Data mining
Searching for hidden patterns in a group of data. Data mining software can help retail companies find customers with common interests.

Database
A set of related files created and managed by a database management system (DBMS). DBMSs can manage any form of data including text, images, sound and video. Database and file structures are determined by the asp shopping cart software.

Database Management System (DBMS)
Software controlling the organization, storage, retrieval, security and integrity of data in a database. The DBMSs accepts requests from the application and instructs the operating system to transfer the appropriate data.

Datacasting
A service (other than a broadcasting service) that delivers information (in the form of data, text, speech, images or other form) using the broadcasting services bands to persons having equipment to receive that information.

Decrypt
To convert encrypted data back into its original form. See Cryptography, Encryption.

Denial-of-service attack
A "denial-of-service" attack is used to describe a security breach to a computer system where legitimate users of a service are prevented from being able to use that service as expected. Denial-of-service attacks are typically deliberate, though in some instances may be accidental. Some types of denial-of-service attacks include: attempts to "flood" a network thereby preventing legitimate network traffic; attempts to disrupt connections between two machines thereby preventing access to a service; attempts to prevent a particular individual from accessing a service; and attempts to disrupt service to a specific system or person. Even though denial-of-service attacks do not usually result in the theft of information they can prove to be very costly, particularly in regards to the unplanned down time of the service.

Digital cash
An electronic payment system that allows a person to pay for goods or services by transmitting a number from one computer to another. Like the serial numbers on paper money, digital cash numbers are unique. Each one is issued by a bank and represents a specified sum of real money.

Digital certificate
An attachment to an electronic message used for security purposes. The most common use of a digital certificate is to verify that a user sending a message is who he, she or it claims to be and to provide the receiver with the means to encode a reply. An individual wishing to send an encrypted message applies for a digital certificate from a Certificate Authority.

Digital coin
A message signed or encrypted with its private key. The message identifies the bank identity, its internet address, the amount of the coin, its serial number and an expiry date (if applicable).

Digital signature
A digital code attached to an electronically transmitted message to identify the sender. A digital signature uses an algorithm with two different but mathematically related cryptographic keys: one key for creating a digital signature or transforming data into a seemingly unintelligible form, and the other key for verifying a digital signature or returning the message to its original form. Like a written signature, the purpose of a digital signature is to authenticate the sender of the message and plays an important role in e-commerce.

Digital wallet (e-wallet)
A secure software program on a bank’s computer or on a personal computer containing a customer’s financial and account details (including any digital cash balance).

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Discrete logarithm
The basis of the digital signature standard.

DNS parking
A service provided by web hosts which secures domain names for future use by the web hosts' customers. Other companies or individuals cannot, therefore, register for that same domain names. e-Commerce hosting providers usually include this service free of charge.

Document Object Model (DOM)
DOM determines what attributes are associated with text, images, links or other objects in web pages, and how they can be manipulated. They can access the contents of HTML and change the web pages' appearance after users download them.
Domain name

Domain Name System (DNS)
Name resolution software enabling users to locate computers on a UNIX network or the Internet (TCP/IP network) by domain name.