Computer Terms Glossary
A
Android – Operating system for smart mobile devices (mobile phones, tablets), developed by Google.
Animation (Computer animation) – Formation of a continuous sequence of images that differ slightly from one another, simulating a visual effect of movement or process.
Application – An app, executable program.
ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
AC (alternating current) – Alternating electric power.
Access Point – Device (like a wireless router) that enables network or internet access.
ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.
AMD – American semiconductor company, competitor to Intel.
AGP – Accelerated Graphics Port, an older analog graphics port replaced by DVI.
Antivirus – Software that protects computers from malware and unauthorized access.
Autorun – Automatic execution of software from CD/DVD media.
B
Bar code – Machine-readable product code consisting of black and white bars.
Bit – Basic unit of digital information.
Byte – 8 bits.
Backup – Copy of files for protection against data loss.
BIOS – Basic Input Output System.
Broadband – Wide-band, high-capacity data transmission channel.
Browse – To view or search.
Browser – Internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
Button – A clickable UI element.
Buffering – Temporary data storage for smooth multimedia playback.
Bluetooth – Short-range wireless communication between devices.
Blu-Ray Disc – High-capacity optical disc format.
Boot Camp – macOS application for installing Windows on Mac.
C
CPU – Central Processing Unit.
Chip – Integrated electronic circuit.
Cache – Fast-access memory.
Computer – A digital machine for data processing.
Code – Assigning symbolic/digital values for identification or classification.
CrossFire – Multi-GPU technology by AMD.
Cracking – Modifying software to remove protection mechanisms.
CMOS – Chip that stores BIOS settings.
Cloud computing – Distributed computing across networked servers.
Cookies – Data sent by websites to browsers for session tracking.
D
DDR SDRAM – Type of computer RAM.
Dual Core – Processor with two cores.
Display – Visual output device (LCD, LED, Plasma).
DirectX – Multimedia API suite for Windows.
DVD – Digital Video Disc optical media.
Driver – Software enabling communication with hardware.
Download – Receiving data from the internet.
DOS / MS-DOS – Disk Operating System for x86 computers.
Domain name – Unique identifier of a website or online resource.
E
Enable – To activate.
Encryption – Securing information by encoding it.
Enter – Confirm/execute a command.
E-mail – Electronic mail.
Excel – Spreadsheet software by Microsoft.
e-Government (e-Uprava) – Online platform for administrative services.
ECC memory – Error-correcting RAM used in critical systems.
F
File – Stored data unit on a computer.
Fingerprint reader – Biometric security device.
File format – Standardized structure for storing digital data.
Folder – Container for files.
Font – Typographic style of characters.
Form factor – Size and shape standard of hardware components.
Facebook – Social networking platform.
Firewall – Network security system preventing unauthorized access.
Firmware – Embedded hardware-level software.
Flash memory – Rewritable non-volatile memory.
FSB – Front Side Bus, CPU interface.
G
Google – Global IT corporation.
GPU – Graphics Processing Unit.
GIF – Graphics Interchange Format.
GPS – Global Positioning System.
Gmail – Google email service.
H
HTML – Web markup language.
Hacker – Person accessing systems without authorization.
Hard disk drive (HDD) – Mechanical storage device.
HDMI – High-Definition Multimedia Interface.
Hotspot – Device sharing its internet connection over WiFi.
Hosting – Service for storing and managing online content.
I
IP – Internet Protocol.
IP address – Unique numerical device identifier.
Inbox – Storage for incoming email.
Interface – Medium for user-hardware or hardware-hardware interaction.
J
Jack – Audio connector.
Java – Programming language.
Jumper – Hardware connector for circuit configuration.
K
Kbps – Kilobits per second.
Keyboard – Input device for typing.
Kernel – Core part of an operating system.
L
LAN – Local Area Network.
LCD – Liquid-Crystal Display.
LED – Light-Emitting Diode.
Level – Layer, degree, or stage.
M
Mile – Unit of distance (nautical or land).
Modem – Modulator-demodulator device.
Motherboard – Main circuit board.
Memory card – Removable storage card (SD, M2, XD).
Master device – Primary device in a hardware configuration.
N
NTFS – New Technology File System.
Network – Connected digital systems.
Northbridge – Motherboard chip linking CPU with RAM and GPU.
O
OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer.
Operating system – Software managing hardware (Windows, macOS, Linux).
OLE – Object Linking and Embedding by Microsoft.
Open Source Software – Free, publicly available software.
Optical cable – Cable transmitting information via light.
Outsourcing – Using external service providers.
P
Password – Authentication string.
PC – Personal Computer.
PCI Express – Expansion slot standard.
Power Supply – Computer power unit.
Patch – Software update or modification.
Partition – Logical section of a storage drive.
R
RAID – Array of disks for redundancy or performance.
RAM – Volatile system memory.
ROM – Read-only memory.
Router – Device for routing network traffic.
rpm – Rotations per minute.
Rooting – Gaining privileged access on Android.
Reballing – Re-soldering chip contacts on a motherboard.
S
SEO – Search Engine Optimization.
Syndication – Distributing content to multiple platforms.
Safe Mode – Minimal OS startup mode.
Skype – Communication software.
Switch – Network device grouping data traffic.
Semiconductor – Material with controlled conductivity.
SSD – Solid State Drive.
Socket – CPU slot on motherboard.
SPDIF – Digital audio interface.
Slave – Secondary hardware device.
Smartphone – Mobile device with advanced capabilities.
Street View – Google’s panoramic imagery service.
T
Touch screen – Touch-sensitive display.
Trojan Horse – Malicious software type.
Thermal paste – Heat-conductive paste for CPUs/GPUs.
Torrent – Peer-to-peer data transfer protocol.
torrent file – Metadata file for torrent distribution.
U
UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply.
Upload – Sending data to the internet.
Update – Software or data upgrade.
USB – Universal Serial Bus.
User Name – Account identifier.
UEFI – Successor to BIOS, firmware interface.
V
VGA – Video Graphics Array.
W
WiFi – Wireless communication technology.
Windows – Operating system by Microsoft.
Web Design – Creating and structuring web pages.
