Transmission Control Protocol
/ˌtiː-siː-ˈpiː/
n. “Reliable conversations over an unreliable world.”
TCP, short for Transmission Control Protocol, is one of the core protocols of the Internet protocol suite. It provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications running on hosts connected to a network. TCP works hand-in-hand with IP, forming the ubiquitous TCP/IP foundation of modern networking.
SFTP
/ˌɛs-ɛf-ti-ˈpi/
n. “Securely moving files without looking over your shoulder.”
SFTP, short for SSH File Transfer Protocol or sometimes Secure File Transfer Protocol, is a network protocol that provides secure file transfer capabilities over the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. Unlike traditional FTP, which sends data in plaintext, SFTP encrypts both commands and data, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authentication in transit.
File Transfer Protocol
/ˌɛf-ti-ˈpi/
n. “Moving files, one connection at a time.”
FTP, short for File Transfer Protocol, is one of the oldest network protocols designed to transfer files between a client and a server over a TCP/IP network. Dating back to the 1970s, it established a standardized way for computers to send, receive, and manage files remotely, long before cloud storage and modern APIs existed.
XMLHttpRequest
/ˌɛks-ɛm-ɛl-ˌhɪt-ti-pi rɪˈkwɛst/
n. “Old school, but still gets the job done.”
XMLHttpRequest, often abbreviated as XHR, is a JavaScript API that enables web browsers to send HTTP requests to servers and receive responses without needing to reload the entire page. Introduced in the early 2000s, it became the backbone of what we now call AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), allowing dynamic updates and interactive web applications.
fetch
/fɛtʃ/
v. “Go get it — straight from the source.”
fetch is a modern JavaScript API for making network requests, replacing older mechanisms like XMLHttpRequest. It provides a clean, promise-based interface to request resources such as HTML, JSON, or binary data from servers, making asynchronous operations much more readable and manageable.
Client for URL
/kərl/
n. “Talk to the internet without a browser.”
cURL, Client for URL, is a command-line tool and library (libcurl) for transferring data with URLs. It supports a vast array of protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, and more, making it a Swiss Army knife for internet communication and scripting.
Create, Read, Update, Delete
/krʊd/
n. “Create, Read, Update, Delete — the alphabet of persistent data.”
CRUD is an acronym representing the four fundamental operations that can be performed on persistent storage or resources in a database or application: Create, Read, Update, and Delete. These operations form the backbone of most software systems, allowing users and applications to manage data effectively.
REST
/rɛst/
n. “Architect it once, call it anywhere.”
REST, short for Representational State Transfer, is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It emphasizes a stateless client-server communication model where resources are identified by URIs, and interactions are carried out using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE.
ISP
/ˈā-ˈēs-ˈpē/
n. “The gatekeeper of your connection.”
ISP, short for Internet Service Provider, is a company or organization that provides individuals and businesses access to the internet. From the early days of dial-up to modern fiber-optic and 5G connections, ISPs serve as the critical link between your device and the vast expanse of the web.