Jargon Buster
1080p Of the common types of high-definition video, this is the best quality: 1920x1080 pixels.
32bit/64bit A measure of how much data a PC can process at once. Most older computers are 32bit, more modern ones are 64bit.
3G/4G/5G Technologies that deliver faster mobile broadband.
4K Video with a resolution of at least 3840x2160 pixels.
720p/1080p Common types of high-definition video of 1280x720 and 1920x1080 pixels respectively.
802.11ax Wi-fi standard with speeds up to 10 times faster than 802.11ac. Also called Wi-fi 6.
Bandwidth A measure of how much data can be transferred through a connection at one time.
Benchmark Compare products with an accepted standard.
Beta A version of software that’s being tested.
Bloatware Unwanted software built into a new device.
Client A program that acts as an interface between PC and server.
Clock speed The speed at which a processor can perform operations.
CHK A format for temporary files used by Wordperfect for Windows.
Co-ax A type of cable where one wire is surrounded by insulation, then surrounded by another wire.
Core Units on a processor that carry out program instructions.
.DOCX The default file format used by Word 2007 and later.
Driver A file that tells Windows how to work with an external device.
EMMC Flash storage commonly found in cheap laptops and tablets.
EXE A program file designed to run in Windows.
EXFAT Microsoft’s file system for USB sticks and SD cards.
Exposure Amount of light collected by a digital camera’s sensor.
Gesture Finger movements on a screen or touchpad that perform an action.
GHZ Gigahertz. A measure of how many instructions a chip can process per second.
GIF A type of image file often used on the web.
Graphics card A component in a computer that produces the image shown on the monitor.
Greyscale The range of grey shades from white to black used in monochrome prints.
HDCP Copy-protection technology built into Blu-ray players.
HDMI A type of connection that transmits high-definition video and audio signals.
HTML The language used to write most web pages.
IMAP A method for email that lets the user manage messages stored on a remote server.
IPX7 Industry rating that means a device can withstand incidental exposure to water of up to one metre for up to 30 minutes.
JPEG Common type of image file created by most digital cameras.
LCD Technology used to create almost all flatscreen monitors.
LED Light-emitting diode. An electronic device that emits light.
Lidar Light Detection and Ranging. A remote-sensing method that uses laser pulses to measure distances to Earth.
M.2 A standard specification for PC expansion cards and connectors.
Microsd card A small type of memory card.
Microusb A miniature version of USB often found on smartphones.
NTFS A file system used by all recent versions of Windows.
NVME An interface that lets solidstate drives work faster.
Open source Software that can be modified by anyone.
Optical image stabilisation A mechanism in digital cameras that compensates for shaking that occurs during shooting.
Overclock Make a processor work faster to boost performance at the cost of it getting hotter and requiring more power.
P3 A colour space that has a wider spectrum than SRGB.
Partition A large hard drive can be split into two or more partitions.
PCIE A faster version of PCI - a slot on the motherboard for expansion cards.
Plug-in A small program that adds extra features to software.
PNG Format for images that shrinks file sizes using compression but without discarding any data.
ppi Pixels per inch
PPTX The default file format for Microsoft Powerpoint.
Product key A unique serial number that must be typed in by the user before a program will launch for the first time.
PUP Potentially unwanted program. A program that may not be desired, despite the user consenting to it being downloaded.
PVR Set-top boxes that let you pause and record digital TV.
RAM Random-access memory. The computer’s working area.
Read speed How long it takes a hard drive to ‘read’ data, and respond to it.
RF A set-top box with an RF loopthrough lets a TV signal go into the box then come out again to feed another piece of equipment.
SATA Serial ATA. An interface for connecting hard drives and optical discs to a computer.
SD card Secure Digital card. A popular type of memory card.
Source code Program instructions that are readable by people but not computers.
Speaker driver Cone-shaped part of the speaker that converts audio signals into sound waves.
SRGB A standard RGB colour space for use on monitors.
SSD Solid-state drive. Storage that, unlike a hard drive, uses no moving parts.
Switch Allows more than one PC to be connected to a wired network.
System restore point Collection of system files stored on a given date and time to which Windows can revert if a problem occurs.
Temporary files Website files stored on your hard drive to make web pages load faster.
Thermal throttling Reducing processor speed to stop it overheating.
Timestamp The time which an event is recorded by a computer.
TN Twisted nematic. A common, cheap type of LCD.
Travel The distance the keys of a keyboard have to be pressed before the keystroke is recognised.
USB 2.0/3.0/3.1 Faster successors to USB.
USB-C A new connector that’s reversible.
VGA An older standard socket for connecting a monitor to a PC.
VPN Virtual private network. Keeps all internet communication safe and private.
VU meter Volume unit meter. Shows the signal level in audio equipment.
Write speed How long it takes a hard drive to save data.
ZIP file A file that contains compressed documents or files.