Computer Jargon Buster

There are lot of words within computing that many people dont understand. We have created a short list to help you get your head around the jargon.

 

A _________________________________________________________

 

ADSL = ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It is a method of connecting to the internet using a phone line using Ethernet networking instead of a modem.

 

Adware = Adware is software which displays ads on your computer. It is sometimes installed with a free application.

 

Antivirus = An Antivirus is a piece of computer software which protects your computer from viruses.

 

B  _________________________________________________________

 

Bandwidth = This is a measure of the total amount of data sent over a certain amount of time, it is often used to measure how busy a website is.

 

Broadband = A high speed connection to the internet

 

Bitmap = Bitmap also .bmp is the default extension for images made in paint.

 

Burn = Burn means to create a CD or DVD., example: "I burnt that film".

 

Browser = A program you use for viewing websites

 

C  _________________________________________________________

 

Cache = Cache is a temporary area for storage for recently used data . For example if you visit the same website again your computer can show it from the cache so you won't need to download the site again.

 

CD Burner = A CD drive which can create CDs.

 

D  _________________________________________________________

 

Database = An application which you use for organising any kind of info on a computer into a searchable form. Example a list of contacts:

 

Desktop = A computer which is designed to sit on a disk also in Windows it means the screen you see when you are not running any programmes

 

DNS = Domain Name Service is an internet service which converts a domain like www.site.com into its number address which the computers use called the IP address

 

E  _________________________________________________________

 

Ethernet = It is used to connect a computer to a network, including most broadband connections.

 

Extension = The part of a PC filename after the dot(.) Example: .pub .exe

 

F  _________________________________________________________

 

Firewall = A Firewall protects you from hackers.

 

Fire wire = A system which transfers data fast and is used mostly for applications which transfer very large files.

 

 

FTP = File Transfer Protocol is a way of transferring files to or from an internet server.

 

G  _________________________________________________________

 

GHz = Gigahertz is often used to measure the speed and power of a PC processer the bigger the number the better the speed.

 

GIF = A type of graphics file.

 

H  _________________________________________________________

 

Hacker = A hacker is a very advanced computer user and will break into your computer to steal information

 

HTML = HTML stands for Hypertext Mark Up Language, its the language the computer uses to read and write web pages

 

I  _________________________________________________________

 

Interface = An interface is a term meaning the screen you are viewing, for example: Windows Explorer is an interface

 

Internet = A network that the whole world can access via a modem using a cable or the phone line

 

K  _________________________________________________________

 

Kbs = A measurement of speed of how fast you are downloading data

 

Kilo byte = A measurement of memory space

 

L  _________________________________________________________

 

Landline = A term meaning telephone line, but this can also be used to access the internet

 

LAN = LAN stands for Local Area Network, This is a term for the network you are connected to

 

Laptop = A portable Computer

 

M  _________________________________________________________

 

MAC = Computer created by Apple Inc

 

Motherboard = The skeleton of the computer, this is connected to all the parts inside and outside your computer

 

Mouse = A pointing device to select something on your computer

 

Modem = A piece of hardware that connects your computer to the internet

 

N  _________________________________________________________

 

Notepad = An application on Windows that can be used to jot down notes and create websites

 

Norton = An Anti-Virus program created by Symantec

 

NTFS = Same as FAT & FAT32 but alot better, it stand for New Technology File System

 

O  _________________________________________________________

 

Operating System = The main piece of software on your computer that makes it work. example: Microsoft Windows an Mac OSX are Operating Systems

 

Online = A term meaning you are on the internet

 

Outbox = A folder in your E-Mail program containing E-Mails that have been written but haven't been sent

 

P  _________________________________________________________

 

Port = This can either be a plug on your computer such as a USB Port or part of the Internet settings

 

Printer = A piece of hardware that puts documents or photos on paper with ink

 

Pixel = A very small part of your monitor/screen that displays what is on the monitor/screen

 

Q  _________________________________________________________

 

QuickTime = A media player for your computer made by Apple Inc

 

R  _________________________________________________________

 

RAM = RAM stands for Random Access Memory, It's the memory that determines the speed that information is sent around your computer

 

S  _________________________________________________________

 

Speakers = Pieces of hardware that produce sound from your computer

 

Sound Card = A piece of hardware that sends the sound information to the speakers

 

T  _________________________________________________________

 

Tool Bar = A bar on your computer containing lots of different tools you can use on different pieces of software, For example: Microsoft Windows Start Bar is a tool bar

 

Tab = A feature in Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer that allows you to have many web pages open in one window

 

U  _________________________________________________________

 

USB = USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, It's a type of plug that connects different types of hardware

 

V  _________________________________________________________

 

Virtual Machine = A piece of software that allows you to run an operating system within another operating system

 

Virus = A type of file that will attempt to destroy your computer

 

W  _________________________________________________________

 

Workstation = A term for Computer or Laptop

 

Windows = An Operating System created by Microsoft

 

X _________________________________________________________

 

XML = A type of language that is used to create RSS Feeds and is very similar to CSS

 

XHTML = A more complex version of HTML

 

Z  _________________________________________________________

 

ZIP = A type of file that is used to compact a number of files together to make them smaller