Computer Jargon – Cracking the Code
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As technology continues to move forward at increasing speeds, many people find it difficult to keep up
with all the computer jargon buzzing around them.
Technology terms and related acronyms have become so abundant; we now have websites devoted
entirely to their explanation.
We’ve listed below a few of the most common technology buzz words along with their definition.
AGP – accelerated graphics port. An enhancement of the system bus designed to boost graphics
performance.
ACPI – advanced configuration and power interface – is an industry specification for the efficient handling
of power consumption in desktop and mobile computers. ACPI specifies how a computer’s basic
input/output system, operating system and peripheral devices communicate with each other about power
usage.
Adware – any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is
running. Adware usually includes code that tracks a user’s personal information and passes it on to third
parties, without the user’s authorization or knowledge.
Bandwidth – in computer networks, bandwidth is often used as a synonym for data transfer rate – the
amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). It is
usually expressed in bits of data per second (bps).
Beta – in software development, a beta test is the second phase of software testing in which a sampling of
the intended audience tries the product out. Beta testing is considered “pre-release testing”.
Buffer – a buffer is a data area shared by hardware devices or program processes that operate at different
speeds or with different sets of priorities. The buffer allows each device or process to operate without
being held up by the other.
Bus – in a computer or on a network, a bus is a transmission path on which signals are dropped off or
picked up at every device attached to the line. Only devises addressed by the signals pay attention to
them; the others discard the signals.
Cache – A cache (pronounced CASH) is a place to store something temporarily. The files you automatically
request by looking at a Web page are stored on your hard disk in a cache subdirectory under the directory
for your browser. When you return to a page you’ve recently looked at, the browser can get it from the
cache rather than the original server, saving you time and the network the burden of additional traffic.
Cookie – a cookie is information that a website puts on your hard disk so that it can remember something
about you at a later time (it is information for future use that is stored by the server on the client side of a
client/server communication). Cookies typically record your preferences when using a particular site.
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Crawler – a crawler is a program that visits websites and reads their pages and other information in order
to create entries for a search engine index. The major search engines on the Web all have such a program
which is also known as a “spider” or a “bot”. Crawlers are typically programmed to visit sites that have
been submitted by their owners as new or updated. Entire sites or specific pages can be selectively visited
and indexed.
Device – is a unit of hardware outside or inside the case or housing for the essential computer that is
capable of providing input to the essential computer or of receiving output or of both. When the term is
used it generally includes keyboards, mouse, display monitors, hard disk drives, CD-ROM players, printers,
audio speakers and microphones and other hardware units.
Device Driver – a device driver is a program that controls a particular type of device that is attached to your
computer. There are device drivers for printers, displays, CD-ROM readers and so on. When you buy an
operating system, many device drivers are built into the product. However, if you later buy a new type of
device that the operating system didn’t anticipate, you’ll need to install the new device driver.
Dual Core Processor – a multi-core processor is an integrated circuit to which two or more processors have
been attached for enhanced performance, reduced power consumption, and more efficient simultaneous
processing of multiple tasks. A dual core set-up is somewhat comparable to having multiple, separate
processors installed in the same computer, but because the two processors are actually plugged into the
same socket, the connection between them is faster.
DNS – the domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated
into Internet Protocol addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and easy-to-remember “handle” for an
Internet address.
Ethernet – is the most widely installed local area network technology
Expansion Card – in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a
computer motherboard to add additional functionality to a computer system.
Expansion Slot – an opening in a computer where a circuit board can be inserted to add new capabilities to
the computer. Nearly all personal computers except portables contain expansion slots for adding more
memory, graphics capabilities and support for special devices.
FTP – File Transfer Protocol (FTP), a standard Internet protocol, is the simplest way to exchange files
between computers on the Internet. FTP is commonly used to download programs and other files to your
computer from other servers.
HTML – Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the set of markup symbols or codes inserted in a file
intended for display on a World Wide Web browser page. The markup tells the Web browser how to
display a Web page’s words and images for the user.
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Hub – in data communications, a hub is a place of convergence where data arrives from one or more
directions and is forwarded out in one or more other directions. A hub usually includes a switch of some
kind. The hub is the place where data comes together and the switch is what determines how and where
data is forwarded from the place where data comes together.
Hyperlink – on the web or other hypertext systems, hyperlink is a synonym for both link and hypertext link.
Malware – any program or file that is harmful to a computer user. Malware includes computer viruses,
worms, Trojan horses and also spyware programming that gathers information about a computer user
without permission.
Patch – a patch (sometimes called a fix) is a quick-repair for a piece of programming. During a software
products beta test distribution or try-out period and later after the product is formally released, problems
will almost invariably be found. A patch is the immediate solution that is provided to users.
Peripheral – any computer device that is not part of the essential computer but is situated relatively close
by. Some peripherals are mounted in the same case with the main part of the computer as are the hard
disk drive, CD-ROM drive and NIC. Other peripherals are outside the computer case, such as the printer
and image scanner, attached by a wired or wireless connection.
Phishing – is an e-mail fraud method in which the perpetrator sends out legitimate-looking email in an
attempt to gather personal and financial information from recipients. Web sites that are frequently
spoofed by phishers include PayPal, eBay, MSN, Yahoo, BestBuy and America Online.
Platform – in computers, a platform is an underlying computer system on which application programs can
run.
Port – on computer and telecommunication devices, a port is generally a specific place for being physically
connected to some other device, usually with a socket and plug of some kind. Typically, a personal
computer is provided with one or more serial ports and usually one parallel port. The serial port supports
sequential one bit-at-a-time transmission to peripheral devices such as scanners and the parallel port
supports multiple-bit-at-a-time transmission to devices such as printers.
RAID – redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a way of storing the same data in different places
(thus redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, input/output operations can
overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increases the mean time between
failures, storing data redundantly also increases fault tolerance.
Router – In packet-switched networks such as the Internet, a router is a device or in some cases, software
in a computer that determines the next network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its
destination. The router is connected to at least two networks and decides which way to send each
information packet based on its current understanding of the state of the networks it is connected to.
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Shareware – software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that the user may need
or want to pay for it later. Some software developers offer a shareware version of their program with a
built-in expiration date (after 30 days, the user can no longer get access to the program). Other shareware
is offered with certain capabilities disabled as an enticement to buy the complete version of the program.
Spyware – any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their
knowledge. On the Internet, spyware is programming that is put in someone’s computer to secretly gather
information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties.
VoIP – voice over IP is an IP telephony term for a set of facilities used to manage the delivery of voice
information over the Internet. VoIP involves sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets
rather than by using the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network.
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