Online and offline

In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed "on line" or "on the line") could refer to any piece of equipment or functional unit that is connected to a larger system. Being online means that the equipment or subsystem is connected, or that it is ready for use.^[1]

"Online" has come to describe activities performed on and data available on the Internet,^[2] for example: "online identity", "online predator", "online gambling", "online game", "online shopping", "online banking", and "online learning". Similar meaning is also given by the prefixes "cyber" and "e", as in the words "cyberspace", "cybercrime", "email", and "ecommerce".^[3] In contrast, "offline" can refer to either computing activities performed while disconnected from the Internet, or alternatives to Internet activities (such as shopping in brick-and-mortar stores). The term "offline" is sometimes used interchangeably with the acronym "IRL", meaning "in real life".^[4]

^ Federal Standard 1037C [1]
^ "online". Dictionary of British and World English. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
^ "Synonyms of online in English". Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
^ "19 things we miss about the early days of the web". Den of Geek.

[1] Federal Standard 1037C [1]

[ox-2] "online". Dictionary of British and World English. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.

[thesau-3] "Synonyms of online in English". Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.

[4] "19 things we miss about the early days of the web". Den of Geek.

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