Tech Glossary | Essential Tech Terms and Definitions

Tech Glossary

Explore our comprehensive Tech Glossary featuring essential technical terms and definitions. Enhance your understanding of programming, networking, cybersecurity, and more with clear, concise explanations.

A

API (Application Programming Interface): A set of protocols and tools for building software and applications, allowing different programs to communicate with each other.
AI (Artificial Intelligence): The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Algorithm: A process or set of rules followed in problem-solving operations, often by a computer.
Agile Development: A methodology for software development that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback.
Augmented Reality (AR): An enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something.

B

Bandwidth: The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path. It is measured in bits per second (bps).
Blockchain: A decentralized digital ledger that records transactions across many computers, making it secure and tamper-proof.
Backup: A copy of data from a computer or device that is stored separately to recover the original in case of data loss.
BI (Business Intelligence): Technologies and strategies used by enterprises for data analysis and management.
Botnet: A network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners’ knowledge.

C

Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services (servers, storage, databases, networking, software) over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation and flexible resources.
Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management):: A technology for managing a company’s relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers.
Cryptocurrency: A digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in HTML or XML.

D

Data Encryption: The process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access.
Database: An organized collection of data, generally stored and accessed electronically
DNS (Domain Name System): The system by which internet domain names and addresses are tracked and regulated.
DevOps: A set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) aimed at shortening the system development life cycle.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service):: An attack on a computer system or network that causes a loss of service to users, usually by flooding it with traffic.

E

Edge Computing: Computing that’s done at or near the source of data, rather than relying on a central data-processing warehouse.
Ethernet: A system for connecting computers within a local area network (LAN).
Email Protocols: Standardized ways of formatting and transferring email messages, such as POP3, IMAP, and SMTP.
Encryption: The process of converting information or data into a code to prevent unauthorized access.
eCommerce (Electronic Commerce): Buying and selling of goods or services using the internet.

F

Firewall: A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
Firmware: Permanent software programmed into a read-only memory.
Frontend Development: The development of the part of a website or application that users interact with directly.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): A standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network.
Framework: A platform for developing software applications that provides a foundation on which developers can build programs for a specific platform.

G

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): A specialized processor designed to accelerate graphics rendering.
Gigabyte (GB): A unit of digital information storage equal to approximately one billion bytes.
Git: A version control system for tracking changes in source code during software development.
Gateway: A network point that acts as an entrance to another network, often involving security and network traffic control.
GUI (Graphical User Interface): A type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators.

H

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The standard language for creating web pages and web applications.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): The foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web.
Hypervisor: Software that creates and runs virtual machines (VMs).
HDD (Hard Disk Drive): A data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information using magnetic storage.
Hash Function: A function that converts an input (or ‘message’) into a fixed-size string of bytes, typically a digest that is unique to each unique input.

I

IP Address (Internet Protocol Address): A unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.
IoT (Internet of Things): The interconnection via the internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data.
ISP (Internet Service Provider): A company that provides individuals and organizations access to the internet.
IDE (Integrated Development Environment): A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development.
IPsec (Internet Protocol Security): A suite of protocols for securing internet protocol (IP) communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet of a communication session.

J

Java: A high-level programming language used to create applications for web, mobile, and desktop platforms.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight data-interchange format that’s easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate.
JVM (Java Virtual Machine): A virtual machine that enables a computer to run Java programs as well as programs written in other languages that are also compiled to Java bytecode.
JIRA: A proprietary issue tracking product developed by Atlassian that allows bug tracking and agile project management.
JavaScript: A programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers.

K

Kernel: The core part of an operating system, managing system resources and communication between hardware and software.
Kilobyte (KB): A unit of digital information storage equal to approximately one thousand bytes.
Kubernetes: An open-source container-orchestration system for automating computer application deployment, scaling, and management.
Keylogger: A type of surveillance software that has the capability to record every keystroke you make to a log file.
KML (Keyhole Markup Language): An XML notation for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within internet-based, two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers.

L

LAN (Local Area Network): A network that connects computers within a limited area, such as a residence or office building.
Linux: An open-source operating system modeled on UNIX.
Latency: The delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer.
Load Balancer: A device that distributes network or application traffic across a number of servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed and maintains performance.
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol): A protocol used to access and manage directory information services over a network.

M

Malware: Software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer
Machine Learning: A type of AI that enables computers to learn from and make decisions based on data.
Microservices: An architectural style that structures an application as a collection of services that are highly maintainable and testable.
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions): An internet standard that extends the format of email to support text in character sets other than ASCII, as well as attachments.
MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): A security system that requires more than one method of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify the user’s identity.

N

Network: A group of two or more computer systems linked together.
NFC (Near Field Communication): A set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices to communicate over a short distance.
Node: A basic unit of a data structure, such as a linked list or tree data structure. In networks, it refers to a connection point.
NAT (Network Address Translation): A method of remapping one IP address space into another by modifying network address information in the IP header of packets while they are in transit.
NS (Name Server): A computer server that implements a network service for providing responses to queries against a directory service.

O

Open Source: Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
Operating System (OS): The software that supports a computer’s basic functions, such as scheduling tasks, executing applications, and controlling peripherals.
OAuth (Open Authorization): An open standard for access delegation, commonly used as a way to grant websites or applications limited access to a user’s information without exposing passwords.
ORM (Object-Relational Mapping): A programming technique for converting data between incompatible type systems in object-oriented programming languages.
OSI Model (Open Systems Interconnection Model): A conceptual framework used to understand and implement network protocols in seven layers.

P

Protocol: A set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices.
Phishing: A type of online scam where attackers impersonate legitimate organizations via email, text message, or ads to steal sensitive information.
Proxy Server: A server that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers.
PaaS (Platform as a Service): A category of cloud computing services that provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with the infrastructure.
Packet Switching: A method of grouping data that is transmitted over a digital network into packets.

Q

Query: A request for information from a database.
Quantum Computing: A type of computation that harnesses the collective properties of quantum states to perform calculations.
QoS (Quality of Service): The overall performance of a network or a network service, as seen by the users of the network.
Queue: A collection of entities that are maintained in a sequence and can be modified by the addition of entities at one end and the removal from the other.
Qubit: The basic unit of quantum information, analogous to a bit in classical computing.

R

Router: A device that forwards data packets between computer networks.
RAM (Random Access Memory): A type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly and is used for storing working data and machine code.
REST (Representational State Transfer): An architectural style for designing networked applications that relies on a stateless, client-server, cacheable communications protocol.
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks): A data storage virtualization technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into one or more logical units.
Rootkit: A collection of software tools that enable unauthorized access to a computer or network.

S

SaaS (Software as a Service): A software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a service provider and made available to customers over the internet.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): A standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client.
SQL (Structured Query Language): A domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system.
SSID (Service Set Identifier): The name of a wireless local area network (WLAN).
Spyware: Software that enables a user to obtain covert information about another’s computer activities by transmitting data covertly from their hard drive.

T

Terabyte (TB): A unit of digital information storage equal to approximately one trillion bytes.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): The suite of communications protocols used to connect hosts on the internet.
Token: A security device used to authorize the use of computer services, often containing passwords or biometric data.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): A method of confirming users’ identities using a combination of two different factors.
TLS (Transport Layer Security): A cryptographic protocol designed to provide communications security over a computer network.

U

URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The address of a web page.
USB (Universal Serial Bus): A standard type of connection for many different kinds of devices, including keyboards, mice, printers, and storage devices.
Uptime: The time during which a computer system is operational and available.
Unicode: A computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation, and handling of text expressed in most of the world’s writing systems.
User Interface (UI): The space where interactions between humans and machines occur.

V

VPN (Virtual Private Network): A service that encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address to protect your privacy online.
Virtual Reality (VR): A simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): A technology that allows you to make voice calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a regular phone line.
Version Control: A system that records changes to a file or set of files over time so that you can recall specific versions later.
Virtual Machine (VM): An emulation of a computer system, creating a separate operating environment.

W

WAN (Wide Area Network): A telecommunications network that extends over a large geographic area for the primary purpose of computer networking.
Wi-Fi: A technology that allows devices to connect to the internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area.
Worm: A type of malware that replicates itself in order to spread to other computers.
Web Browser: A software application for accessing information on the World Wide Web.
Wearable Technology: Devices that can be worn on the body, often containing sensors and connectivity features.

X

XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.
XSS (Cross-Site Scripting): A type of security vulnerability typically found in web applications.
XaaS (Anything as a Service): A collective term that refers to the delivery of anything as a service.
Xcode: An integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS containing a suite of software development tools developed by Apple.
Xen: An open-source hypervisor providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently.

Y

Yottabyte: A unit of digital information storage equal to one septillion (1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) bytes.
YAML (YAML Ain’t Markup Language): A human-readable data serialization standard that can be used in conjunction with all programming languages and is often used to write configuration files.
Yubikey: A hardware authentication device that supports one-time passwords, public-key cryptography, and authentication.
YUI (Yahoo! User Interface Library): A discontinued open-source JavaScript and CSS library for building richly interactive web applications.
Yellow Book: A set of standards that defines the structure and format of CD-ROMs for data storage.

Z

Zero-Day Exploit: A cyber attack that occurs on the same day a weakness is discovered in software, before a fix becomes available.
Zip File: A compressed file format that allows for the easy sharing and storage of large amounts of data.
Zombie Computer: A computer connected to the internet that has been compromised by a hacker, computer virus, or Trojan horse and can be used to perform malicious tasks under remote direction.
Zero Trust: A security model that assumes all users, devices, and network traffic are potentially hostile and verifies each access attempt.
Zigbee: A specification for a suite of high-level communication protocols used to create personal area networks with small, low-power digital radios.

Closing

We hope this Tech Glossary A to Z serves as a valuable resource for you. Whether you’re brushing up on familiar terms or exploring new concepts, our goal is to make technology more accessible and understandable.

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