Computer and Internet
Glossary
The following
is a glossary of popular computer and internet terminology that
can be used as an educational reference.
802.11g: A Standard for wireless LANs,
providing 20+ Mbp/s
AAC: Advanced audio coding. A digital music format
manly used for the internet.
Adobe Acrobat Reader: Software that allows you to read
PDF documents.
Adware: Software that already has adverts embedded
into it.
ADSL: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A technology
that converts an ordinary household telephone line into an
extremely fast internet connection.
ADSL2+: A new, faster
version of ADSL2, which converts a phone line into a fast
internet connection.
Anti-Virus: An application that is designed to protect
PCs from malicious code.
Attachment: A computer file sent along with an email
message.
AV: 'Audio Visual' - any piece of electronics that can
display an image or play sound, such as TV or CD Player.
Bandwidth: A measure of the maximum amount of data
that can be transferred over a connection at any one time. For
example, if you connect to the internet using a modem, then the
bandwidth is likely to be up to 56Kbit/s (56,000 bits of data
per second).
Beta: Version of software still in development.
Biometrics: The use of measurable physical
characteristics for identification purposes such as
fingerprinting.
Blog: Web log
BluRay:
A next generation DVD format developed by Sony.
Bluetooth: A technology that allows
devices to communicate with each other wirelessly.
BMP (Bitmap): A file format for images used in
Windows. BMP files have a .bmp extension.
Bookmark: A way of flagging favourite websites in your
web browser for later reference.
Broadband: Refers to high bandwidth
internet connects such as ADSL.
Browser: The short name for a web browser - an
application that lets you view pages on the net.
Bulletin Board: A net-based equivalent of n actual
message board, where people can post and reply to messages
'posted' by other people.
Cache: A Store frequently-used data or files. Data can
be accessed from a cache more quickly than from its original
source.
C+: Programming
language popular with professional computer software developers,
and used to create many of todays top applications.
Chatroom: Online
venues for typed chat.
Client: a geeky
term for an additional piece of software that runs alongside
your web browser, allowing you to use services like email,
newsgroups and internet chat.
Cookies: Text
files generated by websites you visit and stored on your
computers hard disk. Cookies contain preferences and other
information about your use of the sites and are not usually
harmful in themselves.
Composite Video: A type of video signal in which the
red, green and blue signals are mixed.
Compression: To
reduce the size of a file by encoding the data. This is useful
for storing files and reducing transfer times, meaning files can
be sent over the net, or to another disk, more quickly.
CPU: An
abbreviation for Central Processing Unit (Processor), the heart
of a computer. The CPU does most of the hard work and the faster
it is, the better the PC is likely to be.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):
Gives website developers and users more control over how pages
are displayed.
Desktop: What you
see when you first stay up a Windows-based computer. The desktop
will display the task bar and a selection of icons.
Dial-Up: Allows Personal Computers to
connect to the internet using a modem and a phone line.
Dialler: A piece
of software that is sneakily placed on your computer and which
connects you to a premium rate phone line each time you log on
to the internet, running up large bills.
Dialog Box: A
small window that pops up to display or request information.
Digital Camera: A
camera that stores images in computer memory rather than on
light-sensitive film.
Domain Name: The name used to
identify a website on the internet.
Double-layer: A
dvd that holds twice as much data as a normal disk, up to 8.5Gb.
Download: Process
of transferring files onto your PC directly form another
computer or the internet.
Drop-down Menu/List:
A list of options displayed beneath a menu bar when you select a
menu option or when you click on a down-pointing arrow.
DVD: A type of
disc able to store huge amounts of digital data including
movies.
E-Book / E-Card:
An electronic version of a book or postcard on the internet.
Emotion: Icons
used in email/texting to express emotion, such as a sad or
smiley face.
Encrypt: The
science of scrambling text, audio or video so that it can only
be read by the authorised sender and recipient.
Favourites (Favorites (USA):
Bookmarking the best
websites in your web browser for later reference.
File Extension: The file
extension is the suffix (letters after the dot) in a files
name. This is how Windows knows which application to use to deal
with a file.
File-Sharing: Swapping
files with other people over the internet. such as music and
video.
Firewall: A system that
prevents unauthorised access to a computer over a network, such
as the internet.
Firewire: A super fast data link
between your PC and devices such as digital camcorders.
Flash: An application used to
create high-quality animations on websites.
Floppy Disk: A small
rigid square of plastic to store data. Inside the case is a
circular magnetic disk.
Font: A set of letters, numbers
and symbols in particular style. Popular Windows fonts are Arial
and Times New Roman. Note: the font in this glossary is Arial.
Forum: A website where
like-minded web surfers can discuss topics by posting messages
in response to other messages.
Gigabyte (GB): A measure
of storage capacity, usually for hard disks.
Gigahertz (Ghz): 1
Gigahertz is equal to one thousand megahertz (1000mhz). GHz is a
measure of how fast the processor in a computer works.
Graphics Chipset: A
number of integrated circuits that control the images on your
computer.
Graphics Card: The part
of a PC that displays the image you see on your computers
monitor. Some are more advanced than others, featuring
connections for video recorders or other similar devices.
Hack: To break into
other peoples computers and networks, often in an attempt to
steal sensitive information.
Hackers: People who
break into other people's computers and networks.
Hard Drive (Hard Disk):
A high capacity disk drive fitted in almost all PCs and used to
store applications and files.
HDTV (High Definition
Television): High resolution, widescreen digital TV that
requires both a HDTV broadcast and television.
Homepage: The first or
main page of a website.
Hotspot: an area covered
by a wireless (Wi-Fi) network.
HTML (Hyper Text Mark-UPp
Language.: The language used to create pages for a website.
HTML code is written as text that is converted to a web page by
a web browser.
Hub: A generic term for
a device that allows several devices to be plugged into one
socket. Network and USB us are the most common types.
Hyperlink (Link):
Clickable text or object on a web page that connects to another
web page.
Icon: A small image used
by Windows to identify a file or application.
IMAP: A protocol for
receiving email messages. Similar to POP3, but IMAP4 lets you
decide by keywords which messages to download.
Instant Messaging:
Real-time text based communication over a netowrk (usually the
internet), using a program such as AOL Instant Messenger, MSN
Messenger.
IP Address: An
identification number of a computer attached to a network.
ISP: A company that
provides you with an internet connection, either for fixed
monthly fee or the cost of local call changes.
Java / Javascript: A
special language used to create advanced effects on websites,
such as animated sequences and interactive buttons.
JPEG / JPG: A common
format for image files. JPEGs are compressed and the small file
size makes them ideal for web pages.
LAN: Describes two or
more computers connected either physically or wirelessly.
Laptop: A portable
computer, usually around the size of an A4 notebook.
Linux: An operating
system that runs on a variety of computers and can be freely
modified and distributed by its users. It was developed by Linus
Torvalds.
Keystroke Loggers:
Malicious programs that keep a log of keys pressed.
Mb or Megabyte: A
measure of storage capacity, usually for computer memory. 1Mb is
equal to 1,024Kb (kilobytes).
Mbit/s(Megabytes per
second): A measure of data transfer speed.
Memory Card: A small
card that can store many megabytes (mb) of data or files.
Message Board: An
internet based equivalent of a message board, where people can
post and reply to messages.
Modem: A device that
enables two computers to communicate with each other over a
telephone line.
MP3: A standard for
compressing digital audio. The sound quality is close to that of
CD audio.
MPEG (Motion Picture Experts
Group): Describes a method of compressing digital video.
Network: A way of
connecting several computers and printers so they can share
data.
Operating System:
Governs how hardware and software work together.
Optical Mouse: A mouse
that uses an LED and optical sensor to detect movement and send
signals to the computer.
Patch: A software file
that fixes problems with an existing application by making minor
changes to the program.
PDF (Portable Document
Format): A file format developed by Adobe that allows
formatted pages of text and graphics to be viewed and printed
correctly on a variety of machines, without the original author
having to worry about the recipients.
Pen Drive: A small
storage device that plus into a USB port.
PCI: A high performance
expansion slot for desktop PCs, allowing simple installation
like soundcards and modems.
PCI-Express: A newer
version of PCI.
PDF (Portable Documents
Format): A file format that allows formatted pages of text
and graphics to be viewed and printed correctly on a variety of
PCs.
Phishing: An online scam
in which an email gets the user to click on a link to what looks
like an official website, such as a bank. It then asks you to
provide sensitive information such as passwords.
Pixel: Short for picture
element - the smallest part of an image displayed on a monitor
or captured by a scanner or digital camera.
Plug-in: A small program
that adds extra features such as streaming video to your web
browser or to other applications.
Pop-up: Adverts or other
messages that pop up in a separate window when you are viewing a
website.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol
3): A protocol for remotely accessing and retrieving email
from an ISP.
Pointer: This is what
you can see on screen when you move your mouse. It usually looks
like an arrow.
Portal: A website that
offers a variety of services, such as news, weather reports,
stock information and more.
Processor: The chip that
is the brain of a computer. The faster the processor, the better
a computer will perform. Many computers can used more than one
processor.
QuickTime: A video file
format invented by Apple and used on both PCs and Macs.
RAM (Random Access Memory):
The computers working area, used for data storage while the PC
is switched on.
Real Player / Real Video:
The software required to play RealAudio and RealVideo files
streamed over the internet.
RBG: A colour picture
created as on a monitor, by combining a value for red, green and
blue channels to determine the colour of each individual pixel.
Registry: A database
integrated into Windows which stores information on all hardware
and software installed on your PC.
Rootkit: Software that
hides malicious programs that bypass traditional anti-virus
protection.
Router: A device used to
connect more than one computer together and/or to the internet
as an alternative to a modem.
RTF (Rich Text Format):
A common file format used to transfer files between different
word-processing programs.
Scart: A standardised
21-pin connector for video and audio signals.
SIM (Subscriber Identity
Module): The smart card used by al digital mobile phones.
Screensaver: A program
that runs on a computer after a short period of inactivity and
displays a moving image on screen.
Search Engine: A website
on the internet that enables you to search for sites containing
certain keywords.
Server: A computer on a
network (such as the internet) that stores shared information.
Shareware: Programs you
can try out for free before deciding whether to buy them or not.
Skin: A different,
purely cosmetic appearance for an application.
Smartphone: Generic term
for a combined handheld computer and mobile phone.
Spam: Junk Mail sent to
large groups of people offering such things as money-spinning
ideas.
Spyware: Software that
monitors a computers use.
Streaming: When data
flows to your PC as needed.
S-Video: A high quality
video connection that carries brightness and colour information
separately.
Symbian: An alternative
mobile phone operating system to Windows Mobile.
Trojan: A malicious
program disguised as a different, harmless one.
USB (Universal Serial Bus):
A standard connection that allows quick and easy connection to
peripherals/accessories on personal computers.
USB2: Faster but
backwardly compatible successor to USB.
Virus: A malicious
computer program designed to cause at best annoyance and at
worst it can cause damage to the computer data.
Web Browser: Software
for navigating the internet.
Wi-Fi: A catchier name
for 802.11b or 802.11g.
Wizard: An automated
online 'assistant' to guide you, step by step, through a
potentially difficult process.
WMA: A compressed
digital music format developed by Microsoft.
Zip Files:
Files that have been compressed using a program like Win Zip to
save disk space.
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Computer and Internet
Glossary
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