Jargon Buster

256bit AES Advanced Encryption Standard. A form of encryption based on a key length of 256 bits. Cracking it would take longer than the age of the universe.

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.

720p/1080p/1440p Common types of high-definition video of 1280x720, 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 pixels respectively.

802.11ac A standard for wireless networks that allows for much higher transfer speeds than 802.11n.

802.11ax Wi-fi standard with speeds up to 10 times faster than 802.11ac. Also called Wi-fi 6.

AAC Advanced Audio Coding. A type of music file.

Active noise cancelling Method for reducing unwanted sound by adding a second sound specifically designed to cancel the first.

Add-on A program that adds extra features to your browser.

Adobe RGB A wider colour space than SRGB, extending into richer cyans and greens.

AMOLED Active-matrix Organic Light-emitting Diode. An alternative technology to LCD for creating flat-panel screens. Most commonly used in smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

Aspect ratio A measurement of the shape of a display. Traditional computer screens are 4:3. Widescreen displays are 16:9 or 16:10.

Benchmarking Comparing software and products with an accepted standard.

Beta A version of software that’s being tested. Beta versions are often released so problems can be ironed out.

BIN Compressed binary files, typically CD and DVD backup image files.

BIOS Basic Input-output System. Software built into every PC that connects the vital components. It’s visible for a few seconds when the PC starts.

Browser hijackers Programs that change your default browser, its homepage and search engine, without prior warning, when you install them.

Buffering Downloading a certain amount of data before starting to play a video. Can cause delays to your streaming.

Cache A temporary space for storing information. Can be memory used on a computer processor, or space on a hard drive used by a web browser.

cd/m2 Candela per square metre. Standard unit of brightness.

Clean install An operating system installation that overwrites all other content on the hard drive.

Clock speed The speed at which a processor can perform operations. Measured in Gigahertz (GHZ).

Core Units on a processor that carry out program instructions.

CSV Comma Separated Value. A standard file format, used for storing tabulated information, that can be opened by most spreadsheet applications.

A measurement that shows how the human eye perceives different colours.

DIMM Dual Inline Memory Module. An older standard for computer memory modules.

Driver A file that tells Windows how to work with an external device.

Emulator A program that makes one computer act like another, allowing it to run that computer’s software.

FAT32 An old system used for formatting hard drives, and still used for some portable drives.

Firewall A piece of software or hardware that prevents unauthorised access to a computer over a network, such as the internet.

Firmware Basic software stored on hardware, such as a processor, to control its operation.

Frame rate The number of still images, or frames, shown per second to create a moving image. Higher frame rates make games appear smoother and more realistic.

FTTP Fibre To The Premises. A fibre optic-based way of delivering very fast broadband.

Geekbench 5 A test for measuring processor speed.

Gesture Finger movements on a screen that perform an action, such as pinching to zoom.

Gorilla glass Scratch-resistant glass that’s used to protect the screens of tablets and phones.

Graphics card A component in a computer that produces the image shown on the monitor.

Haptic A touchscreen or other controller can give the illusion of tactile feedback by triggering small, finely controlled vibrations in response to an action.

Hard reset When you press down a power button to force a device to restart.

HDCP Copy-protection technology for high-definition content built into Blu-ray players.

HDMI High-definition media interface. A type of connection that transmits high-definition video and audio signals.

Hyperlink A clickable link that takes you to a new document or website.

IP68 International Protection marking. The ‘6’ denotes that a device is resistant to dust, general dirt and sand. The ‘8’ indicates that it can be placed underwater for 30 minutes at depths of up to 1.5m without effect.

IP address Internet Protocol address. A unique set of numbers used to identify computers and websites on the internet.

IP camera Internet Protocol camera. A digital video camera that receives and sends images via the Internet.

IPX2 Resists water that hits the product at a 15-degree angle or less.

ISO file A type of image file that contains all the data from a CD or DVD.

JPEG Joint Photograph Experts Group. A common type of image file created by most digital cameras. Some image quality is lost with each save.

LCD Liquid-crystal display. The technology used to create almost all flatscreen monitors.

LED Light-emitting diode. An electronic device that emits light. Used on almost all electronic devices, and to provide the backlight for some LCDS.

Low profile (graphics card) Smaller than standard cards, normally with a single slot.

M.2 A standard specification for internal PC expansion cards and connectors.

MAC address Media Access Control. A unique code that identifies any router. A laptop might have one MAC for its wired network socket and another for wireless.

Mesh Wi-fi Wireless network system that uses multiple, connected routers to stretch Wi-fi further than a traditional router.

Metadata A set of data that gives information about a file.

Microsd card A small type of memory card. Can be converted to SD size using an adapter.

NAS Network-attached storage. A hard drive attached to a network that can be shared with other PCS.

NTFS New Technology File System. A file system used by all recent versions of Windows.

Partition A large hard drive can be split into two or more partitions or ‘virtual’ drives. Once partitioned, each section is treated by Windows as though it were a completely separate, smaller hard drive.

Passive noise cancellation

Filtering out noise by relying purely on the hardware alone, such as heavily-padded ear muffs.

PCIE Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. A faster version of PCI - a slot on the motherboard for expansion cards, such as for sound and memory.

Plug-in A small program that adds extra features to software.

PNG Portable Network Graphics. A format for images that shrinks file sizes using compression but without discarding any data.

PSU Power supply unit. The box that supplies power to the rest of your computer.

QR code Quick Response code. A square barcode that can be read using smartphones and dedicated Qr-reading devices.

RAM Random-access memory. The computer’s working area, used for data storage while the PC is switched on. Its capacity is measured in megabytes (MB): the more memory your PC has, the more things it can process simultaneously and the faster it will seem. Any information in RAM will be lost when the power is switched off.

Read speed How long it takes a hard drive to ‘read’ data, and respond to it.

Response time How fast a coloured pixel turns to white and back again.

Root directory The highest folder in any hierarchy.

SD card Secure Digital card. A popular type of memory card.

SRGB A standard RGB colour space for use on monitors, printers and the internet.

SSD Solid-state drive. Storage that, unlike a hard drive, uses no moving parts. Faster but more expensive than conventional hard drives.

SSL Secure Sockets Layer. A technology for keeping information secure and secret when sent over the internet.

SSE2/SSE3 Set of instructions for Intel processors, released in 2000 and 2004 respectively.

Torrent A file that can be downloaded using Bittorrent software. This method is generally faster than a normal download, which provides a direct connection to other PCS running the software anywhere in the world.

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, letting you plug it in upside down.

VOIP Voice over IP. The routing of voice conversations over the internet, which is cheaper than the telephone network.

Whiteout Lets you replace, edit or add text contained inside a PDF file.

Wi-fi 6 Wi-fi standard with speeds up to 10 times faster than 802.11ac. Also called 802.11ax.

Widget A small program such as a calendar that runs on the Windows desktop.

Write speed How long it takes a hard drive to save data.

ZIP file A file that contains compressed documents or files.