Jargon Buster

1080p High-definition video: 1920x1080 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 highdefinition video: 1280x720 pixels.

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

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

Augmented reality Lets you view the real world on a digital screen and add elements from the digital world.

Bandwidth A measure of how much data can be transferred through a connection at one time.

Batch file A list of commands executed in sequence that typically don’t require your input.

Benchmarking Comparing software and products with an accepted standard.

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.

Bootable Describes a DVD with system files on it so it can be used to start up your computer.

Browser engine Turns website code into pages you can interact with.

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

Client A program that acts as an interface between PC and server.

Clone A feature found in some backup programs that makes an exact copy of a drive on to another drive.

Closed captions Subtitles that describe all the audio, such as noises and music, as well as dialogue.

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.

DDOS Direct Denial of Service. A targeted cyber-attack which brings down a web server and the websites running on it.

DDR4 The newest, fastest commonly used type of computer memory.

Directx A Microsoft technology required to run many games in Windows.

Displayport A new socket for connecting monitors.

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

Dual band A router that can work at two radio frequencies, so it can be used in the UK and another part of the world.

Easter eggs Hidden messages or functions in software and on websites. Usually found by accident or word of mouth.

Emoji A small graphic that can be inserted into a text message or email.

End-to-end encryption A way of encrypting messages so that the only people who can read them are the sender and recipient. They can’t be intercepted and read by a third party.

EXE A program file designed to run in Windows. Has the file extension .exe.

EXIF Exchangable Image File Format. A method for storing extra information, such as the date, time and camera model, inside digital photo files.

Expresscard A type of expansion card that slots into a laptop.

Fps Frames per second, normally used to indicate gaming performance.

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.

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

GHZ Gigahertz. A measure of how many instructions a chip can process per second. 1GHZ is equal to 1,000MHZ.

Gigabit Ethernet A very fast networking standard that can transfer data at up to 1,000Mbps.

GPS Global positioning system. Satellite-based navigational system.

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

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

Hotspot A public area covered by a Wi-fi network that allows you to access the internet.

HTTPS Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure. The secure version of HTTP, the technology that sends data between your browser and the web.

Incognito mode A browser mode that doesn’t save your internet history, so other people using your computer can’t see which sites you’ve visited.

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

IPS A screen technology that provides wider viewing angles and better, more accurate-looking colours compared with monitors that don’t use this technology.

ISO The light sensitivity of a camera. Higher ISO numbers allow you to shoot without flash in darker situations.

JPEG Joint Photograph Experts Group. A common type of image file created by most digital cameras.

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

Log file A file detailing the behindthe-scenes events in an operating system, including events leading up to a crash.

LTE Short for 3GPP Long Term Evolution – a standard for very fast transfer of data on mobile networks.

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

Machine learning The science of teaching computers how to learn by themselves, without further human input.

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.

NFC Near-field communication. A technology that allows two devices to communicate by being touched together or placed near to each other. Can be used to pay for items in some shops using compatible mobile phones.

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.

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

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.

Ransomware Malware run by hackers who lock the files on your PC and demand a payment to release them.

Refresh rate Measured in Hertz (Hz), the number of times per second that the image on your monitor is redrawn.

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

Root To perform tasks on Android devices that aren’t permitted by the manufacturer.

Root directory The top folder in any hierarchy.

RSS feed Really Simple Syndication. A simple format for automatically distributing news headlines and other content from the web.

SATA 3 The latest and fastest version of the SATA interface for connecting internal storage devices to a computer.

Script A short program stored on a web server to control part of a website.

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

SIM Subscriber Identity Module. The smart card used by all digital mobile phones. It carries the user’s identity and phone number for accessing the network.

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

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

System restore point The collection of system files stored by System Restore on a given date and time to which Windows can revert if a problem occurs.

Temporary file A file created by a browser to store website data.

TPM Trusted Platform Module. A chip that allows your hardware to perform security-related tasks.

Trojan A malicious computer program that’s disguised as a different, harmless program.

TV tuner An expansion card that, when fitted into a PC, receives TV signals.

Two-factor authentication

A system that uses two different means to identify the user. For example, a code sent to your phone in addition to a password.

UEFI Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. A modern replacement for the BIOS, designed to get a PC into a state where it can launch an operating system.

USB 2.0/3.0/3.1/3.2 Faster successors to USB.

USB-C A new connector that’s reversible, letting you plug it in upside down.

VGA Video Graphics Array. An older standard socket for connecting a monitor to a PC.

Virtual PC A Windows tool that lets you run a second ‘virtual’ operating system on a PC, such as running a version of XP in a Windows 7 computer to use older programs.

VPN Virtual private network. Keeps all internet communication safe and private.

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

Widget A small program that runs on the Windows desktop.

WMV Windows Media Video. A Microsoft file format for video.

WPA3 Wifi Protected Access. A more secure variant of the security standard for wireless networks.

ZIP file A file that contains compressed documents or files.