Computer & Internet Acronyms

                                                Computer & Internet Acronyms

Absolute Address

 Exact data memory location

ActiveX

 Tools to link applications to the web

Adware

 Software supported by advertisements

Analog

 Data represented by a continuous signal or information

Applet

 A Java program embedded in web page

Archie

 A program to find files on FTP servers

Avatar

 A character representing an internet user

Backbone

 Network mainline carrying data to smaller lines

Bandwidth

 Amount of data sent through network

Bit

 Smallest piece of information, that is, either 1 or 0

Bluetooth

 A short range wireless technology to connect electronic devices

Boot

To start a computer

Byte

 Sequence of information bits, which equals 8 bits

Cache

 Technically classifying, it stores recently visited web addresses,

web pages in hard disk/RAM/near processor, depending on cache types,

for fast retrieval

Captcha

 Response test that shows if the user is human or not

Centronics

36 pin parallel interface standard

Computer

  A machine that computes and is programmable

Cookie

 It is an internet term where the web server sent data records your

activities on websites. Some websites record & remember information

like your username and password, so you don’t have to type them again.

Crop

 Removing part of an image or photo

Cyber Bullying

 Harassing or threatening the young via cyberspace

Cyber Squatter

 Someone registering a domain name (without web pages) to sell it

Default

 When a user does not specify a setting, a preset value is used

Degauss

 Removing magnetism from a device

Digital

 Data represented in a series of zeros and ones

DirectX

 Mostly used in video games, it is a set of commands

Domain

 Network and computers connected to internet

Domain Name

 Website name

Driver

 A file that aids computer to connect with the hardware device

Dual-Core

 A CPU that has 2 processors in a chip

Embed

  Adding something from one document to another

Emoticons

  Text based faces/objects

Encryption

 Conversion of data into unreadable state

Ethernet

 A networking connection that uses coaxial cables

 

Exabyte

 Unit of data storage equalling to 2 to 60th power bytes

Fiber Optic

 Transmits information faster than copper wire

File Sharing

 Way of giving same file to many users by one server

Firewire

 High speed interface for connecting digital/electronic players to computers

Firmware

 Software programmed into hardware

Flash Drive

 Data storage device with less units

Gigabyte (GB)

 Equals 1024 megabytes

Gigahertz

 Measurement for computer processing speed. 1 gigahertz =1000 megahertz

Gnutella

 Internet file sharing network

Golden Master

 Final version of software program sent to make retail copies

Hacker

 A sly person who gains illegal access to other people’s computers

Hard Copy

 A document that is printed

Hardware

 Internal and external physical parts of a computer system

Heat Sink

 A metal alloy that absorbs heat from the processor

Host

 A network computer that acts as a server to other computers

Icon

 A tiny display representing files and folders

Infrared

 Red light invisible to naked eye and used in some wireless devices

Integrated Circuit

 A semiconductor chip

Internet

 A super highway network that connects smaller networks

Intranet

 Internal network within an organisation

IP Address

 It is internet protocol numbers ranging from 0 to 255 and separated

by 3 dots. It is assigned to a computer connected to internet by

Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Iteration

 Program process repetition

JavaScript

 A scripting language developed by Sun Microsystems

 

Joystick

 A device consisting of base and stick used in video games

Jumper

 Metal bridge to close electrical circuit

Kerberos

 Used to give secure network authentication

Kernel

 The foundation layer of an operating system

Keygen

 Key generator that automatically generates  a registration or serial #

Keylogger

 Keystrokes recording program that could be used by a hacker to find

out passwords

Kibibyte (KiB)

 Exact units of 1024 bytes

Kilobyte (KB)

 Estimated 1000 bytes or 1024 bytes depending on the content in use.

Hence, kilobyte has ambiguous units.

LAN

 Local area network that covers a small area

Leaf

 A file in hard disk

Limewire

 A free software that allows network users to share files

Linkedin

 Business social networking site

Linux

 Operating system developed by Linus Torvalds. It is a popular OS for

hosting web servers.

Macro

 A command/script in form of a key or symbol

Mainframe

 Big powerful computer processing mammoth volume at high speed

Malware

 Programs like virus & Trojan intended to damage computers

Media

 Data storage hardware like DVD, CD, HD

Meta Tag

 Tool to store details like keywords & contents of a web page

Memory Stick

 Sony’s flash memory cards

Name Server

 Web domain is referred to IP address by name server

Nanosecond

 A billionth of a second

Network

 A system of connected computers that send and receive data

Node

 Anything connected to a network

Null Value

 Something that has no value in programming

Offline

 State of computer devices that are neither turned on nor connected

Online

 State of computer devices that are turned on and connected

Operating System(OS)

 The significant program that runs the computer hardware

Oracle

 Database management program developed by Oracle Corporation

Overclock

 Technique to run a microprocessor faster than intended

Packet

 Amount of data sent from source to destination

Path

 Address of file

Peer to Peer (P2P)

 Connected workstations sharing files without a central server

Peripheral

 Any device attached to computer externally Phishing (i.e. Password harvesting fishing)

 Attempting to garner personal information via emails that seem genuine from banking and popular    

 websites

Primary Key

 A value that mainly identifies a record in a table

Quad-Core

 CPU having 4 separate processors in a chip

Query

 Request of a database in computer

Queue

 Series of tasks waiting to be done by programs

QWERTY

 Denotes standard keyboard because Q,W,E,R,T,Y keys are side by side

in the upper left row

Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Memory cells that make up memory module. Data is always loaded from

hard disk to RAM since it is faster to read from it. The best method

to make your computer work faster is to increase its RAM.

Raw Data

 Data that is not processed

Read-only Memory (ROM)

 Memory storing hardware information that is not lost when power is turned off

Real Time

 The moment, data is received, it is processed

Reboot

 To restart

Registry

 Database storing set up, software and hardware configuration information in Windows OS

Router

 A device connecting one local area network to another

Script

 A series of commands performed by a program

Serial Port

 Interface or connection to peripherals

Server

 Mainframe computer that serves other attached computers

Shadowing

 Method of using high speed RAM to make computer to work faster

Simplex

 Circuit that can either transmit or receive

Software

 A code or program that is read by computer

Spam

 Unnecessary emails

Static

 Non interactive web page

System

 Comprehensive inclusion of hardware, software & firmware items

Terabyte (TB)

 One trillion bytes

Terminal

 An internet computer screen

Throughout

 Data amount processed in a given time

Topology

 Physical and logical set up of a network

Trojan

 Dangerous virus loaded deceptively through a host program

Undo

 A command to cancel previous action

Universal Resource Locator (URL)

 Another term for internet address

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

 Computer port that is faster

Unix

 Web server operating system developed by AT & T

Upload

 To transfer files from local computer to web server/network

Virtual Memory

 Memory generated by  hard disk sectors when RAM is full

Virtual Reality

 Computer created illusion of reality

Virus

 A code or program designed to replicate and damage computers

Wave

 Microsoft’s waveform sound format

Weblog

 A personal journal or blog on the web

Workstation

 Any computer attached to internet

X2

 Technology to send higher data rates on old phone system

XMS(Extended Memory Specification)

 Procedure for using extended memory & area  of disk operating system (DOS)

Y2K

 Year 2000; the predicted Millennium Bug that flopped

Yottabyte (YB)

 Largest data storage unit, i.e. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes

Zero Day Exploit

 Computer security loophole issue & attack on it are known on same

day. Zero day left to release patch to fix it.

Zettabyte (ZB)

 1,000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 bytes

Zipping

Compressing files to save space

Zune

  Digital music entertainment developed by Microsoft