Preface

The Sun Global Glossary includes more than 2,000 English-language terms and definitions for Sun^TM software, hardware, and technology or other products and services. The language of this glossary has been optimized for an international audience.

Additionally, the Glossary identifies the following:

• Acronyms

• Parts of speech that indicate a term's usage in a sentence, abbreviated as follows:

  • adj. – Adjective

  • n. – Noun

  • v. – Verb

• Numbered usages in different products or technologies

• Cross-references

• Synonyms

• Contrasting terms

• Pronunciation key, if appropriate

  As used on this web site, the terms “Java virtual machine” or “JVM” means a virtual machine for the Java platform.

Acknowledgments

The definitions in this glossary are the work of Sun subject-matter experts, technical writers, and researchers. While the Sun Editorial Style Guide and translatability guidelines are observed in most instances, the Java^TM look and feel style applies in other instances.

Documentation, Support, and Training

The Sun web site provides information about the following additional resources:

• Documentation

• Support

• Training

Typographic Conventions

The following table describes the typographic conventions that are used in this book.

Table P–1 Typographic Conventions

Typeface	Meaning	Example
AaBbCc123	The names of commands, files, and directories, and onscreen computer output	Edit your .login file. Use ls -a to list all files. machine_name% you have mail.
AaBbCc123	What you type, contrasted with onscreen computer output	machine_name% su Password:
aabbcc123	Placeholder: replace with a real name or value	The command to remove a file is rm filename.
AaBbCc123	Book titles, new terms, and terms to be emphasized	Read Chapter 6 in the User's Guide. A cache is a copy that is stored locally. Do not save the file. Note: Some emphasized items appear bold online.

Shell Prompts in Command Examples

The following table shows the default UNIX® system prompt and superuser prompt for the C shell, Bourne shell, and Korn shell.

Table P–2 Shell Prompts

Shell	Prompt
C shell	machine_name%
C shell for superuser	machine_name#
Bourne shell and Korn shell	$
Bourne shell and Korn shell for superuser	#