Download - Common Computer Jargon Terms Jargon Buster
Common Computer Jargon terms/definitions translated into plain
English.
Jargon Buster
ADSL
Transmits digital information at broadband speed on phone lines.
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Backup
Copying computer files and documents from your hard disk to removable media or another
computer to protect against loss of the originals.
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Bandwidth
The amount of data which can be transferred from a website by visitors.
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Beta
Version of a software application or system still in development.
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Bios
Basic input output system. Software built into PC's, to control the basic operation of devices
such as the screen and keyboard.
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Blog
Short for "web log", a blog is an online journal or news site.
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Bluetooth
A technology that allows devices (computers, phones, printers, sat nav's) to communicate
with each other wirelessly.
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Broadband
A fast Internet connection.
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Browser
A program, such as Internet Explorer, used to navigate the Internet
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Browsing
Using a web browser application to look at website's on the Internet
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Burning
To record data to a CD or DVD.
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Calibration
The process of checking and adjusting a measuring instrument to ensure accuracy.
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Cell
A spreadsheet page uses rows and columns to split a page into cells. (a bit like a battle
ships game)
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Colour Depth
The range of colours with which an image can be displayed. Usually measured in bits.
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Configure
To tweak the functions of software or hardware to the particular settings you require. For
example, Windows can be configured to display a colour background.
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Cookies
Text files generated by website's and stored on your hard disk.
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CPU
Central Processing Unit. (works like the heart would in a human body) Governs the
processing of information and how quickly it can process the information, depending on
processor speed.
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CSS
Cascading Style Sheets. Gives website developers and users more control over how pages
are displayed.
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Cursor
A flashing shape on the screen showing where the next character you type in will appear.
When entering text in a word processor, the cursor is normally a flashing vertical bar.
Sometimes, the word cursor is used to describe the on-screen mouse pointer.
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Default
A standard software or hardware setting. Sometimes the computer will already have made
some selections - these are called the defaults. You can change the defaults to fit your own
preference, or accept them as supplied.
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Defrag
Software that reorganises the data stored on a hard disk so that it can be accessed as
quickly as possible by the PC.
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Desktop
The background area on screen where Windows files and icons appear.
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Dialogue Box
A window that pops up to display or request information.
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Digital Camera
A camera that stores images in computer memory rather than on light-sensitive film.
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Domain Name
The name used to identify a site on the Internet: in the address www.dazzle-it.com the
domain is "Dazzle-IT".
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Dongle
A device attached to a computer that adds hardware capabilities.
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Download
Process of transferring files onto your PC directly from another computer.
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Drag and drop
Enables users to move files around by clicking on an icon, then holding down the left hand
button on a mouse.
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Driver
A program that allows Windows to communicate with a peripheral device.
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Dual-Boot
The ability to boot your computer using one of two different operating systems.
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DVD
Digital Versatile Disk. Used to store files from music to videos. Also used to view films.
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Electronic Mail. A system of sending notes and memos between computers via the Internet.
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Encrypt
To scramble data it can be read by the sender and authorised recipient.
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Extension
The three-letter code at the end of a filename that indicates the type or format of the file.
(e.g. .doc, a word document, or .xls for spreadsheets)
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Firewall
A system that prevents unauthorised access to a computer over a network.
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Firmware
Basic software permanently stored on a device that controls its basic operation.
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Flash
Application used to create high-quality animations on website’s.
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Freeware
Software, often downloadable from the net, which is then free for you to keep and use.
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FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A way of transferring files over the Internet
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GB
(Gigabyte) A measurement of storage capacity usually for hard disks. 1GB is equal to 1,024
MB (Megabytes).
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Graphics Card
The part of the PC that displays the image you see on a computer's monitor.
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Hacking
The slang term to describe illegal access of computer systems by unauthorised users.
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Hard Disk
A high-capacity disk drive fitted in almost all PCs and used to store both applications and
the documents and files they create.
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HTML
Hypertext Mark-up Language. The language used to create pages for a website.
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HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
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Hyperlink
A clickable link on a web page or in a document that takes you elsewhere, such as to
another website or page.
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Icon
A small image used by Windows to identify a file or application.
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Internet
A global network that links millions of computers, using phone and cable links. Users
connect to server computers, which act rather like a local phone exchange. A modem
connects your PC to the server from home, allowing you to become part of the Internet.
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IP
Internet Protocol Address. A computer's IP address is similar to a phone number in
function. (your computers private address, a bit like your home address)
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ISP
Internet Service Provider. A company that provides you with an Internet connection.
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JPEG
A common format for image files. JPEG images are compressed and the small file size
makes them ideal for web pages.
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Keystroke Loggers
Software that records each key pressed on a PC and transmits the data to a third-party in
an attempt to steal passwords and financial details.
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LAN
Local Area Network. Two or more computers connected, either physically or wirelessly, with
the ability to share resources such as printers.
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LCD
Liquid Crystal Display. Technology used to create low-power, slim display panels. Used in
everything from digital watches to flat-screen monitors.
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Linux
An operating system that runs on a variety of computers and can be freely modified and
distributed by its users.
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Macro
An automated series of commands or operations that can be run at any time.
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Malware
Software that performs harmful or surreptitious acts.
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MB
Megabytes. A measurement of storage capacity, usually for computer memory.
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Megapixel
A measure of the level of detail recorded by digital cameras and camcorders. A one-
Megapixel image is made from one million tiny dots (pixels).
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Memory Card
Small cards that can store many megabytes (MB) of data.
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Motherboard
The main circuit board inside any PC into which every other component connects to and
communicates through.
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MP3
A standard for compressing digital audio. The sound quality is close to that of CD audio but
needs only a fraction of the storage space.
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Multimedia
A combination of recorded audio, video, still images and documents.
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Network
Connecting several computers and printers to share data.
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Notification Area
An area on the bottom of a screen that shows which programs are always running in
Windows.
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OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer. It refers to components sold to manufacturers purely for
incorporation in complete systems. Often, OEM parts are similar to those sold retail, but
may be cheaper or sold with different software.
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Online
The time you spend connected to or via the Internet
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Operating System
Governs the way the hardware and software components in a computer work together. (the
brain of the system)
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Partition
A large hard disk can be split into two or more partitions, or "virtual" drives.
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PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect. A high-performance expansion slot for desktop PCs,
allowing simple installation of PCI components such as sound cards and modems.
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Portable Document Format. A file format that allows pages of text and graphics to be
viewed and printed correctly on a PC.
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Peripheral
An item such as a mouse, keyboard, joy pad etc… all external devices of a PC or Laptop.
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Phishing
A form of Internet fraud that tries to trick you into revealing personal details.
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Playlist
A list of audio tracks queued for playback, not unlike a stack of records on an old record
player.
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Plug-In
A small program that adds extra features to your web browser or to other applications, and
is loaded only when it's needed.
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Pod cast
A digital audio file for downloading from the Internet
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Pop-Up
A message that an be displayed on the screen by pressing the appropriate key, usually
displayed over material on the screen.
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Port
A socket at the back of the PC's base, where you plug in items like the printer or keyboard.
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Portal
A website that offers a variety of services, such as news, weather reports, stock
information, email and so on.
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QWERTY Keyboard
The standard English keyboard layout, called this as the first 6 letters on the top row of the
keyboard are QWERTY. Similarly, French keyboards can be referred to as AZERTY while
some other languages, including German, use a QWERTZ keyboard layout.
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Ram
Random Access Memory. The computer's working area, used for data storage while the PC
is switched on.
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Refresh Rate
Measured in Hertz (Hz) the number of times per second that the image on your monitor is
redrawn.
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Resolution
The amount of detail shown in an image, whether on screen or printed.
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Rip
Digitally extract the music data from a CD-ROM or audio CD. Ripping a track from an audio
CD is the first stage of compressing it as an MP3 file.
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Router
A device used to connect more than one computer together and/or to the Internet as an
alternative to a modem.
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RSS
Really Simple Syndication. A format for automatically distributing news headlines and other
content from the web.
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Scanner
A device that uses a light sensor to convert a drawing, photo or document into data which
can then be interpreted by software on your PC.
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Search Engine
A site on the Internet that indexes the names and addresses of other sites. It enables you
to search for sites containing certain keywords.
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Server
A computer on a network that stores shared information.
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Shortcut
A file that acts as a link to something else, such as a program file or disk drive.
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Skin
A different, purely cosmetic appearance for an application.
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Slider
A control which allows you to change a setting by clicking and "dragging" a slider.
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Software
Any program or group of programs that tells hardware how it should perform, including
operating systems.
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Spam
Junk email sent to large groups of people offering such things as money-spinning ideas,
holidays, and so on.
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Spyware
Software installed (usually surreptitiously) to monitor and report back on a computer's use.
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Streaming
When data flows to your PC as and when it is needed.
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S-Video
A higher-quality video connection that carries brightness and colour information separately.
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Taskbar
The bar along the bottom of the screen in windows.
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Template
A document that contains all the required formatting for a specific type of page design.
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Thumbnail
A small image used to give a quick preview of a larger image.
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Toolbar
A strip of icons that runs across the top of most Windows applications.
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Tool tips
A small window that pops up beside the mouse pointer to describe what an item does.
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Trojan
A malicious program disguised as a harmless program.
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Upgrade
To improve the performance or specification of your computer by adding more memory, a
larger hard disk, a bigger faster processor or making another improvement.
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URL
Uniform Resource Locator. The unique address of a web page.
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USB
Universal Serial Bus. A standard that allows quick and easy connection of external
peripherals such as storage devices to your PC (keyboard, memory stick, mouse, camera,
printer, modems etc). These devices can be added or removed while your PC is switched
on.
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VGA
Visual Graphics Adapter. A very basic standard for graphics output, specifying that the
monitor and graphics card should be able to display 16 different colours at a resolution of
640 x 480 pixels.
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Virus
A malicious computer program designed to cause at best annoyance and at worst, damage
to computer data. Viruses usually spread from computer to computer by email.
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WAV File
An audio format that creates high quality but large files.
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Webcam
A video camera designed to connect your PC.
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Webmail
An email account that can be accessed from any PC connected to the Internet
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Website
A linked group of one or more web pages. Each page or site has its own distinctive'
address'. This is prefixed by the letters www.
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Wep
Wireless Equivalent Privacy. A way to encrypt data being transmitted over a wireless
network.
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Wifi
A catchier name for the 802.11b or 802.11g standards used for wireless networking
devices.
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Windows
The operating system found on virtually all modern PCs. It allows you to control your
computer and to run programs.
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Wizard
An automated online assistant to guide you through a process.
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Wma
Windows Media Audio. A compressed digital music format developed by Microsoft that
allows secure encoding of music tracks.
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Worksheet
A single page of data within a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3.
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WPA
Wifi Protected Access. A standard for wireless networks that is more secure than WEP.
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WWW
World Wide Web.
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