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Terms for being linked to, or detached from, the internet In computer innovation and telecom, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a detached state. In contemporary terms this usually describes an Web connection, however (especially when expressed "on line" or "on the line") could describe any piece of devices or practical system that is linked to a bigger system.

"Online" has actually pertained to explain activities carried out on and data readily available on the Web, for instance: "online identity", "online predator", "online gaming", "online shopping", "electronic banking", and "online knowing". Similar meaning is likewise given by the prefixes "cyber" and "e", as in the words "cyberspace", "cybercrime", "email", and "ecommerce". In contrast, "offline" can describe either computing activities carried out while detached from the Internet, or alternatives to Internet activities (such as shopping in brick-and-mortar stores).

Antecedents [edit] Throughout the 19th century, the term "on line" was typically utilized in both the railroad and telegraph markets. For railways, a signal box would send messages down the line (track), by means of a telegraph line (cable television), showing the track's status: "Train on line" or "Line clear". Telegraph linemen would describe sending current through a line as "direct on line" or "battery on line"; or they may refer to a problem with the circuit as being "on line", rather than the power source or end-point devices.

One such MUA is Microsoft Outlook. When online it will try to connect to mail servers (to look for new mail at regular periods, for example), and when offline it will not try to make any such connection. The online or offline state of the MUA does not always reflect the connection status between the computer on which it is running and the internet.

Similarly, a computer might be configured to employ a dial-up connection on need (as when an application such as Outlook efforts to make connection to a server), however the user might not wish for Outlook to activate that call whenever it is configured to look for mail. Offline media playing [edit] Another example of using these ideas is digital audio innovation.