Glossary
Computer
Electrical machine that can execute a list of instructions and perform calculations based on those instructions
Laptop
Small form factor computer designed to be mobile, but operates much the same as a desktop computer. Laptop hardware is proprietary and usually more expensive than desktop hardware.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Communication network that covers a small geographical area and is under the control of a single administrator.
Adware
Software program that displays advertising on a computer, usually distributed with downloaded software.
Backup
Copy of data saved onto alternate media, and should be physically removed from the source data.
Bandwidth
Amount of data that can be transmitted within a fixed time period.
Bit
Smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit can take the value of either 1 or 0. A bit is the binary format in which data is processed by computers.
Byte
A unit of measure that describes the size of a data file, the amount of space on a disk or other storage medium, or the amount of data being sent over a network. One byte consists of 8 bits of data.
Bluetooth
Wireless industry standard that uses an unlicensed radio frequency for short-range communication enabling portable devices to communicate over short distances.
Buffer
Storage area used for handling data in transit. Buffers are used in the internet to compensate for differences in processing speed between network devices. Bursts of data can be stored in buffers until they can be handled by slower processing devices. Sometimes referred to as a packet buffer.
Cable Modem
Acts like a LAN interface by connecting a computer to the Internet. The cable modem connects a computer to the cable company network through the same coaxial cabling that feeds cable TV (CATV) signals to a television set.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Interprets and processes software instructions and data. Located on the motherboard, the CPU is a chip contained on a single integrated circuit called the microprocessor. The CPU contains two basic components, a control unit and an Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU).
Chipset
Chips on a motherboard that enable the CPU to communicate and interact with the other components of the computer.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Public network technology that delivers high bandwidth over conventional copper wiring at limited distances. Always-on technology that allows users to connect to the Internet.
Electronic Mail (e-mail)
Ability for users to communicate over a computer network. The exchange of computer-stored messages by network communication.
Encryption
Security feature that applies a coding to a file so that only authorized users can view the file.
Ethernet
Baseband LAN specification invented by Xerox Corporation and developed jointly by Xerox, Intel, and Digital Equipment Corporation. Ethernet networks use CSMA/CD and run over a variety of cable types at 10 Mbps or more. Ethernet is similar to the IEEE 802.3 series of standards.
Fiber-optic Cable
Physical medium capable of conducting modulated light transmission. Compared with other transmission media, fiber-optic cable is more expensive, but is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference, and is capable of higher data rates. This cabling uses glass or plastic wire to carry information as light pulses. The modulated light is carried through the cable to transmit data.
Firewall
Router or access server, or several routers or access servers, designated as a buffer between any connected public networks and a private network. A firewall router uses access lists and other methods to ensure the security of the private network.
Gigahertz (GHz)
Common measurement of a processor equal to one billion cycles per second.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Device that stores and retrieves data from magnetic-coated platters that rotate at high speeds. The hard drive, or HDD, is the primary storage medium on a computer.
Hertz (Hz)
Unit of frequency measurement. Hz is the rate of change in the state, or cycle, in a sound wave, alternating current, or other cyclical waveform. Hertz is synonymous with cycles per second, and it describes the speed of a computer microprocessor.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
Page-description language used by browser applications such as Windows Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Standard used to transfer or convey information on the World Wide Web. HTTP is a communication protocol that establishes a request/response connection on the Internet.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
A protocol that uses authentication and encryption to secure data as it travels between the client and Web server.
Internet
Largest global inter-network that connects tens of thousands of networks worldwide.
Internet Protocol (IP)
Network layer protocol in the TCP/IP stack that offers a connectionless inter-network service. IP provides features for addressing, type-of-service specification, fragmentation and reassembly, and security. Documented in RFC 791.
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company that provides Internet service to home users, such as the local phone or cable company.
IP address
Unique number that devices use in order to identify and communicate with each other on a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol (IP) standard.
Java
Programming language for applets to run within a web browser. Examples of applets include a calculator or a counter.
JavaScript
Programming language developed to interact with HTML source code for interactive websites. Examples include a rotating banner or a popup window.
Kernel
The kernel is responsible for managing memory, processes, tasks and disks. It is the central module of the Windows operating system.
Keyboard
Input device with multi-functional keys.
kilobytes per second (KBps)
Measurement of the amount of data that is transferred over a connection such as a network connection. A data transfer rate of 1 KBps is a rate of approximately 1,000 bytes per second.
MAC address
Standardized data link layer address that is required for every port or device that connects to a LAN. Other devices in the network use these addresses to locate specific ports in the network and to create and update routing tables and data structures. MAC addresses are 6 bytes long and are controlled by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Also known as a hardware address, a MAC-layer address, burnt-in address, or a physical address.
Malware
Term taken from the words malicious and software. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the consent of the user.
Megabits per second (Mbps)
Common measurement of the amount of data that is transferred over a connection in one second. A data transfer rate of 1 Mbps is a rate of approximately 1 million bits or 1,000 kilobits per second.
Megabyte (MB)
1,048,576 bytes (or approximately 1 million bytes).
megabit
1,048,576 bits (approximately 1 million bits).
Megahertz (MHz)
One million Hz or cycles per second.
Motherboard
Main printed circuit board that connects all the components of the computer such as the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and controllers required for standard peripheral devices.
Network
Group of two or more electronic devices, such as computers, PDAs, and smartphones which communicate with each other to share data and resources.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Computer interface with the LAN. This card typically is inserted into an expansion slot in a computer and connects to the network medium.
Operating System (OS)
Software program that performs general system tasks, such as controlling RAM, prioritizing the processing, controlling input and output devices, and managing files.
Electrical machine that can execute a list of instructions and perform calculations based on those instructions
Laptop
Small form factor computer designed to be mobile, but operates much the same as a desktop computer. Laptop hardware is proprietary and usually more expensive than desktop hardware.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Communication network that covers a small geographical area and is under the control of a single administrator.
Adware
Software program that displays advertising on a computer, usually distributed with downloaded software.
Backup
Copy of data saved onto alternate media, and should be physically removed from the source data.
Bandwidth
Amount of data that can be transmitted within a fixed time period.
Bit
Smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit can take the value of either 1 or 0. A bit is the binary format in which data is processed by computers.
Byte
A unit of measure that describes the size of a data file, the amount of space on a disk or other storage medium, or the amount of data being sent over a network. One byte consists of 8 bits of data.
Bluetooth
Wireless industry standard that uses an unlicensed radio frequency for short-range communication enabling portable devices to communicate over short distances.
Buffer
Storage area used for handling data in transit. Buffers are used in the internet to compensate for differences in processing speed between network devices. Bursts of data can be stored in buffers until they can be handled by slower processing devices. Sometimes referred to as a packet buffer.
Cable Modem
Acts like a LAN interface by connecting a computer to the Internet. The cable modem connects a computer to the cable company network through the same coaxial cabling that feeds cable TV (CATV) signals to a television set.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Interprets and processes software instructions and data. Located on the motherboard, the CPU is a chip contained on a single integrated circuit called the microprocessor. The CPU contains two basic components, a control unit and an Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU).
Chipset
Chips on a motherboard that enable the CPU to communicate and interact with the other components of the computer.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Public network technology that delivers high bandwidth over conventional copper wiring at limited distances. Always-on technology that allows users to connect to the Internet.
Electronic Mail (e-mail)
Ability for users to communicate over a computer network. The exchange of computer-stored messages by network communication.
Encryption
Security feature that applies a coding to a file so that only authorized users can view the file.
Ethernet
Baseband LAN specification invented by Xerox Corporation and developed jointly by Xerox, Intel, and Digital Equipment Corporation. Ethernet networks use CSMA/CD and run over a variety of cable types at 10 Mbps or more. Ethernet is similar to the IEEE 802.3 series of standards.
Fiber-optic Cable
Physical medium capable of conducting modulated light transmission. Compared with other transmission media, fiber-optic cable is more expensive, but is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference, and is capable of higher data rates. This cabling uses glass or plastic wire to carry information as light pulses. The modulated light is carried through the cable to transmit data.
Firewall
Router or access server, or several routers or access servers, designated as a buffer between any connected public networks and a private network. A firewall router uses access lists and other methods to ensure the security of the private network.
Gigahertz (GHz)
Common measurement of a processor equal to one billion cycles per second.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Device that stores and retrieves data from magnetic-coated platters that rotate at high speeds. The hard drive, or HDD, is the primary storage medium on a computer.
Hertz (Hz)
Unit of frequency measurement. Hz is the rate of change in the state, or cycle, in a sound wave, alternating current, or other cyclical waveform. Hertz is synonymous with cycles per second, and it describes the speed of a computer microprocessor.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
Page-description language used by browser applications such as Windows Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Standard used to transfer or convey information on the World Wide Web. HTTP is a communication protocol that establishes a request/response connection on the Internet.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
A protocol that uses authentication and encryption to secure data as it travels between the client and Web server.
Internet
Largest global inter-network that connects tens of thousands of networks worldwide.
Internet Protocol (IP)
Network layer protocol in the TCP/IP stack that offers a connectionless inter-network service. IP provides features for addressing, type-of-service specification, fragmentation and reassembly, and security. Documented in RFC 791.
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company that provides Internet service to home users, such as the local phone or cable company.
IP address
Unique number that devices use in order to identify and communicate with each other on a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol (IP) standard.
Java
Programming language for applets to run within a web browser. Examples of applets include a calculator or a counter.
JavaScript
Programming language developed to interact with HTML source code for interactive websites. Examples include a rotating banner or a popup window.
Kernel
The kernel is responsible for managing memory, processes, tasks and disks. It is the central module of the Windows operating system.
Keyboard
Input device with multi-functional keys.
kilobytes per second (KBps)
Measurement of the amount of data that is transferred over a connection such as a network connection. A data transfer rate of 1 KBps is a rate of approximately 1,000 bytes per second.
MAC address
Standardized data link layer address that is required for every port or device that connects to a LAN. Other devices in the network use these addresses to locate specific ports in the network and to create and update routing tables and data structures. MAC addresses are 6 bytes long and are controlled by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Also known as a hardware address, a MAC-layer address, burnt-in address, or a physical address.
Malware
Term taken from the words malicious and software. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the consent of the user.
Megabits per second (Mbps)
Common measurement of the amount of data that is transferred over a connection in one second. A data transfer rate of 1 Mbps is a rate of approximately 1 million bits or 1,000 kilobits per second.
Megabyte (MB)
1,048,576 bytes (or approximately 1 million bytes).
megabit
1,048,576 bits (approximately 1 million bits).
Megahertz (MHz)
One million Hz or cycles per second.
Motherboard
Main printed circuit board that connects all the components of the computer such as the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and controllers required for standard peripheral devices.
Network
Group of two or more electronic devices, such as computers, PDAs, and smartphones which communicate with each other to share data and resources.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Computer interface with the LAN. This card typically is inserted into an expansion slot in a computer and connects to the network medium.
Operating System (OS)
Software program that performs general system tasks, such as controlling RAM, prioritizing the processing, controlling input and output devices, and managing files.