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 A set of technologies that delivers faster mobile broadband, so called because they are the third and fourth generations of mobile data networking standards.

4K Video with a resolution of at least 3840x2160 pixels.

AAC Advanced Audio Coding. A type of music file.

Administrator Someone who can make changes to a computer that will affect others who also use it.

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

Adaptive sync Changing your monitor’s refresh rate to the frame rate of the graphics card.

Add-in Microsoft’s name for tools that can be added to Office software.

Adware Unwanted adverts that come with software.

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.

App launcher An app that changes how the Android home screen looks and works, especially for managing and opening apps.

Barometric sensor Chip inside a phone that measures air pressure.

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.

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.

Calibration The process of checking that colours are accurate on a monitor.

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.

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

Code Used to summarise the various programming languages used to create programs.

Core Units on a processor that carry out program instructions.

Cryptocurrency A digital currency not backed by any country. The most popular is Bitcoin.

Dark web Websites that can only be accessed using specialised privacy software like Tor.

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.

File path Shows the location of a file within Windows.

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

Flag Experimental features in Chrome that you have to turn on by typing in the address bar.

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.

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.

HAMR Heat-assisted magnetic recording. Increases the amount of data that can be stored on a drive by temporarily heating it as it saves files.

Hardware acceleration

Using a graphics card to radically improve video and games performance.

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.

Hotspot A public area covered by a Wi-fi network that allows you to access the internet, either free or for a fee.

ICO file An image file format for PC icons in Windows that can be scaled appropriately.

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

IPS A screen technology. Monitors that use it have wider viewing angles and better, more accuratelooking colours compared with monitors that do not use this technology.

IPX4 A rating indicating that a device can withstand a splash of water from any direction for up to five minutes.

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

KML Keyhole Markup Language. File format to show and share data in Google Earth.

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

Lossy A way of compressing image or audio files by deleting data. Shrinking them means they’re easier to send over the internet, though some quality is lost.

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

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

MSATA A smaller version of the SATA interface (see right), used for connecting SSDS in laptops and some PCS.

PMR Perpendicular Magnetic Recording. Used by most hard drives, this writes data to and reads it from circular tracks on a spinning platter.

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

QR code Quick Response code. A barcode that can be read using smartphones and dedicated QRreading 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 data in RAM will be lost when the power is switched off.

Refresh rate Measured in Hertz (Hz), the number of times per second that the image on your monitor is redrawn. Slight changes in the image each time it is updated combine to give the illusion of movement.

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

ROM chip Read-only memory chip, containing permanent data. Unlike RAM, it remains even after you turn off your computer.

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

Sandbox A virtual container that you can run programs in safely.

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.

Sideload To install apps without using the official Android or IOS stores.

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

Simulator A video game that simulates real-world activities.

SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. A standard for sending email messages. It is now largely reserved for sending messages rather than receiving them.

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, printers and the internet.

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

SSID Service Set Identifier. A name used to identify a wireless network.

Surge protection A method of protecting devices from sudden spikes in voltage.

TPM Trusted Platform Module. A computer chip that allows your hardware to perform securityrelated tasks.

Tri-band A router that broadcasts on three radio bands – one on 2.4GHZ, two on 5.0GHZ.

Trojan A malicious computer program that’s disguised as a different, harmless program. For example, a Trojan may be disguised as a game but it’s actually a program that steals your internet username and password.

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.

VESA Video Electronics Standards Association. A standard mount for attaching monitors to stands, walls and PCS.

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

Virtual PC A Windows tool that enables you to run a second ‘virtual’ operating system on a PC, such as running a version of Windows 7 in a Windows 10 computer to use older programs.

Volume An alternative term for a drive or disk.

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

Wi-fi card Adds Wi-fi connectivity to a computer.

Widget A small program that runs on the Windows desktop.

ZIP file A file that contains compressed documents or files.