to a source of information or object within the document or external, pointing to an object or source of information outside the document.
 
Anchor
 
 The  visible part of a link.
 
Menus
 
A collection of links that take you to various nodes of information.  Menus may be used in a structured hypertext environment.

 
Further Links for Hypertext Terminology:
Home 
Introduction
Advantages &
Disadvantages
Reading Hypertext
Constructivist Learning
At-Risk Learners
 References