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.

4K

Video with a resolution of at least 3840x2160 pixels.

5G

The latest generation of mobile networks.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

A computer program designed to mimic the behaviour of humans or animals.

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.

Biometric

Using measurable personal characteristics, such as fingerprints, for identification.

cd/m2

Candela per square metre. Standard unit of brightness.

Clone

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

Code

Describes the various programming languages used to create programs.

Colorimeter

A tool for measuring the colour accuracy of monitors by calibrating its brightness, contrast and colour.

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.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets. An HTML feature that lets web designers choose how some elements on a website look.

DIN

Circular electrical connector created by Germany’s Deutsches Institut für Normung in the 1970s.

Displayport

A new socket for connecting monitors.

DNS

Domain Name System. A technology that associates computers with their addresses on the internet.

dpi

Dots per inch. A measure of printed image quality, or the size an object will be shown on screen.

Driver

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

Emoji

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

ESIM

A non-removable SIM card that’s built into a phone, making it easier to change network.

Ethernet

A standard used for almost all wired computer networks.

Frame rate

The number of still images, or frames, shown per second to create a moving image.

FTTP

Fibre to the premises. Fibre broadband that goes straight to the doorstep. Faster than FTTC (fibre to the cabinet).

GDPR

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

GEDCOM

Short for Genealogical Data Communication. A file format used by genealogy programs to share data.

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.

GPT

GUID Partition Table. A way of partitioning data that allows for bigger drives than the older MBR.

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. Type of connection that transmits high-definition video and audio signals.

Hot swap

Being able to safely remove or plug in a device without having to turn off a PC’S power.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language. The language used to write most web pages.

HTTP

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. The technology that sends data between your browser and the web.

HTTPS

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure. The secure version of HTTP.

Image stabilisation

A mechanism built into digital cameras that compensates for any shaking or vibrations that occur during shooting.

IMEI

Integrated Mobile Equipment Identity. A unique number used to identify each mobile phone.

IP address

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

LCD

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

Liquid cooler

A system that circulates water through a computer to keep it cool.

LTE

A short term for 3GPP Long Term Evolution, one standard for very fast transfer of data on mobile networks.

M.2

A standard specification for PC expansion cards and connectors.

Malware

Malicious software that tries to disrupt the normal operation of your computer, bypass security controls or gather data without your knowledge.

MBR

Master Boot Record. The area on a hard drive that is checked by a computer when it first starts.

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.

MP4

A type of digital movie file often used for portable players.

MSI

A Windows file that contains installers. Can be used for Windows updates or third-party software installers.

NAS

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

Open source

Software that can be modified by anyone, rather than just by the employees of the company that created it.

Overclock

Make a processor work faster to boost performance at the cost of it getting hotter and requiring more power.

Palm-rejection technology

Lets you rest your hand on a device’s screen without it changing what’s being written.

Partition

A large hard drive can be split into two or more partitions or ‘virtual’ drives.

PCIE

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

Proxy

A computer that sits between your computer and the internet and filters the connection.

PS/2

Personal System 2. A set of standards for such things as mouse and keyboard interfaces, originally used by IBM.

PUP

Potentially unwanted program. A program that may not be desired, despite the user consenting to it being downloaded.

QR code

Quick Response code. A barcode that can be read using smartphones.

RAM

Random-access memory. The computer’s working area, used for data storage while the PC is switched on.

Random test

How fast an SSD can read and write files from RAM.

Read

To access data saved on a computer.

Read speed

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

Sans-serif

A font that doesn’t have strokes in letters. Considered to look simpler and more modern that serif fonts, particularly when used online.

SATA

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

Scart

A standard connector for video and audio signals.

Secure Boot

A security standard designed to make sure your PC avoids malware when booting.

Sequential data

Data from a file that a computer reads or writes in a strict order. Much faster than doing so randomly.

Server

A computer on a network, such as the internet, that distributes information to other PCS.

SIM

Subscriber Identity Module. The smart card used by all digital mobile phones.

SMS

Short Message Service. More commonly called text messaging.

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.

Switch

Mechanism under a keyboard that determines whether a key has been pressed.

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.

TPM

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

Trojan

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

UEFI

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. A modern replacement for the BIOS.

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.

Vega 8

Radeon’s built-in graphics card for laptops.

VGA

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

Virtual machine

A softwarebased computer running inside another computer. Often used to emulate another operating system.

VPN

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

Waveform

An image that represents an audio signal or recording.

Wi-fi 5

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

Wi-fi 6

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

Wiki site

A collaborative website that users can easily edit.

Wildcard

A character that can be substituted for one or more characters in a web search, much like the blank tile in Scrabble.

WMV

Windows Media Video. A Microsoft file format for video.

Write

Save data to a hard drive.

ZIP file

A file that contains compressed documents or files.