Jargon Buster
1080p Of the common types of high-definition video, this is the best quality: 1920x1080 pixels.
1440p High-definition video of 2560x1440 pixels.
3G/4G/5G Technologies that deliver faster mobile broadband.
4K Video with a resolution of at least 3840x2160 pixels.
720p A common resolution of high-definition video: 1280x720 pixels.
802.11ac A standard for wireless networks that allows for much higher transfer speeds than 802.11n.
AES-256 Military-grade level of encryption.
AMOLED Active-matrix Organic Light-emitting Diode. An alternative technology to LCD for creating flat-panel displays. 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.
Auto focus Sensors in a camera that detect how far the subject is so the lens can use an electronic motor to adjust the focal distance.
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.
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.
Blue screen of death Technically called a ‘Stop error’, this is shown when your PC crashes.
Brute-force attack A method of breaking encryption by simply guessing all possible passwords until the right one is found. 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.
Colour temperature How blue and yellow-orange combine to produce the overall colour of your monitor.
Cookie A small text file stored on your computer by a website. Used to store browsing preferences, website log-in details and so on.
Core Units on a processor that carry out program instructions.
Cryptocurrency An online currency not backed by any country. The most popular is Bitcoin.
Dark web Websites that can only be accessed using specialised software, not through conventional search engines or browsers.
DISM Deployment Image Servicing and Management. A command-line tool that can perform tasks on a Windows installation image.
Downscaling Reducing a video’s quality so it can be played on a device with a lower resolution.
Driver A file that tells Windows how to work with an external device.
DVI Digital Visual Interface. A common type of display connector that can carry a digital signal.
Emulator A program that makes one computer act like another, letting it run that computer’s software.
EXE A program file designed to run in Windows. Has the file extension .exe.
False positive When an antivirus program wrongly detects a malware infection.
FAT32 An old system used for formatting hard drives, and still used for some portable drives.
FLAC Free Lossless Audio Codec. A type of digital audio file that can be created from CD with no loss of audio quality.
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.
Freesync AMD’S technology for varying the screen’s refresh rate to avoid two frames being shown at the same time.
GEDCOM Short for Genealogical Data Communication. A file format used by genealogy programs to share data.
Gigabit Internet connection offering speeds of at least 1Gbps (1,000Mbps).
Graphics card A component in a computer that produces the image shown on the monitor.
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications. The system for digital mobile phones used in the UK and Europe.
HDMI High-definition media interface. A type of connection that transmits high-definition video and audio signals.
HDR High-dynamic range. A camera that takes more than one photo with different levels of colour and contrast. These images are then combined to create a better-quality image.
Heat sink A block of metal used to help dissipate the heat from a computer chip.
HTML Hypertext Markup Language. The language used to write most web pages.
Hyperlapse Timelapse videos formed of photos taken at regular intervals, with the camera moving to show different angles.
Image stabilisation The mechanism built into digital cameras and video cameras that compensates for any shaking or vibrations that occur during shooting.
IP address Internet Protocol address. A unique set of numbers used to identify computers and websites on the internet.
JPEG Joint Photograph Experts Group. A common type of image file created by most digital cameras. Some image quality is lost with each save.
Keylogger A piece of malicious software that records all the letters and numbers typed on a PC in an effort to find passwords or other valuable information.
LAN Local-area network. A computer network in one place, such as a home or office.
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.
Lumen A measure of brightness.
M.2 A standard specification for internal PC expansion cards and connectors.
Mesh router Wireless network system that uses multiple connected routers to stretch Wi-fi further than a traditional router.
Microsd card A small type of memory card. Can be converted to SD size using an adapter.
NVME Non-volatile Memory Express. An interface that lets solid-state drives work faster.
OLED Organic light-emitting diode. A thin-film organic lightemitting diode used in computer displays and television screens.
Open source Software that can be modified by anyone, rather than just by the employees of the company that created it.
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.
Plug-in A small program that adds extra features to software or to your web browser.