Learn Computer Terms

If you have ever needed or wanted to know what some of the basic computer lingo is that people use then this list might help. The following is a list of computer terms that you might want to know.

API = Application Program Interface

ASCII = American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Bios = Basic Input Output System

Bit = binary digit (0 or 1)

Byte = eight bits

Cache (pronounced cash) is a place to store something temporarily. Web pages are stored in your browser's cache directory on your hard drive. When something is stored in cache it saves time loading it because it does not have to pull it off the original server again.

CGI = Common Gateway Interface

CPU = Central Processing Unit it responds to and processes basic instructionsfrom a computer's program.

Cursor = A visul display that shows where typed wenly typed text will be inserted

Database = a collection of organized data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.

DDS = Digital Data Service

Directories

DLL = Dynamic Link Library

Driver = interacts with a device or special king of software.

Drives (CD Drives, DVD Drives)

DSL = Digital Subscriber Line

DUN = Dial Up Networking

E-Commerce = Electronic Commerce is the buying and selling of goods or services on the Internet.

E-Mail = Electronic Mail

EISA = Extended Industry Standard Architecture

FAT = File Allocation Table

FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions

FIFO = First-In, First-Out

Files in a file system: Program Files, System Files, Data Files

Flaming is sending hate e-mail to another Internet user. A person that writes flames is called a flamer.

Font = Characters in a character set that a particular size and style

FTP = File Transfer Protocol

Gigabyte = 1,073,741,824 bytes or 1024 megabytes

GUI = Graphic User Interface

Hacker is someone that uses computers to show their technical genius.

HTTP = Hypertext Transfer Protocol

Icon = Pictures linked to programs or data files

Internet = A large group of connected networks

I/O = Input/Output

IP = Internet Protocol

IRC = Internet Relay Chat

IRQ = Interrupt Request Line

ISDN = Intergrated Services Digital Network

ISP = Internet Service Provider

Kbps = Kilobits per Second

Kilobyte = 1024 bytes

LANs = Local Area Network

NIC = Network Interface Card

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

OS = Operating System

OS/2 = Operating System 2

P2P = Peer to Peer

PCI = Perpheral Component Interconnect

POP = Point of Presence

POTS = Plain Old Telephone Service

PROM = Programmable Read-Only Memory

Mac OS = Macintosh Operating System

Mbps = millions of bits per second

Megabyte = 1,048,576 bytes or 1024 kilobytes

MS DOS = Microsoft Disk Operating System

Mouse Pointer = an arrow that movesin relation to the mouse

RAM = Random Access Memory

TCP = Transmission Control Protocol

Terrabyte = 1,099,511,627,776 or 1024 gigabytes

Virus is a program coded to cause unexpected and undesirable exents when the program is run.

WANs = Wide Area Network

Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista

WWW = World Wide Web

WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get

This list might also help someone who is taking computer classes and would like to be prepared for some of the terms that an instructor will probably use.