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Adware - An application which displays advertisements during the course of its execution. Adware is often used in conjunction with Spyware, and a program may be both adware and spyware.
AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port. An interface which enables quicker display of 3-D images on the screen. Typically found in computer specifications as "AGP 4x" or similar.
AIO - All In One. A term typically used to represent machines capable of printing, copying, scaning, and faxing, or any combination of such.
Application - (see program)
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BIOS - Basic Input Output System. This is the basic program of a computer, which allows the operating system to communicate with the system's hardware.
Blu-Ray - A high capacity optical disc which can hold substantially more (over 10x more data) than a traditional DVD.
Bluetooth - A specification which details how various devices can be wirelessly interconnected and communicate with one another.
Browser - A program which allows a user to "browse" web pages.
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Case - The outer shell of a computer which holds the computer's hardware.
CD-R/RW - Compact Disk Recordable/Rewriteable. A CD-R allows recording to a Compact Disk, while a CD-RW allows rewriting. The RW format allows repeated recording onto a compact disc using a CD Burner and CD writing software.
CD-ROM - Compact Disk Read Only Memory. CDs of this type store computer data rather than audio tracks. Most CDs can be used to hold either data or audio tracks for playing in standard CD players.
CF Card - Compact Flash Card. A digital media storage device, available in a wide range of memory sizes. CF II is the newer version of this technology.
Client - A program, user or computer which is requesting files or data from a server.
Command Line - An interface that uses text rather than graphical representations for user input. An example of this is the MS-DOS prompt.
Computer - A device which receives input, processes data, and outputs data.
CPU - Central Proceesing Unit. A term generally used to describe the processor and/or microprocessor within a computer.
CRT - Cathode Ray Tube. In the world of computing, this term most often refers to a monitor which uses a Cathode Ray Tube to generate its images.
CSS - Cascading Style Sheet. A part of a web page which defines the style or look of that page. CSS gives more control to the designer/creator of a page.
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Database - A collection of information which is organized to be easily accessed, updated, and managed.
Desktop - The virtual version of a standard desktop, providing access to a computer's functions and programs. Also used as a shortened version of desktop computer.
Desktop Replacement - A laptop computer which is designed to replace a desktop computer.
DNS - Domain Name System. A system which associates information with domain names, most notably, the IP address of the server being accessed.
Domain Name - Typically refers to the address of an internet site.
DOS - Disk Operating System. Also referred to as MS-DOS or PC-DOS. The first mainstream operating system for personal computers. DOS is an example of an operating system which uses a command line interface.
DVD-ROM - Digital Video Disk Read Only Memory. Another CD format, typically reserved for digital audio/video such as movies. A DVD-ROM drive is capable of reading DVDs.
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Extranet - A private network, generally used by businesses and organizations to securely share information internally.
Ethernet - Essentially a local area network (LAN) architecture. Newer versions allow for transfer speeds up to and in excess of 100 Mb/s
Email - Electronic Mail. Electronic messages which are sent over various computer networks.
Email Client - Software which can access mail servers on a local or remote network (Examples include: Outlook, Outlook Express, etc.)
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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Floppy Disk - A portable magnetic storage device, named for being "floppy" if waved. Current 3.5 inch versions no longer "flop", though the name has still stuck. Most commonly, these disks hold 1.44MB of data.
Floppy Drive - This drive is what reads from and writes to a floppy disk. Many computers, especially laptop computers no longer come with a floppy drive, although external drives may be purchased separately.
Freeware - Software (typically downloadable) which is offered to end-users at no charge.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol. A protocol for uploading and downloading files from the internet, similar to HTTP.
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GUI - Graphical User Interface. A type of user interface which uses graphics for ease of use. Windows™ is a prime example of an operating system which uses a GUI.
GB - GigaByte. A unit of memory or storage capacity that equals roughly 1,024 Megabytes
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Hard Drive - A non-removable storage disk. Note that the drive typically refers to the housing of the disks, however the term "hard drive" is often used to mean both the housing and the disks themselves.
Hardware - A term used to describe the physical components of a computer.
Hits - The number of times a program or piece of data is accessed or fulfills a certain condition. (Example: loading a web site and all its elements counts as one hit to that site)
Hosting - The housing, serving and maintaining of files for one or more web sites.
HTML - Hypertext Markup Language. The standard language for web pages. Browsers read html in order to display pages.
HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol. A communications protocol which enables the transfer of web pages.
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IDE - Integrated Drive Electronics. The standard interface which connects various drives, including the hard drive and CD drive, to the computer.
Internet - A woldwide network of computers, generally publicly accessible.
Intranet - A private network, much like the internet except that access from outside the organization is limited.
IP Address - Internet Protocol Address. A number which identifies a computer or server on the internet.
IPX - Internet Packet Exchange. A communications protocol developed by Novell which allows data to move between two or more networks.
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Java - A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. This is an Object-Oriented programming language used widely on the internet.
JavaScript - A scripting language developed by Netscape to allow the construction of interactive sites, similar to the Java programming language.
JumpDrive - See also USB Drive.
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KB - KiloByte. Defined as roughly 1,024 Bytes.
Keyboard - An input device for the computer consisting of alphanumeric keys.
KVM Switch - Short for Keyboard, Video, Mouse Switch. A device which allows the use of a single keyboard, mouse, and monitor to control multiple computers.
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Laptop - A small, portable computer, named for its ability to sit in one's lap.
LightScribe - A technology developed for optical discs (CD/DVD) which uses specially coated discs to produce laser-etched labels.
Linux - A particularly popular open source operating system.
LCD - Liquid Crystal Display. A flat display panel which utilizes a liquid crystal solution with an electronic current passed through it to generate images.
LAN - Local Area Network. A computer network which serves a small area. Most home networks fall into this category.
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Mac - The shortened term for a Macintosh (by Apple) computer.
Mainframe - A term for a large computer, generally replaced today by the word "server"
Malware - This term generally refers to malicious software such as viruses, spyware, and other types of software which could harm a computer.
MB - MegaByte. Roughly 1,048,576 bytes.
Memory - A place where information is stored on a computer. Commonly, this term is used to refer to RAM.
Monitor - A computer display panel.
Motherboard - The basis of a computer which contains all of the basic circuitry for a computer.
Mouse - A computer input device used with a GUI.
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Nameserver - A server which translates IP addresses into domain names, and vice versa.
Network - This term generally refers to a group or groups of computers which have the ability to communicate with one another.
Notebook - Another term for a laptop computer.
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Open Source - Software which is distributed with its source code allowing end users to utilize and modify that code.
Operating System (OS) - A program which manages all other programs on a computer, as well as the computer's hardware.
Optical Disk - A disk which is read by lasers (ex: CD/DVD)
Optical Drive - A drive where information is read by a laser, most commonly a CD Drive.
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PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect. A connection system between a computer's processor and its other hardware.
PDA - Personal Digital Assistant. This term is most often used to describe handheld computers utilized for mobile scheduling, reminders, tasks and email.
Platform - The underlying system on which programs run. See also Operating System.
Processor - See CPU.
Program - A specific set of instructions that a computer executes.
Protocol - A set of rules which telecommunication systems (including computers) use to communicate. For example, TCP/IP is the most common protocol on the internet.
PS/2 - A six pin connector, typically used for connecting keyboards and mice.
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Query - A request for information from a database.
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RAM - Random Access Memory. The place where information currently in use by the computer is stored for faster access.
Refresh Rate - The number of times per second that a display is illuminated.
ROM - Read-Only Memory. This memory contains the information necessary to boot the computer. Unlike RAM, Read-Only Memory is never erased, and is sustained by a long-life battery.
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Script - A program which is written in a general purpose programming language. Typically, these languages are less comprehensive than full programming languages.
Search Engine - In internet terms, a site which maintains a database of other sites to which a user makes a query, and the results are returned.
Server - Generally used to refer to a computer running a server program which provides services to other computers and users.
Shared Hosting - Hosting where user accounts are shared on a server. Most hosting companies offer this type of hosting.
Shareware - Software which is offered with a limited free trial period, after which a user must generally pay to register the product.
Software - A general term for programs.
Spyware - Any technology or program which gathers information about a person without their knowledge and/or consent.
SD Card - Secure Digital Card. A small memory card used in many small electronics such as PDAs, digital cameras, and others.
Subdomain - A lower-level component of a domain name. (Example: reference.cirustech.com is a subdomain of cirustech.com)
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Tablet - (Tablet Computer) - A computer which utilizes a touch-screen interface as the primary computer interface.
Tape Drive - A unit which reads and writes data onto and from magnetic tape.
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The basic protocol of the internet.
Touchpad - A pointing device used as an alternative to a mouse on most laptop computers.
Trojan Horse - A program in which malicious code is placed inside another program which appears otherwise harmless.
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Ultraportable computer - A laptop which weighs less than four pounds.
URL - Universal Resource Locator or Uniform Resource Locator. The address of a file on the interent.
USB - Universal Serial Bus. A plug-and-play interface between a computer and peripheral devices such as printers, cameras, scanners and the like.
USB Drive - A portable storage device which uses a USB interface. Also called a jump drive.
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Virus - A malicious program or code that runs, against a user's desire, on their computer.
Vista - A version of the Windows™ operating system.
VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol. This term is utilized to describe transmissions over internet protocol that once were done only via telephone (i.e. voice, fax, etc.).
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WAN - Wide Area Network. A network which covers a broader geographic area than a LAN.
Web - (See Internet)
Web Hosting - (See Hosting)
Web Site - A related collection of files on the internet accessible by a browser.
Wi-Fi - Wireless Fidelity. This refers to any type of 802.11 wireless network.
Wiki - A web site which can be quickly edited by visitors and follows simple formatting rules.
Windows™ - A PC operating system created by Microsoft which has become something of the standard operating system for personal computers.
WWW - World Wide Web. (See Internet)
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XP - A version of the Windows™ operating system.
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Y2K - An abbreviation for the Year 2000, this also describes an issue where most computer programs prior to the turn of the millenium were designed utilizing only two digits to store the year (i.e. 98 instead of 1998). It was expected that this would cause problems with major computer systems when the date became "00".
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Zip Drive - A portable disk drive available in a variety of sizes such as 100 MB, 250 MB and 750 MB, typically used for backing up data.
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115 Definitions Available. Don't see a definition you need? See a mistake somewhere? Contact us!