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.

720p A common resolution of high-definition video: 1280x720 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.

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

APK Android Package Kit. The file format Android uses to install apps.

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

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

Batch file Commands that are processed in sequence, often without requiring input from the user.

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.

Boot The process of starting up a PC after it’s been turned off.

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

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.

CAPTCHA Distorted text you have to type to prove you’re a human.

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

Cookie A small text file stored on your computer by a website. Used to store browsing preferences, website log-in details and so on.

CSV Comma Separated Value. A standard file format, used for storing tabulated information, that can be opened by most spreadsheet programs.

Displayport A new socket for connecting monitors.

DLNA Digital Living Network Alliance. A technology that enables devices such as TVS, network media players and NAS devices to communicate with each other and display media files.

DRAM Dynamic RAM. Type of memory that can store more data than Static RAM (SRAM). It’s cheaper, but slower.

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

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

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

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.

GIF Graphics Interchange Format. A type of image file often used on the web, but now largely superseded by PNG.

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

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

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

Hyper-fast Loose term for broadband speeds up to 1Gbps (1,000Mbps) and beyond.

Hz Hertz. Measures the frequency something happens: 1Hz equals once a second.

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.

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

IPX8 An official industry rating classifying the level of protection in a product against outside intrusion. IPX8 means a device is suitable for continual submersion in water.

ISO file A type of image file that contains all the data from a disc.

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

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

Microusb A miniature version of USB, often found on smartphones, tablets and portable hard drives.

Mirror To display on your TV what’s on your PC or tablet screen.

Moulded boot Attached to RJ45 Ethernet cables to join the connector to the cable. Doesn’t protect the clip, so designed for cables that aren’t plugged in very often.

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

OLED Organic light-emitting diode. A thin-film organic lightemitting diode used in computer and TV 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.

Phishing A form of internet fraud that tries to trick you into revealing personal details.

Pixel-binning The process of combining data from four pixels into one. Increases image quality in phone cameras without forcing manufacturers to use larger sensors.

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

Progressive web app A website that looks and works like an app, which can be opened on both desktop and mobile devices. PWAS don’t need to be installed and are supported by Chrome, Safari and Edge.

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 information in RAM will be lost when the power is switched off.

Read speed

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

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. For a steady image, the higher the refresh rate, the less flicker you will see.

ROM

Read-only memory. Any memory that can be read but not written to. A PC’S BIOS uses ROM to store basic system information and instructions that cannot be changed.

RTF

Rich Text Format. A file format used to transfer files between different types of word-processing programs. It preserves most of the formatting of a document.

Sideload

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

Skill

Apps for Amazon’s Echo that perform voice-activated tasks

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.

Tag

A keyword used to describe a file or web page. Many programs use tags to organise related information quickly.

Tweeter

A speaker designed to produce high audio frequencies. Named after the noise made by birds.

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.

.TXT

A basic file format that contains nothing but text.

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.

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.

VPN

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

Wi-fi 5

Also called 802.11ac. A standard for wireless 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.

Widget

A small program such as a calendar that runs on the Windows desktop.

Woofer

A speaker designed to produce low-frequency bass sounds. Named after the noise made by dogs.

WPA

Wi-fi Protected Access. A secure form of protection for wireless networks.

WPS

Wifi Protected Setup. An easy way to make a wireless connection between a device and your router by pressing the WPS button on both. The device and your router must both support WPS.

Write speed

How long it takes a hard drive to save data.

XML

Extensible Markup Language. A versatile type of document that can store various types of information.