Glossary

This glossary describes terms used in this book and words used with other than their everyday meaning. In some cases, a definition may not be the only one applicable to a term, but it gives the particular sense in which the word is used in this book.

If you do not find the term you are looking for, see the index or the IBM Dictionary of Computing, New York:. McGraw-Hill, 1994.

Application Programming Interface (API)
An Application Programming Interface consists of the functions and variables that programmers are allowed to use in their applications.
asynchronous messaging
A method of communicating between programs in which the programs place messages on message queues. With asynchronous messaging, the sending program proceeds with its own processing without waiting for a reply to its message. Contrast with synchronous messaging.
authenticator
A program that checks that verifies the senders and receivers of messages.
bridge
An WebSphere MQ Everyplace object that allows messages to flow between WebSphere MQ Everyplace and other messaging systems, including WebSphere MQ.
channel
See dynamic channel, client/server channel, peer channel, and MQI channel.
channel manager
An WebSphere MQ Everyplace object that supports logical multiple concurrent communication pipes between end points.
class
A class is an encapsulated collection of data and methods to operate on the data. A class may be instantiated to produce an object that is an instance of the class.
client
(1)In WebSphere MQ Everyplace, a client is WebSphere MQ Everyplace code running without a channel manager or channel listener. Contrast with server (1). (2)In WebSphere MQ, a client is a run-time component that provides access to queuing services on a server for local user applications.
client/server channel
An WebSphere MQ Everyplace a unidirectional channel between a client and a server that can only be established from the client side. Contrast with peer channel.
compressor
A program that compacts a message to reduce the volume of data to be transmitted.
cryptor
A program that encrypts a message to provide security during transmission.
device
A small portable machine running WebSphere MQ Everyplace as a client. Contrast with server(1).
dynamic channel
This is a name given to WebSphere MQ Everyplace channels that connect clients and servers to enable the transfer of messages. They are called dynamic because they are created on demand. See client/server and peer channels. Contrast withMQI channel.
encapsulation
Encapsulation is an object-oriented programming technique that makes an object's data private or protected and allows programmers to access and manipulate the data only through method calls.
gateway
An WebSphere MQ Everyplace gateway is a computer running the WebSphere MQ Everyplace WebSphere MQ bridge code.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
A language used to define information that is to be displayed on the World Wide Web.
instance
An instance is an object. When a class is instantiated to produce an object, we say that the object is an instance of the class.
interface
An interface is a class that contains only abstract methods and no instance variables. An interface provides a common set of methods that can be implemented by subclasses of a number of different classes.
Internet
The Internet is a cooperative public network of shared information. Physically, the Internet uses a subset of the total resources of all the currently existing public telecommunication networks. Technically, what distinguishes the Internet as a cooperative public network is its use of a set of protocols called TCP/IP (Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).
Java Developers Kit (JDK)
A package of software distributed by Sun Microsystems for Java developers. It includes the Java interpreter, Java classes and Java development tools: compiler, debugger, disassembler, appletviewer, stub file generator, and documentation generator.
Java Naming and Directory Service (JNDI)
An API specified in the Java programming language. It provides naming and directory functions to applications written in the Java programming language.
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
LDAP is a client-server protocol for accessing a directory service.
Local area network (LAN)
A computer network located on a user's premises within a limited geographical area.
message
In message queuing applications, a message is a communication sent between programs.
message queue
See queue
message queuing
A programming technique in which each program within an application communicates with the other programs by putting messages on queues.
method
Method is the object-oriented programming term for a function or procedure.
MQI channel
An MQI channel connects a WebSphere MQ client to a queue manager on a server system and transfers MQI calls and responses in a bidirectional manner. MQI channels must be explicitly created. Contrast with dynamic channels.
WebSphere MQ
WebSphere MQ is a family of IBM licensed programs that provide message queuing services.
object
(1) In Java, an object is an instance of a class. A class models a group of things; an object models a particular member of that group. (2) In WebSphere MQ, an object is a queue manager, a queue, or a channel.
package
A package in Java is a way of giving a piece of Java code access to a specific set of classes. Java code that is part of a particular package has access to all the classes in the package and to all non-private methods and fields in the classes.
peer channel
A bidirectional WebSphere MQ Everyplace channel, normally used between clients. The connection can be established from either end.
personal digital addistant (PDA)
A pocket sized personal computer.
private
A private field is not visible outside its own class.
protected
A protected field is visible only within its own class, within a subclass, or within packages of which the class is a part
public
A public class or interface is visible everywhere. A public method or variable is visible everywhere that its class is visible
queue
A queue is a WebSphere MQ object. Message queueing applications can put messages on, and get messages from, a queue
queue manager
A queue manager is a system program the provides message queuing services to applications.
server
(1) An WebSphere MQ Everyplace server is WebSphere MQ Everyplace code with an WebSphere MQ Everyplace channel manager, and WebSphere MQ Everyplace channel listener, configured. This provides the ability to receive from multiple devices and servers concurrently. Contrast with client (1). (2)A computer running WebSphere MQ Everyplace server code. Contrast with device. (3) A WebSphere MQ server is a queue manager that provides message queuing services to client applications running on a remote workstation. (4) More generally, a server is a program that responds to requests for information in the particular two-program information flow model of client/server, or the computer on which a server program runs.
servlet
A Java program which is designed to run only on a web server.
subclass
A subclass is a class that extends another. The subclass inherits the public and protected methods and variables of its superclass.
superclass
A superclass is a class that is extended by some other class. The superclass's public and protected methods and variables are available to the subclass.
synchronous messaging
A method of communicating between programs in which programs place messages on message queues. With synchronous messaging, the sending program waits for a reply to its message before resuming its own processing . Contrast with asynchronous messaging.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
A set of communication protocols that support peer-to-peer connectivity functions for both local and wide area networks.
Web
See World Wide Web.
Web browser
A program that formats and displays information that is distributed on the World Wide Web.
World Wide Web (Web)
The World Wide Web is an Internet service, based on a common set of protocols, which allows a particularly configured server computer to distribute documents across the Internet in a standard way.