Glossary of Computer Terms
A
Address Bar - The empty space on the top of your browser that lets you type in the address of a website.
ADSL - Asynchronous digital subscriber line, a broadband connection to the internet that works without affecting your telephone but using the same line to give you a high speed permanent connection.
AGP - Accelerated graphics port, specifically designed for high speed graphics card.
Applet - A small program using the Java language that can be embedded in an HTML page.
Applications - The programs that you run on the computer to perform the tasks that you require.
ASCII - american Standard Code for Information Interchange, the method of encoding characters used by computers.
ASP - Active server pages, a web page scripting language produced by Microsoft.
ATA - The most common bus used to provide access to hard drives, also called IDE.
B
Backing Up - the process of copying your files . This gives you a copy of the files that you can recover from if something happens to the original copy.
Bandwidth - How much data you can send through a connection. Usually measured in bits-per-second.
Binary - Information consisting entirely of ones and zeros. Also, commonly used to refer to image files.
Bios - Basic Input/Output System. This is the system, on the computers motherboard that enables all the different parts of the computer talk to each other.
Bit - A single digit number,either a 1 or a zero. The smallest unit of data.
Blog - A blog is a journal or diary that is available on the web. Updating a blog is called "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger".
BMP - An image file made up of little dots. This type of file would have a name ending with .BMP
Bookmark - The term used by your browser to store all your favorite sites and keep them ready for to use with a single click. When you "bookmark" a site it gets added to a list your browser saves for you. (Bookmarks are the same as Favorites- it just depends what browser you are using).
Browser - A software program that lets you look around the web. Examples include Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla and Opera.
Byte - A set of Bits that represent a single character. There are 8 Bits in a Byte
C
Cache - This is a memory section that holds data while the CPU (central processing unit or microprocessor)is working on it.
CD-Rom - Compact Disc - Read Only Memory. A computer disk that stores information such as software, music and games. Dissallows recording.
CD-R - Compact disc,write once. A blank CD that can be recorded once.Once recorded, it has essentially the same features as a CD-ROM.
CD-R/W - Compact disk, erasable, read/write. A blank CD that can be recorded on and erased many times.
Chat - A program that lets you "talk" to your friends in real time over the Internet, in any location of the world. Most often you type back and forth, although some programs let you use your voice.
Chatroom - A place 0n the internet where you and your friends hang out to talk and share ideas.
Cold boot - A startup process that begins by turning on the computer's power.
Connection Speed - Tells you how fast your modem is able to communicate with other computers and get information from them. The higher the number, the faster it is.
Cookie - A small file deposited on your computer by an internet site. It's a small program built into pages you may visit. It can identify you, track sites you visit, and topics you search.
CPU - Central Processing Unit, or microprocessor This is the brain of your computer.
Cyberspace - The world that exists only on the internet. You can't physically go there, it only exists on your screen and in your head.
D
Data - Anything that is recorded or used for processing.
Database - Anything that accepts and stores structured data is a database. A computer database has the ability to manipulate that data.
Device driver - A software component that enables a computer system to communicate with a hardware device.
DHTML - 'Dynamic HyperText Markup Language' DHTML refers to web pages that use a combination of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to create animations on a web page.
DIMM - Dual Inline Memory Module. A small printed circuit board containing memory chips.
DNS - Domain name System. This is the system that translates Internet domain names into IP numbers. A "DNS Server" is a server that performs this kind of translation.
DOS - A basic operating system, predecessor to 'Windows' The most popular is MS-DOS (MS stands for Microsoft).
Download - Transferring data (usually a file) from a another computer to the computer your are using.
DPI - Dots Per Inch. A measurement used to describe the number of Pixels in a picture.
Drivers - Set of files that control a piece of hardware. The interface between the operating system and the hardware.
E
Email - Electronic mail.
Encryption - A method used to prevent unauthorised persons fron accessing a file. A password or special software is required for access.
Ethernet - A very common method of networking computers in a LAN (local area network) There is more than one type of Ethernet. The standard type is "100-BaseT" which can handle up to about 100,000,000 bits-per-second and can be used with almost any kind of computer.
Emoticons - Emoticons are different symbols you can type on your computer that can indicate your mood. Used in chat rooms or email.
Execute - The command to run a file or software program.
E-Zine - Electronic magazine. A magazine viewed or downloaded from the internet. Often sent by email.
F
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions.
Favorites - Same as bookmarks, this is a stored list of web sites.
Forum - Ongoing discussions among people on the Internet, where you can ask or answer questions. There are forums covering just about every possible subject.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol. The method by which you transfer files to or from your computer onto another computer.
G
GIF - Graphics Interchange Format. It's most commonly used for pictures that are posted on a web page. You can tell when pictures use this because their file names will end in .gif
Gigabyte (Gb) - 1000 Megabytes nominally,( actually 1024 Mb).
GUI - Graphical User Interface. It's the graphical representations you see on the screen. Otherwise known as the 'Desktop'
H
Hard drive - A physically rigid magnetic storage disk mounted inside the computer. Hard disks have much greater data capacity and are much faster to use than floppy disks.
Hardware - The actual parts that make up a computer system, like the monitor, keyboard, printer, and mouse.
Homepage - The site that appears when you open your browser or a personal web page you created .
Host - Any computer on a network that supplies services to other computers on the network. Generally, host machines provide other services, such as SMTP (email) and HTTP (web).
HTML - HyperText Markup Language. It's the language used to write webpages.
HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol. In simple terms, it tells computers how they should be talking to each other. Web addresses begin with http://
Hyperlink - Used on a web page, this will take you from one Internet site to another with a click of your mouse. This can be a picture or text. If the mouse cursor changes from a pointer to a hand symbol when moved over a picture or a word, then it is a Hyperlink or Link. Text used for this is usually different to the normal text. It may be a different color or underlined. It may also change color when the mouse moves over it.
Hypertext - Any text that contains links to other documents, words or phrases in the document that can be chosen by a reader and which cause another document to be retrieved and displayed.
I
Icon - A small picture that acts as a link when clicked on.
IMAP - Internet Message Access Protocol,
IMAP is an alternative to POP as a protocol used by email clients
in communicating with email servers.
An email client using IMAP can not only retrieve email but can also
alter a message stored on the server, without having to actually
retrieve the message first. So messages can be deleted, have their
status altered, etc.
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion. Used in an online forum, IMHO indicates that the writer is expressing a personal opinion on a subject under discussion.
IP Number - Internet Protocol Number. A number
consisting of 4 parts separated by dots, e.g. 140.120.135.5
All computers on the internet have a unique IP number usually assigned
by the internet server.
IRC - Internet Relay Chat. A multi-user live chat facility. There are many IRC servers around the world which are linked to each other. Any user can create a channel and anything typed in a given channel is seen by all others in the channel. Private channels can be created for multi-person conference calls.
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network. A method of moving more data over existing standard phone lines. It can provide speeds of up to 128,000 bits-per-second over standard phone lines. In practice, most users will be limited to 56,000 or 64,000 bits-per-second.
ISP - Internet Service Provider. A business that provides access to the Internet.
J
Java - Java is a programming language invented
by Sun Microsystems,
used to create programs that can be safely downloaded to your computer
via the Internet and immediately run without fear of viruses or
other harm to your computer or files. Using small Java programs
(Applets), web pages can include functions such as animations and
special effects
Javascript - JavaScript is a programming language that is mostly used in web pages, usually to add special effects such as moving or fading text in cascading menus that make the web page more interactive. When JavaScript is included in an HTML file (such as a web page)it relies upon the users browser to interpret the JavaScript. If the user turns off the javascript function in their browser, the effects won't be seen.
Jpeg or jpg - Stands for Joint Photographics Experts Group, commonly used for pictures on the web. You can tell what files are using it by the fact they use a name that ends in .jpg
K
Kilobyte (Kb) - A thousand bytes nominally, (actually 1024 bytes).
L
LAN - Local Area Network. A computer network limited to the local area, usually the same building or floor of a building.
Linux - An Open Source Unix-like operating system, Linux was first released by its inventor Linus Torvalds in 1991. The source code of Linux is open and available for anyone to examine and change so long as they make their changes available to the public. This has resulted in thousands of people working on various aspects of Linux and adaptation of Linux for a huge variety of purposes.
Link - Used on a web page, this will take you from one Internet site to another with a click of your mouse. This can be a picture or text. If the mouse cursor changes from a pointer to a hand symbol when moved over a picture or a word, then it is a Hyperlink or Link. Text used for this is usually different to the normal text. It may be a different color or underlined. It may also change color when the mouse moves over it.
M
Mailing List - You can sign up to get email, newsletters or ezines by joining a mailing list.
Megabyte (Mb) - A million bytes or 1000 kilobytes nominally. ( in reality 1024 kilobytes ).
Mirror - The most common use of the term on the Internet refers to "mirror sites" which are web sites, or FTP sites that are duplicates at a different location to the original. It is usually better to download files from the closest mirror site.
Modem - Hardware that allows computers to talk to each other through normal telephone lines.
MPEG - Motion Picture Experts Group. A format to create, view, and transfer both digital audio and digital video files.
Multimedia - Means you are using more than one type of media. ie text, audio, video, graphics, and images.
Multitasking - Using several applications programs in a computer system or on several terminals in a network at the same time.
N
Netiquette - The etiquette on the Internet.
Network - Two or more computers connected together so that they can share resources.
Newbie - Someone who's new to using the computer.
Newsgroups - Ongoing discussions that are spread around by email among people on the Internet, where you can ask or answer questions. There are newsgroups covering just about every possible subject.
O
Offline - Means you are no longer connected to the Internet, whether through your modem, a wireless service, or any other means.
Online - Simply means that you are connected to the Internet.
Open Source - Open Source Software is software for which the programming code is available to the users so that they may make changes to it, building their own version if required. It is subject to licensing conditions which determine how modified copies of the source code must be redistributed.
P
Password - A secret word or phrase that you use to check your email, or check out sites for members only. You shouldn't share your password with anyone.
Pixel - The smallest point in an image. The single dot, one of the many that make up a picture.
Plug-in - special programs you can download off the Internet. Some examples are RealAudio, QuickTime, and Shockwave.
PNG - Portable Network Graphics. PNG is a graphics format specifically designed for use on the World Wide Web which enables compression of images without any loss of quality. Files using this format have a name ending with .PNG
POP - Point of Presence. A Point of Presence
usually means a location where a network can be connected to. This
will be a phone connection that you can dial using a modem for your
internet connection.
A second meaning, Post Office Protocol refers to a way that e-mail
client software gets mail from a mail server. When you sign up with
an Internet Service Provider (ISP) you generally get a POP account
with it, and it is this POP account that you tell your e-mail software
to use to get your mail.
Port - A place where information goes into or out of a computer. This may be an opening provided by your software, or it may refer to a physical connection such as a serial port which has a modem plugged into it.
PPP - Point to Point Protocol. The most common protocol used to connect home computers to the Internet over standard phone lines, using a modem.
Protocol - On the Internet "protocol" usually refers to a set of rules that define the exact method of communication between devices.
Q
Quicktime - A program needed to view some types of video clips on the Internet.
R
RAM - Random Access Memory. The contents of this type of memory can be changed.
RealPlayer - Program you need to listen to certain types of audio and video clips.
Resolution - The quality of an image. It's measured in dots per inch (dpi) - the more dots per inch, the better the quality. As an example, on a web page, the typical resolution of an image is 72dpi but a photograph would need to be at least 300dpi.
ROM - Read-Only Memory. The contents of this type of memory cannot be changed.
S
SDRAM - Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory or Synchronous DRAM.
Search Engine - Used to search for words or topics on the internet or on a web site.
Server - A computer that stores information accessible by other computers.
Shockwave - A software plug-in that lets you experience certain sounds and 3D motion.
Smileys - A type of picture that lets you show how you're feeling. Used in emails, chat rooms and forums.
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. The main protocol (set of rules) used to send electronic mail from server to server on the Internet.
Software - A program comprising a set of instructions that tell your hardware, or computer, what to do. Software can be used to write letters, play games, browse the internet etc. without software, a computer would do nothing useful at all.
Spam - Junk email that arrives in your mailbox that you didn't ask to get.
SSL - Secure Socket Layer. A protocol designed by Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet.
Surf - Exploring the web by clicking links and moving around from page to page.
T
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This is the set of protocols that defines the Internet. TCP/IP software is included with every major operating system. To be on the Internet, your computer must have TCP/IP software.
Trojan - An undesirable computer program that is either hidden inside another program or that pretends to be something it is not in order to trick potential users into running it. For example a program that looks by its name to perhaps be a picture file but when clicked on, does something entirely different. Often recieved as an attachment to an email.A Trojan program may spread itself by sending copies of itself to all the contacts in an address book.
U
URL - Uniform Resource Locator. It's the address of a site on the World Wide Web. The URL is the name that appears in the address bar that tells your browser where you want to go.
USB - Universal Serial Bus. The simple and flexible way to connect devices to your desktop or notebook PC. USB allows virtually unlimited PC expansion. With USB, you can attach and detach peripherals without shutting it down.
V
VDD - Virtual Device Driver. Software that enables a hardware device to work with the operating system.
W
Web Directory - A list of web sites put into an order that's easy to browse through or search.
World Wide Web (WWW) - An network that connects you to other computers throughout the world.
Worm - A worm is a virus that makes copies of itself, and infects additional computers (typically by making use of network or internet connections) a worm might modify or destroy files and programs.
WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get. Generally refers to an application that allows you to lay out a page visually.
X
X-axis - The horizontal (left-to-right) axis of a line or image.
XML - Extensible Markup Language.
Y
Y-axis - The vertical (up-and-down) axis of a line or image.
Z
ZIP - A way to reduce or compress the size of a file. You can make a file smaller by zipping it, sending it to your friends, and letting them unzip it on their computer to bring it back to full size. You can identify a zipped file because its name will end in .zip. Commonly used on the internet, or on email attachments to reduce download time.