COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY:-
Terms
Beginning with "F"
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Facebook is a social networking
website that was originally designed for college students, but is now open to
anyone...
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Stands for "Frequently
Asked Questions," and can be pronounced "fak" or simply
"F-A-Q." An FAQ is a text file that is...
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This strange term refers to the
way Windows stores data on your hard drive. "FAT" stands for
"File Allocation Table...
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This is a cable made up of
super-thin filaments of glass or other transparent materials that can carry
beams of light...
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Stands for "First In,
First Out." FIFO is a method of processing and retrieving data. In a
FIFO system, the first...
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A file is a collection of data
stored in one unit, identified by a filename. It can be a document, picture,
audio or...
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A file extension is the last
part of a filename, after the dot (e.g. ".pdf"). Most file
extensions are three...
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A file format describes the way
data is stored in a file. It defines the data structure (how the data is
organized in...
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Most people have several
thousand files on their computer's hard disk, so imagine how hard it would be
to find anything...
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A filename is a text string
that identifies a file. Every file stored on a computer's hard disk has a
filename that...
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The Finder serves as the
primary graphical user interface (GUI) for Macintosh computers. It includes
the desktop...
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Stands for "Fiber Optic
Service." FiOS is a data communications service provided by Verizon that
uses fiber optic...
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The term "firewall"
originally referred to fireproof walls that were designed to prevent the
spread of fire from one...
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This high-speed interface has
become a hot new standard for connecting peripherals (no pun intended).
Created by Apple...
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Firmware is a software program
or set of instructions programmed on a hardware device. It provides the
necessary...
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Flaming is the act of posting
or sending offensive messages over the Internet. These messages, called
"flames," may be...
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Flash is a multimedia
technology used for creating animations and interactive websites. Web
developers often use Flash...
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Flash drives have many names —
jump drives, thumb drives, pen drives, and USB keychain drives. Regardless
of...
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Flash memory is a type of
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). Whew, that's a
mouthful. The...
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A flat file database is a
database that stores data in a plain text file. Each line of the text file
holds one record...
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A flatbed is a type of scanner
or copier that uses a flat, glass surface for scanning documents or other
objects. Most...
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As the name implies, floating
point numbers are numbers that contain floating decimal points. For example,
the numbers...
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Floppy disks have an
interesting name, considering they do not appear to be "floppy."
However, if you take the actual...
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FLOPS is an acronym that means
"Floating Point Operations Per Second." FLOPS is a measurement unit
that defines the...
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A flowchart is a diagram that
describes a process or operation. It includes multiple steps, which the
process "flows...
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Just like real world folders,
folders on your hard drive store files. These files can be documents,
programs, scripts...
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A font is a specific typeface
of a certain size and style. For example, one font may be Arial 12 pt bold,
while...
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Formatting a disk involves
rewriting the directory structure, or file system, of a disk. All disks must
be formatted...
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A formula is a calculation
performed on one or more variables. It may be a simple operation, such as the
addition of...
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Stands for "Floating Point
Unit." The first computer processors were far better at dealing with
integers than with...
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In the computer world, a frame
can be many different things. The different definitions of "frame"
are listed below: ...
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Like shareware, freeware is
software you can download, pass around, and distribute without any initial
payment...
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An online friend is a person
added to your list of friends on a social networking website, such as Facebook
or MySpace...
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While "frozen"
describes the state of Minnesota from November to March, it also refers to an
unresponsive computer...
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Stands for "frontside
bus." The FSB connects the computer's processor to the system memory
(RAM) and other components...
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Stands for "File Transfer
Protocol." It is a common method of transferring files via the Internet
from one computer to...
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Terms
Beginning with "G"
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Gamma correction is used to
alter the output levels of a display. Since the standard input signal (or
voltage level...
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A gateway is either hardware or
software that acts as a bridge between two networks so that data can be transferred...
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A gibibyte is a unit of data
storage that equals 2 to the 30th power, or 1,073,741,824 bytes. While a
gigabyte can...
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The letters "GIF"
actually stand for "Graphics Interchange Format," but you don't
need to remember that. What you...
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A gigabyte is 2 to the 30th
power, or 1,073,741,824 bytes. It can be estimated as 10 to the 9th power, or
one...
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Gigaflops is a unit of
measurement that measures the processing power of a processor's floating point
unit, or FPU...
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One gigahertz is equal to 1,000
megahertz (MHz) or 1,000,000,000 Hz. It is commonly used to measure
computer...
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Stands for "Garbage In,
Garbage Out." It means that if invalid data is entered in a computer
program, the resulting...
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Stands for "Geographic
Information Systems." GIS tools are used to gather and analyze data
about the surface of the...
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GNU (a recursive acronym for
"GNU's Not Unix") is a Unix-like (operating
system|operating_system) that is available in...
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Gnutella is a file sharing
network that allows users to send and receive files over the Internet. The
first part of...
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Golden master is the final
stage of the software development process. It describes the "Release to
Manufacturing" or...
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Goodput sounds like a golf term
that describes sinking a 20 foot birdie putt. However, in the computer world,
goodput...
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Google is the world's most
popular search engine. It began as a search project in 1996 by Larry Page and
Sergey Brin...
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The Gopher technology was
invented at the University of Minnesota, whose mascot is, not surprisingly,
the Golden...
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Stands for "Global
Positioning System." GPS is a satellite navigation system used to
determine ground position and...
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Stands for "Graphics
Processing Unit." Like the CPU (Central Processing Unit), it is a
single-chip processor...
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Computer graphics are images
displayed on a computer screen. They can be either two or
three-dimensional...
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Stands for "Graphical User
Interface," and is pronounced "gooey." It refers to the
graphical interface of a computer...
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Stands for "Globally
Unique Identifier." A GUID is a 128-bit (16 byte) number used by
software programs to uniquely...
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Terms
Beginning with "H"
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While this term originally
referred to a clever or expert programmer, it is now more commonly used to
refer to someone...
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A halftone image is made up of
a series of dots rather than a continuous tone. These dots can be different
sizes...
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In online chat, the name you
use is often referred to as your screen name, or handle. So if you decided to
name...
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A hard copy is a printed
document. It may be a text file, photograph, drawing, or any other type of
printable file...
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When you save data or install
programs on your computer, the information is typically written to your hard
disk. The...
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The hard drive is what stores
all your data. It houses the hard disk, where all your files and folders are
physically...
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A hard token, sometimes called
an "authentication token," is a hardware security device that is
used to authorize a...
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Computer hardware refers to the
physical parts of a computer and related devices. Internal hardware devices
include...
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Stands for
"High-Definition Multimedia Interface." HDMI is a digital interface
for transmitting audio and video data...
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Stands for "High
Definition Televsion." HDTV is a high-quality video standard developed
to replace older video formats...
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Stands for
"High-Definition Video." According to a consortium of manufacturers
including Sony, JVC, Canon, and Sharp...
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A computer's CPU may perform
millions of calculations every second. As the processor continues to work at
a rapid...
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Hertz (abbreviated: Hz) is the
standard unit of measurement used for measuring frequency. Since frequency
is...
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Generally speaking, a heuristic
is a "rule of thumb," or a good guide to follow when making
decisions. In computer...
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Hexadecimal is a base-16 number
system. It is a different method of representing numbers than the base-10
system we...
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Stands for "Hierarchical
File System." HFS is the file system used for organizing files on a
Macintosh hard disk...
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If you are not going to use
your computer for a few hours, it is a good idea to put it to sleep (also
known as standby...
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Technically, a hit is a request
made to a Web server. It is a popular misconception that the term refers to
the number...
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This is the starting point or
front page of a Web site. This page usually has some sort of table of
contents on it and...
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A horizontal market is one that
supplies goods to a variety of industries instead of just one. Therefore,
horizontal...
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This is a computer that acts as
a server for other computers on a network. It can be a Web server, an e-mail
server...
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When you roll the cursor over a
link on a Web page, it is often referred to as "hovering" over the
link. This is...
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Stands for "Heat Sink and
Fan." Nearly all computers have heat sinks, which help keep the CPU cool
and prevent it from...
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Stands for "Hyper-Text
Markup Language." This is the language that Web pages are written in.
Also known as hypertext...
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Stands for "HyperText
Transfer Protocol." This is the protocol used to transfer data over the
World Wide Web. That's...
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Stands for "HyperText
Transport Protocol Secure." HTTPS is the same thing as HTTP, but uses a
secure socket layer...
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This is a hardware device that
is used to network multiple computers together. It is a central connection
for all the...
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Hyper-threading is a technology
developed by Intel Corporation. It is used in certain Pentium 4 processors
and all...
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A hyperlink is a word, phrase,
or image that you can click on to jump to a new document or a new section
within the...
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Most Web navigation is done by
clicking text-based links that open new pages in a Web browser. These links,
which are...
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Hypertext is text that links to
other information. By clicking on a link in a hypertext document, a user can
quickly...
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Terms
Beginning with "I"
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Stands for
"Input/Output" and is pronounced simply "eye-oh."
Computers are based on the fundamental idea that every...
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Each I/O device connected to
your computer is mapped to a unique I/O (Input/Output) address. These
addresses are...
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The personal computer market in
the early 1980's consisted primarily of Apple and IBM computers. Apple's
systems ran a...
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Stands for "Internet
Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers." The ICANN is an non-profit
corporation that is...
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Stands for "Internet
Connection Firewall." ICF is a Windows XP feature that protects
computers connected to the...
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Stands for "Internet
Control Message Protocol." When information is transferred over the
Internet, computer systems...
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Ever since the Macintosh was
introduced in 1984, icons have been the way we view files on computers. An
icon on your...
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ICQ is a popular online chat
program that allows users to communicate with each other over the Internet.
It is similar...
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Stands for "Internet
Connection Sharing." ICS allows multiple computers to connect to the
Internet using the same...
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ICT is short for
"Information and Communication Technologies." It is similar to IT
(Information Technology), but...
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IDE may either stand for
"Integrated Device Electronics" or "Integrated Development
Environment." The first is a...
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Stands for the "Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers." This is a non-profit
organization that develops...
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Stands for "Integrated
Graphics Processor." An IGP is a graphics chip that is integrated into a
computer's...
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When a program on your computer
has an error, you may see a message pop up on the screen saying,
"Illegal Operation...
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Stands for "Instant
Message." Instant messaging, or "IMing," as frequent users
call it, has become a popular way to...
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Stands for "Internet
Message Access Protocol" and is pronounced "eye-map." It is a
method of accessing e-mail messages...
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An impact printer is a printer
that strikes a print head against an ink ribbon to mark the paper. Common
examples...
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It is said that you never get a
second chance to make a first impression. Well, in the wonderful world of the
World...
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An inbox is the main folder
that your incoming mail gets stored in. Whether you check your mail through a
webmail...
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An index is a list of data,
such as group of files or database entries. It is typically saved in a plain
text format...
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Infotainment is a combo word,
like "fantabulous," that combines two words into one. It refers to
television shows...
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Inkjet printers are the most
common type of consumer printers. The inkjet technology works by spraying
very fine drops...
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Whenever you enter data into
your computer, it is referred to as input. This can be text typed in a word
processing...
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An input device is any device
that provides input to a computer. There are dozens of possible input
devices, but the...
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Most software programs require
that you first install them on your computer before using them. For example,
if you buy...
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In order to install new
software on your computer, you often need to run an installer program. This
program unpacks...
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An integer is a whole number
(not a fraction) that can be positive, negative, or zero. Therefore, the
numbers...
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An integrated circuit, or IC,
is small chip that can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer,
microprocessor, or...
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Intellectual property refers to
the ownership of intangible and non-physical goods. This includes ideas,
names...
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An interface is a port on a
hardware device that allows it to connect to another device. Common hardware
interfaces...
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A common way to compress video
is to interlace it. Each frame of an interlaced video signal shows every
other...
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As the name implies, an
internal hard drive is a hard drive located inside a computer. Nearly all
computers come with...
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Believe it or not, the Internet
was created way back in 1969, during the Cold War, by the United States
military. It...
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Stands for "Internet
Network Information Center." The InterNIC is an organization created by
the National Science...
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Contrary to popular belief,
this is not simply a misspelling of "Internet." "Intra"
means "internal" or "within," so...
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Stands for "Internet
Protocol." It provides a standard set of rules for sending and receiving
data through the...
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Also known as an "IP
number" or simply an "IP," this is a code made up of numbers
separated by three dots that...
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The iPad is a lightweight
tablet PC developed by Apple. It looks similar to an iPhone, but has a much
larger...
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Apple's iPhone is a smartphone
that functions as a mobile phone, an iPod, and can run third-party apps. It
runs the...
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The iPod is a portable music
player developed by Apple Computer. Though it is an Apple product, the iPod
can be used...
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IPv4 is the fourth revision of
the Internet Protocol and is the most common version used today. It uses
32-bit...
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Every computer system and
device connected to the Internet is located by an IP address. The current
system of...
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Stands for "Internetwork
Packet Exchange." (I didn't know "exchange" started with an
"x" either.) It is a networking...
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Stands for "Internet Relay
Chat." IRC makes it possible for people using the Internet to converse
with each other in...
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Stands for "Interrupt
Request." PCs use interrupt requests to manage various hardware
operations. Devices such as...
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Stands for "Industry
Standard Architecture." ISA is a type of bus used in PCs for adding
expansion cards. For example...
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Stands for "Internet Small
Computer Systems Interface." iSCSI is an extension of the standard SCSI
storage interface...
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Stands for "Integrated
Services Digital Network." No, it's not the same thing as the ISBN you
see in books. ISDN is a...
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Stands for "International
Organization for Standardization." Yes, technically the acronym should
be "IOFS," but I...
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Stands for "Internet
Service Provider." In order to connect to the Internet, you need an ISP.
It is the company that...
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Stands for "Information
Technology," and is pronounced "I.T." It refers to anything
related to computing technology...
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Iteration is the repetition of
a function or process in a computer program. Iterations of functions are
common in...
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iTunes is an audio playback
program developed by Apple Computer. You can use iTunes to import songs from
CDs as well...
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Stands for "Interactive
Voice Response." IVR is a telephony technology that can read a
combination of touch tone and...
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