Jargon Buster

3G/4G/5G Technologies that deliver faster mobile broadband.

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

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

Accelerometer A sensor that detects movement. Typically used in smartphones to decide whether or not to display a portrait or landscape screen, control games or even work as a spirit level.

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.

Antivirus engine The core component of an antivirus program that detects malware.

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

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.

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

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

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

Clip art A collection of drawings that can be inserted into documents or presentations.

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

Code Shorthand term that describes the various programming languages used to create programs.

Codec Short for Compressor/ Decompressor. A file that tells a computer how to record or play a type of media file.

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.

D-SUB An old port for connecting external devices to a computer. They’re being replaced by more efficient ports, such as USB and Thunderbolt.

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

Displayport A new socket for connecting monitors.

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

Drop-jaw A port you can drag down to fit in larger cables, such as USB-A.

Dual boot To set up a PC with two operating systems, so that one must be chosen each time it starts.

Dual-layer DVD A writeable DVD that holds up to 8.5GB of data.

E-ink Electrophoretic ink. A special type of ink used to display content in electronic devices.

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

Exposure The amount of light collected by a digital camera’s sensor.

Forked When developers take source code from software to make another related program.

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.

GDPR General Data Protection Regulation. 2018 EU law strengthening people’s privacy.

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

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.

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

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

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

Javascript A 20-year-old programming language developers use to make web pages interactive.

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

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

Mail merge A tool included in most word-processing programs that allows you to create letters or envelopes, each customised, using a list of names or addresses.

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

MOV A type of video file that can be played using Apple’s Quicktime software.

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.

Noise Visible dust-like speckles that appear in some camera and TV images. In photos, they are caused by the camera’s own sensor.

OFX Open Financial Exchange. A way of digitally exchanging financial information.

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.

Plain text Text in a document that doesn’t contain any formatting, such as bold characters and italics.

Plug-in A small program that adds extra features to software or to your web browser.

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

Pop-up A window that is displayed by a website, usually over material already on the screen.

Precision trackpad A touchpad standard Microsoft is asking manufacturers to adhere to.

Product key A unique serial number issued by software companies that must be typed in by the user before a program will launch for the first time.

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 gigabytes (GB): the more memory your PC has, the more things it can process simultaneously and the faster it will seem.

Ransomware Malware run by hackers who lock 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. Slight changes in the image each time it is updated combine to give the illusion of movement.

Registry The part of Windows that stores information on all hardware and software installed on your PC. The registry can be edited to tweak settings but incorrect changes can damage the PC.

Registry keys The Windows registry equivalent of a folder.

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

SATA Serial ATA. An interface for connecting hard drives and optical discs to a computer.

SMS Short Message Service. More commonly called text messaging.

Sound card An expansion card that lets a PC create game sound effects, music, and so on. Almost all PCS have a sound card built in as standard but more powerful sound cards can be bought and fitted.

Source code Program instructions written in a high-level language that are readable by people but not computers.

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.

SVG Scalable vector graphics. A file format that enables images to be expanded without loss of details.

TIFF Tagged Image File Format. A standard file format used to store graphics images.

Ultrawide Offering a field of view that’s wider than traditional digital cameras.

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.

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.

Water-cooling Lowering a PC’S temperature using water rather than fans.

WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy. Security standard that encrypts Wi-fi data. Now superseded by WPA.

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.

WPA Wi-fi Protected Access. System that protects data over wireless networks. Superseded by WPA2.

ZIP file A file that contains compressed documents or files.