VPN and internet glossary | Zenshield
Understand network terminology with plain definitions, practical examples and checks you can use.
Website: https://zenshield.com/glossary
Canonical URL: https://zenshield.com/glossary
Connection terms, explained.
Understand network terminology with plain definitions, practical examples and checks you can use.
24 results
[Network glossary
What is bandwidth?
Bandwidth describes a connection’s capacity to transfer data over time.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/bandwidth)[Glossary
What is browser fingerprinting?
Learn how browser characteristics can be combined, why changing your IP is not enough, and what a browser-information check can tell you.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/browser-fingerprinting)[Network glossary
What is carrier-grade NAT?
Carrier-grade NAT places address translation inside an internet provider’s network.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/cgnat)[Network glossary
What is a data allowance?
A data allowance is an amount of transferred data included under a plan’s rules for a stated period.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/data-allowance)[Glossary
What is a DNS cache?
Understand stored DNS answers, TTLs and why a changed domain record may not appear immediately in every browser or network.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/dns-cache)[Glossary
What is DNS over HTTPS?
See what encrypted DNS protects, where browser DNS settings fit, and why DoH does not replace a VPN.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/dns-over-https)[Network glossary
What is DNS?
DNS connects domain names with records such as the IP addresses used to reach a service.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/dns)[Network glossary
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS carries HTTP over a connection protected by TLS.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/https)[Glossary
What is IPsec VPN?
Understand IPsec’s role in protecting IP traffic, how IKEv2 fits, and what to check before using an IPsec configuration.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/ipsec)[Network glossary
What is IPv4?
IPv4 is an Internet Protocol version that uses 32-bit addresses, commonly displayed as four numbers separated by dots.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/ipv4)[Network glossary
What is IPv6?
IPv6 is an Internet Protocol version with a much larger address space than IPv4.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/ipv6)[Network glossary
What is jitter?
Jitter is variation in packet timing or delay.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/jitter)[Glossary
What is a VPN kill switch?
Learn what a kill switch blocks, how its scope can differ, and what to check before relying on it during a lost VPN connection.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/kill-switch)[Network glossary
What is latency?
Latency is the delay experienced along a network path.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/latency)[Network glossary
What is NAT?
Network address translation changes address information as traffic passes between networks.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/nat)[Network glossary
What is packet loss?
Packet loss means traffic sent along a path does not arrive as expected.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/packet-loss)[Network glossary
What is a proxy?
A proxy receives and forwards requests on behalf of a client.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/proxy)[Network glossary
What is a public IP address?
A public IP address is used on the internet-facing path of a connection.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/public-ip)[Glossary
What is VPN split tunneling?
Understand included and excluded app traffic, why a browser test can differ from another app, and how to check a split-tunnel rule.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/split-tunneling)[Glossary
Static vs dynamic IP addresses
Distinguish a stable address from an automatically assigned one, and separate public, local, shared and dedicated addresses.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/static-ip)[Network glossary
What is TCP?
TCP is a transport protocol that provides an ordered, reliable byte stream between applications.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/tcp)[Network glossary
What is TLS?
Transport Layer Security is a protocol used to protect communications between endpoints.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/tls)[Network glossary
What is UDP?
UDP sends datagrams without providing TCP’s built-in ordered stream and delivery guarantees.
](https://zenshield.com/glossary/udp)[Glossary
What is WebRTC?
Understand browser calls, connection candidates and why a WebRTC address check differs from a public IP lookup or DNS test.