# Glossary

`.desktop` file
`.directory` file
application registry

  The application registry is a location that contains text files which register applications. The location of the application registry for the GNOME desktop is `/usr/share/gnome/application-registry`.

desktop entry file

  A data file that provides information about an item in a menu. The desktop entry file specifies the details for the item such as a name, a command to run, an icon, and so on. Desktop entry files have a `.desktop` file extension.

directory entry file

  A data file that provides information about a menu. The directory entry file specifies details such as a name for the menu, a tooltip for the menu, and an icon to represent the menu. Directory entry files have a `.directory` file extension.

file content sniffer

  A file content sniffer specifies a pattern to search for in a file. A file content sniffer associates the pattern with a MIME type. If a match for the pattern is found, the MIME type associated with the pattern is the MIME type of the file.

GConf configuration source

  A storage location in the GConf repository. For example, `xml:readonly:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults`.

GConf preference key

  An element in the GConf repository that corresponds to an application preference. For example, the `/apps/gnome-session/options/show_splash_screen` key corresponds to the Show splash screen on login option in the Sessions preference tool.

GConf path file

  A file that lists the GConf configuration sources, and the order in which to search the sources.

GConf schema

  A collective term for a schema key and a schema object.

GConf schema definition file

  A GConf schema definition file lists the keys in a particular application, and defines the characteristics of the keys. GConf schemas are generated from schema definition files. Schema definition files have a `.schemas` extension.

GConf schema key

  A key that stores a schema object for a preference key. For example, `/schemas/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name` is a schema key for the `/desktop/gnome/interface/font_name` preference key.

GConf schema object

  An element in a configuration source that contains information about a preference key. The schema object contains information such as a default value for the preference key, and documentation on the preference key.

Interoperable Object Reference

  An Interoperable Object Reference (IOR) is a string reference to a CORBA object. An IOR encodes a hostname and port to which messages can be sent to control the object. The IOR also contains an object key to identify the object.

MIME

  Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension.

MIME information file

  A MIME information file is a text file that associates MIME types with filename extensions and filename patterns. MIME information files have a `.mime` file extension.

MIME keys file

  A MIME keys file provides information about a MIME type that is used in the user interface. For example, the MIME keys file specifies an icon to represent files of that MIME type. MIME keys files have a `.keys` file extension.

MIME type

  A MIME type identifies the format of a file. The MIME type enables applications to read the file. For example, an email application can use the MIME type to detect what type of file is in a file attached to an email.

MIME type registry

  The MIME type registry is a location that contains text files which register MIME types for the GNOME desktop. The location of the MIME type registry for the GNOME desktop is `/usr/gnome/share/mime-info`.

Netscape color palette

  The Netscape color palette is a general-purpose palette of 216 colors. The Netscape color palette is designed to optimize the use of color on systems that support 8-bit color. The Netscape color palette is also called the websafe color palette and the Netscape color cube.

pattern mask

  A pattern mask is a series of hexadecimal characters in a file content sniffer. The pattern mask identifies bits in the pattern to ignore when searching for a pattern in a file.

screensaver

  A screensaver is an application that replaces the image on a screen when the screen is not in use. The screensaver application for the GNOME desktop is XScreenSaver.

screensaver display

  A screensaver display is an application that displays images on the screen of the user when the screen is not in use.

Uniform Resource Identifier

  A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a string that identifies a particular location in a file system or on the Web. For example, the address of a web page is a URI.

vfolder

  A virtual representation of items that reside in a physical location or physical locations on your system. For example, a vfolder might represent the contents of several directories. In terms of menus, a vfolder is a representation in a menu of items that might be physically located in several directories.

vfolder information file

  An XML file that describes a vfolder. Vfolder information files specify the structure of your menus.