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Glossary
1-tier architecture A simple form of standalone application architecture where...
1000BaseT An extension of 100BaseT that runs 10 times faster than...
100BaseT An extension of 10BaseT that runs 10 times faster than 10BaseT...
10base2 An ethernet standard for cable. The 10 refers to its 10 Mbps...
10Base5 The original Ethernet specification, which is now more uncommon...
10baseT An ethernet standard for cable. The 10 refers to its 10 Mbps...
128-bit Operating Systems Operating systems may eventually be 128-bit. The ability to...
128-bit Video The bits referred to here describe the bus between the GPU and...
1394 IEEE standard A serial connection technology that promises to speed data at...
16-bit Operating Systems DOS and Windows 3.x are 16-bit operating systems. They are...
2-tier architecture Applications that have a code base (1-tier) separate from the...
2.5G Second generation wireless technology (2G) with incomplete...
3-tier architecture This architecture splits the user interface from the...
32-bit Chips This type of processor can run a 32-bit OS, such as Windows NT...
32-bit color depth Anything that supports 32-bit color supports over four billion...
32-bit Memory Module DRAM modules with 32 separate data lines. 72-pin SIMMs are...
32-bit Operating Systems Windows NT, OS/2, and some flavors of UNIX are 32-bit operating...
32-bit processor This type of processor can run a 32-bit OS, such as Windows NT...
32-bit Video Cards These are generally older cards that were only capable of...
3DNow! A set of 3D/multimedia floating point instructions first...
404 error Error returned by a browser when it is unable to connect to a...
48-bit color depth Some scanners support 48-bit color, which offers the ability to...
56Kflex This was one of the two competing 56Kbps modem standards. It...
64-bit Chips A processor that can run a 64-bit OS. The DEC Alpha is 64-bit,...
64-bit Memory Module DRAM modules with 64 separate data lines. SDRAM and DDR DIMMs...
64-bit Operating Systems An operating system that is programmed to run on 64-bit...
64-bit processor A processor that can run a 64-bit OS. The DEC Alpha is 64-bit,...
64-bit Video Cards Most current video cards have at least a 64-bit bus between the...
8 bits A measure of memory. 8 bits make up 1 byte, and offer 256 (2^8)...
8-bit Memory Modules These DRAM modules have 8 separate data lines. 30-pin SIMMs are...
Abend When Novell's NetWare network operating system crashes, it will...
Accelerated Graphics Port A dedicated expansion port that began to show up on...
Access Speed The average amount of time it takes for a floppy drive, hard...
Accuracy Accuracy is how close to the actual value you are. For example,...
Accuracy vs. Precision If the actual value is 4.321 and you say that it is 4.30, then...
Ack A response from a server to a network request. Basically, the...
ACPI This power management interface takes the power management out...
Active Directory A Microsoft technology based on LDAP that provides a unified...
Active Matrix LCD panels that are active matrix have a sharper, brighter...
Active Movie A Microsoft technology used for streaming video and audio over...
Active Server Pages Microsoft created this technology and bundled it with its IIS...
Active Template Library A group of routines provided by Microsoft that can be used to...
ActiveX A Microsoft technology that uses COM technology, and is...
Actuator The part of a hard drive that the read/write arms attach to. It...
ADC An electronic device that converts analog signals into digital...
ADSL A technology that is the phone company's answer to cable...
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface This power management interface takes the power management out...
Advanced Intelligent Tape A tape format initially introduced in 1996. AIT promises low...
Advanced Research Projects Agency Network A network of interconnected computers that formed the original...
Advanced SCSI Programming Interface This was developed by Adaptec so that different devices could...
adware Any software which serves banner ads or pop-up ads to you while...
AFAIK Online speak for "As Far As I Know"
afk Chat abbreviation for "away from keyboard".
AGP A dedicated expansion port that began to show up on...
AGP 1x The original parallel AGP standard that operates on a 32-bit...
AGP 2x This AGP standard features a parallel 32-bit bus running at...
AGP 4x This AGP standard features a parallel 32-bit bus running at...
AGP 8x This AGP standard features a parallel 32-bit bus running at...
AGP Aperture The amount of system memory that the AGP board can address and...
AGP Pro This AGP standard allows the graphics card to draw more than...
Air Cooling Cooling that involves a heatsink and/or fan. Even though a...
Air gap A type of network security in which a network is secured, at...
AIT A tape format initially introduced in 1996. AIT promises low...
AIX An open IBM operating system based on UNIX. IBM produces a...
Algorithm A step-by-step method of accomplishing a task. For instance, a...
Alpha A term given to a very early version of a hardware or software...
Alpha Blending This allows two objects to be visually blended together. This...
Alpha Test A term given to a very early version of a hardware or software...
Alt 1. There is an Alt key found on a computer keyboard. The Alt...
Alternating Current A type of electrical current that reverses its direction at a...
ALU The part of the CPU that actually does the work of adding,...
Amdahl's Law This states that even a small percentage of "serial" code (code...
American National Standards Institution This organization represents the United States in the...
American Standard Code for Information Interchange Pronounced "ass-kee." This is a standard means of representing...
Amp The base unit of electrical current, which is the rate of flow...
Ampere The base unit of electrical current, which is the rate of flow...
Amplitude Modulation A means of transmitting and receiving radio waves that is based...
AMR An Intel specification designed to move the analog I/O...
Analog Analog refers to a representation of a quantity that varies...
Analog Control An analog control changes value in non-discrete steps. You can...
Analog to Digital Convertor An electronic device that converts analog signals into digital...
Anonymous FTP FTP services requiring no specific authentication, using a...
ANSI This organization represents the United States in the...
Anycast A method available in IPv6 of sending information over a...
Apache In early 1995, a group of webmasters decided to get together...
Aperture Grill This form of mask is similar to a shadow mask, but instead of a...
API APIs allow you to program to a pre-constructed interface (the...
Applet A derivation of "application." You use the Applet tag in HTML...
Application Programming Interface APIs allow you to program to a pre-constructed interface (the...
Application Service Provider A company that provides remote access to applications,...
Application-Specific Integrated Circuit An ASIC is a circuit designed for a very specific purpose, such...
Apt-get Part of "apt," a package retrieval tool that automatically...
Archie A service that indexes files found on FTP servers. It is not...
Archive As a noun, this refers generally to any type of backed-up data....
Areal Density This typically refers to the amount of data that can be stored...
Argument What you have with your girlfriend when she wants you to stop...
Arithmetic Logic Unit The part of the CPU that actually does the work of adding,...
ARPANet A network of interconnected computers that formed the original...
Array 1. This can be an abbreviation for a group of hard drives...
Arrow keys The four keys on a computer keyboard that are commonly used to...
ASCII Pronounced "ass-kee." This is a standard means of representing...
ASIC An ASIC is a circuit designed for a very specific purpose, such...
ASP see Active Server Pages, Application Service Provider, or...
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the width by the height on a monitor or television...
ASPI This was developed by Adaptec so that different devices could...
Assembly Language A programming language specific to a microprocessor. It is a...
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line A technology that is the phone company's answer to cable...
Asynchronous Communication This method of transferring data does so without a specific...
Asynchronous Transfer Mode A networking protocol initially designed to move multimedia...
AT Attachment A storage (hard drive, CD-ROM, etc.) interface more commonly...
AT Attachment Packet Interface This interface is part of EIDE, and it allows a PC to control...
AT Form Factor A PC form factor that describes the way a motherboard fits into...
ATA A storage (hard drive, CD-ROM, etc.) interface more commonly...
ATA/100 Another extension to the ATA interface that adds a 50% increase...
ATA/133 This refers to what is most probably the final extension to the...
ATA/33 An extension to the ATA interface (IDE) that effectively...
ATA/66 An extension to the ATA interface (IDE) proposed by Quantum...
ATAPI This interface is part of EIDE, and it allows a PC to control...
ATL A group of routines provided by Microsoft that can be used to...
ATM A networking protocol initially designed to move multimedia...
Attachment A file embedded in an e-mail message. It is possible to have...
ATX The ATX form factor specification takes the original Baby...
ATX Form Factor The ATX form factor specification takes the original Baby...
ATX12V A superset of the ATX form factor that is used for systems with...
Audio Modem Riser An Intel specification designed to move the analog I/O...
Audio Video Interleave A Microsoft-specified format for saving audio and/or video...
AUI A synonym for the 10Base5 Thicknet Ethernet standard.
Authentication A process of proving the identity of a computer or computer...
Availability A measure of how much time a network or a connection is...
Average Selling Price This term is used in the microchip manufacturing world....
AVI A Microsoft-specified format for saving audio and/or video...
B2B Business to Business. A mode of conducting business between two...
B2C Business to Consumer. Another business model over the Internet.
B2R Back to Reality!
Baby AT A motherboard form factor that has the same traits as the...
Back-end A type of program or process that is not directly accessed by a...
backbone A central network connecting other networks together. Formerly...
Backplane As opposed to standard cabling schemes where flexible wires are...
Backside Bus In some architectures, such as Socket 7, the speed of the...
Backup Domain Controller One or more computers running Windows NT that act as a backup...
Balance The control for the level of sound coming out of the left or...
Ball Grid Array As opposed to a pin grid array (PGA), a ball grid array is a...
bandwidth Literally, the frequency width of a transmission channel in...
bang address An old system of mail addressing in UUCP networks, where the...
Banner ad The most common form of advertising found on the Web. The...
BASIC This programming language was developed in the mid '60s. The...
Basic Input Output System A program stored on your motherboard that controls all of the...
Batch A group of commands that are executed one at a time. See also...
Batch File A file in a DOS/Windows environment with the .bat extension....
Battery A device consisting of one or more cells that can produce a...
baud Rate of transmission speed in a signal - the number of changes...
baud rate A nearly obsolete term for transmission rates synonymous in...
Baudot code The Baudot code, used by early teleprinters, represents...
bayonet connector See BNC
BBIAB Online speak for "Be Back In A Bit"
bbl Chat shorthand for "be back later".
BBS Bulletin Board System. A dial-up service offering messages,...
Bcc Blind Carbon Copy. Unlike the Cc option (Carbon Copy), when the...
BCP A program used to copy databases or parts of databases in...
BDC One or more computers running Windows NT that act as a backup...
BEDO A type of EDO RAM that can read three consecutive memory...
Beep Code When you turn on your PC--and all is well--you typically hear a...
Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code This programming language was developed in the mid '60s. The...
Benchmarking The process of measuring the performance of hardware or...
BeOS An operating system designed by Be, Inc. The original goal of...
Beowulf A cluster of computers connected to a high-speed private...
Beowulf Project This project serves as a repository of information for creating...
Berkeley Internet Named Domain A DNS software package for UNIX/Linux machines. It contains a...
Beta A term given to a product that isn't ready for public...
beta test In software development, a stage of testing where the program...
bfn Chat shorthand for "bye for now".
BGA As opposed to a pin grid array (PGA), a ball grid array is a...
BGP The protocol used by the core routers on the Internet to route...
Bilinear Filtering Used to smooth flat surfaces by averaging the colors of...
binary Binary means the use of only two values, zero and one, in...
Binary code Binary consists of a string of bits, with bits represented by...
binary files Binary files are files that include up to 256 different...
Binary Large OBject A BLOB is a data type used in a relational database that can...
Binary Search A search technique that splits an ordered list into halves...
Binary Tree An ordered tree where each node has no more than two child...
BIND A DNS software package for UNIX/Linux machines. It contains a...
BIOS A program stored on your motherboard that controls all of the...
Bistable Multivibrator A simple element of memory made up of an assembly of logic...
Bit depth How many bits it takes to represent the color in one pixel. The...
Bit Rate The amount of bits per second used to encode audio data in an...
bitmap A graphic which is defined by specifying the colors of dots or...
Bitmap font A font where each character is stored as a bitmap graphic....
Bits per second This is generally a measure of how fast some device...
Black box Anything that you put input into and get output from, but don't...
Black hat A malicious hacker. If a hacker finds a security hole and...
Blind Carbon Copy When sending an e-mail, if you BCC someone you are sending him...
BLOB A BLOB is a data type used in a relational database that can...
Block Mode A setting in the computer BIOS relating to IDE hard drives. The...
blog Short for web log; usually a chronological record of thoughts,...
BNC A connector type for 10Base2 or Thin-Net networks. Shaped like...
BNC, BNC connector Short for BayoNet Connector or Baby N Connector or Bayonet...
BOFH "Bastard Operator From Hell," a classic diary of the ultimate...
bookmark Just as a paper bookmark is used as a reminder of the page you...
Boolean logic The form of logic where every answer is either true or false....
Boolean search A method of searching for information in databases that...
Boot A verb meaning to load into physical memory (RAM) from the hard...
Boot disk A floppy disk or other disk media that contains the files...
Boot Record The first sector on a hard disk or other disk media. When a...
Boot Sector The first sector of a bootable partition. It contains the...
BootP This protocol is the basis for DHCP. It allows a client...
Bootstrap This either refers to a small piece of intermediate code that...
Bootstrap Protocol This protocol is the basis for DHCP. It allows a client...
Bootstrapping The process of developing something without reliance on outside...
Border Gateway Protocol The protocol used by the core routers on the Internet to route...
bot Short for robot, a program designed to search the Internet...
Bottleneck Part of a system that limits the performance of the system....
bounce The return of an e-mail message because of an error in its...
Boxed Processor A microprocessor that is sold singly in a retail box, like...
Bps Bytes per second.
brb Chat shorthand for "be right back".
Brick and Mortar A store or business that either doesn't have a Web presence or...
bridge A bridge is a combination of hardware and software that...
brinking Testing rules by getting as close as possible to breaking them...
broadband When the bandwidth of a signal is large, it can simultaneously...
Broadcast A method of sending information over a network. With...
browser Software that will load and display a web page. A browser...
BSOD A Windows error message that is shown on a screen with a blue...
btdt Chat slang for "Been there, done that".
btw Chat shorthand for "by the way".
Buffer A temporary location to store or group information in hardware...
Buffered memory Memory modules that have extra chips on them to support Error...
Bug This is commonly an error in design or programming in a...
Bulk Copy Program A program used to copy databases or parts of databases in...
Bulletin Board System A bulletin board system used to describe message boards that...
Burn Widely used slang that describes the creation of a CD-R disc....
Burn in The running of repetitive tasks on a computer to ensure that...
Burst EDO RAM A type of EDO RAM that can read three consecutive memory...
bus An electronic pathway. In networks, a configuration (topology)...
Bus mouse A mouse that uses the smaller 6-pin connector instead of your...
Bus speed A measurement, usually in MHz, of how many times data can be...
Bus Topology This network topology has computers connected to a strand of...
Business to Business This term is often used to describe websites that sell goods or...
Business to Consumer A form of doing business that deals with selling goods and...
byte 8 bits of data. Capital B is used in abbreviations to...
Bytes per second This is generally a measure of how fast some device...
C Sharp An object-oriented programming language from Microsoft based on...
C# An object-oriented programming language from Microsoft based on...
C++ An extension of the C programming language that adds...
Cab file A compressed file with the extension .cab. Cabinet files are...
Cabinet file A compressed file with the extension .cab. Cabinet files are...
Cable Modem The device that you attach a coaxial cable from your cable...
Cable Select This is basically Plug-and-Play ATA. You plug in your ATA/IDE...
cache Browsers such as Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer hold...
Cache memory Generally a small chunk of fast memory that sits between either...
CAD Oh, you cad! This refers to the use of computers to design...
Cannon Cable An analog audio cable normally used to connect microphones to...
Capacitor An electronic component that stores up an electrical charge to...
Carbon Copy A method of sending a copy of an e-mail to someone, but...
Cardbus The 32-bit PCMCIA card slot and cards that can work in this...
CAS see Column Address Strobe, CAS 2, and CAS 3
CAS 2 This implies that two clock cycles are needed to address a...
CAS 3 This implies that three clock cycles are needed to address a...
CAS latency see CAS 2 and CAS 3
Cascading Style Sheets You can use CSS to define one or more styles on a single Web...
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Cascading Style Sheets is a technique built into version 4.0...
case sensitive When matching a string of letters, it is case sensitive if...
Cat 3 Cat 3 cable is certified to run at up to 16MHz. You can achieve...
Cat 4 Cat 4 cable is certified to run at up to 20MHz. You can achieve...
Cat 5 This was a very common copper wire standard between 1996-2002...
Cat 5e A copper wire cable standard that contains four twisted copper...
Cat 6 A cable standard for cable that contains four twisted copper...
Cat 7 A cable standard for cable that contains four twisted copper...
Category 3 cable standard Cat 3 cable is certified to run at up to 16MHz. You can achieve...
Category 4 cable standard Cat 4 cable is certified to run at up to 20MHz. You can achieve...
Category 5 cable standard This was a very common copper wire standard between 1996-2002...
Category 5e cable standard A copper wire cable standard that contains four twisted copper...
Category 6 cable standard A cable standard for cable that contains four twisted copper...
Category 7 cable standard A cable standard for cable that contains four twisted copper...
Cathode Ray Tube One of the main components of most monitors and TVs. A beam of...
CAV A method of reading (or writing) data from (or to) a spinning...
CCD Photosensitive CCDs are used in scanners, digital cameras, and...
CD-R CD-R drives record up to 650 MB of data onto specialized CD-R...
CD-ROM CD-ROM media is read-only media that holds about 650 MB of...
CD-RW A CD-ROM format that not only reads standard CD-ROMs, but can...
CDMA A 2G digital wireless technology that allows multiple calls to...
CDMA2000 The multiplexed version of the IMT-2000 standard developed by...
CDSL Acronym for Consumer Digital Subscriber Line. Rockwell's new...
Cell A coverage area around a specific transmitter that communicates...
Cellphone A mobile, wireless telephone that communicates with a local...
Cellular Telephone A mobile, wireless telephone that communicates with a local...
censorship Issues frequently arise online about censorship. When does a...
Central Processing Unit Think of this as the brains of the computer. When most people...
CERN the European Organization for Nuclear Research where the web...
Certificate Authority A trusted third-party organization or company that issues...
Certified Novell Administrator The title of an individual who has passed tests on networking...
Certified Novell Engineer A certification similar to the CNA but requiring the passing of...
CF+ An extension to the CompactFlash standard that allows for use...
CFM A measure of airflow, and you can use it to compare the...
CGA A video standard that allowed a resolution of 320x200 with a...
CGI Common Gateway Interface. A method used by WWW pages to...
Chad The piece of paper that is removed from a punch card when holes...
chain letter A form of spam which asks you to distribute the letter to many...
Channel The group of resellers that supply most companies with...
Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit A piece of hardware that you use to translate the digital data...
Character A single letter, number, or symbol. This term applies to data...
Characters Per Second The amount of text characters printed in a second. This term...
Charge Coupled Device Photosensitive CCDs are used in scanners, digital cameras, and...
charset Short for character set. Different character sets are used for...
Chassis Pronounced "chassy," this is the frame or case which holds your...
chat A form of real-time electronic communications where...
Chat room Any Web address, IRC channel, or other virtual space where two...
Checksum A value that is calculated from a group of data and often...
Chief Information Officer An executive title, usually at a medium or large-sized company....
Chief Technology Officer An executive title related to CIO, usually at a medium or...
Chip short for microchip. This term is commonly used to describe the...
Chipkill A technology developed by IBM for servers and other systems...
Chipset The chips that control the functions and features on a...
chkdsk A Microsoft program that checks your hard drive for logical...
churn Rate of change, usually high; instability caused by frequent...
CICS Not to be confused with CISC, CICS is online transaction...
CIDR Classless Inter-Domain Routing. This is a change in specifying...
CIO An executive title, usually at a medium or large-sized company....
CIR This term is used by ISPs to represent an amount of data that...
Circuit Most commonly, this describes an electrical device with a...
Circuit breaker A device that interrupts the flow of electricity if an...
CISC Microchips that support a large amount of instructions of...
Class A IP A group of IP addresses where the first number remains the...
Class B IP A group of IP addresses where the first two numbers remain the...
Class C IP A group of IP addresses where the first three numbers remain...
CLEC Competitive Local Exchange Carrier. See LEC.
client An individual computer on a network that runs its own programs...
client-server architecture In client-server architecture, the computing load is...
Client/Server Client server technology came about when computers began to...
Clip Art Graphics/artwork distributed for use in word processors, Web...
Clock chipping Synonym for overclocking.
Clock Cycle Think of a clock cycle as one tick of the second hand (but...
Clock Speed The speed in MHz of a microprocessor. It is one way of gauging...
Cluster A group of computers connected over a network that are running...
Clustering Clustering is a technology using two or more computers that...