Glossary
# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
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.NET – A principle where websites and different devices work together over the internet to offer much richer solutions. This is made possible by adopting open standards based on XML.
0610 (area code) – Used for “reduced rate” internet connections. Half the cost of a local call.
10Base-2 – An Ethernet standard and IEEE 802.3 standard for baseband local area networks that use thin coaxial cable up to 200 meters long and with a data transmission rate of 10 Mbps. The cables connect to the network adapters using a BNC connector.
10Base-T – An Ethernet standard for local area networks that uses twisted-pair cabling and allows data transmission at 10 Mbps. Category 3 cabling is sufficient for this type of connection, while Category 5 cabling is required for higher speeds.
3DNow! – A technology developed by AMD that first appeared in the K6-2 processors, enabling improved performance in 3D graphics and multimedia applications. It also offered accelerated floating-point operations using 21 new SIMD instructions.
3G – The third revision of the mobile telephony protocol, which goes beyond simply transmitting voice or data. Its objective is to create a network that allows the transmission of all types of information, including voice and video, as well as access to global data services and true roaming across the globe.
4G – A new standard for telecommunications, especially for mobile telephony. It integrates the IP protocol, creating a system-of-systems and network-of-networks structure, achieved through the convergence of wireless and wired networks. In addition to smartphones, it is also compatible with tablets, laptops, and other devices.
802.11 – Defines the WiFi wireless technology protocol through the regulatory body IEEE. There are different standards that are gradually updated to offer better connectivity quality.
8008 – An Intel microprocessor released in 1972 for desktop computers. This processor was an update of the 4004, released just six months earlier. The 8008 processor operated at a frequency of 200 kHz, could execute up to 60.000 instructions per second, and addressed 16 KB of memory with an 8-bit bus.
A
Algorithm – A set of clearly defined and unambiguous instructions and/or rules that allows one to solve a problem, perform a computation, process data, and carry out various tasks or activities
AMD – An American semiconductor company specializing in the development of computer processors. Its main products include microprocessors, motherboard chipsets, embedded processors, and graphics processors for personal computers, workstations, servers, and other computing systems.
Antivirus – Software designed to detect and remove computer viruses. It relies on mechanisms such as digital signatures, heuristic detection, behavioral detection, and/or sandbox detection.
Application – A computer program that allows the user to perform one or more tasks. Applications focus on automating certain complex tasks, such as accounting, document creation, or asset management.
API (Application Programming Interface) – A set of subroutines, functions, and procedures that a library provides to software as an abstraction layer. They are primarily used in programming.
ARM – This is a RISC processor architecture with a 32-bit and 64-bit instruction set. It was initially developed for personal computers, and the first products based on this architecture were the Acorn Archimedes, released in 1987. Currently, it is used in tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and other devices.
Von Neumann architecture – Described in 1945 by mathematician and physicist John von Neumann and another, it describes the design of an electronic digital computer with parts consisting of a processing unit containing an arithmetic logic unit and processor registers, a control unit containing instruction registers and a program counter, plus a memory for storing data and instructions, an external storage unit, and mechanisms for input and output signals
ASUS (ASUSTeK Computer, Inc.) – A Taipei, Taiwan-based company specializing in hardware, electronics, and robotics. They are best known for their motherboards, graphics cards, gaming peripherals, smartphones, workstations, monitors, and other devices.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) – A file containing audio and video that was released by Microsoft in 1992
B
Backup – A backup of files, folders, or entire drives that allows the information or files to be divided into independent storage units, whether hard drives or optical drives.
Benchmark – This is typically a software stress test of a computer component. The components usually tested using benchmark software are: processor, graphics card, RAM, and SSD; in order to determine their performance.
Binary – The basic numbering system of computing based on two voltage levels. It uses two values: 0 and 1.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) – This is a standard that defines the firmware interface developed by IBM for its personal computers. It is based on a chip that integrates firmware which is the first to run when a system boots and is used to initialize and test the system hardware.
Bit (Binary digit) – A digit in the binary number system. It is used to measure the storage capacity of a memory. In binary, a bit represents a value of 1 or 0.
Byte (B) – Unit of measurement in which information is counted in computing and telecommunications, equivalent to a set of eight bits.
C
Cache – A hardware or software component where data is temporarily stored for future data requests, allowing them to be processed more quickly.
CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) – A compact disc used to store data by laser recording and also read by laser beams. This standard was developed by Sony and Philips in 1985.
Integrated circuit – A small-sized structure based on a semiconductor material, usually silicon, with an area of square millimeters on which electronic circuits are 'printed' using the lithography process and which is protected in a plastic or ceramic package
CISC – An architecture with a complex or extensive instruction set, best exemplified by Intel's x86 processor family. These processors are characterized by their ability to execute hundreds of complex instructions, making them highly versatile. However, they present challenges regarding instruction parallelism; therefore, many systems of this type convert complex instructions into simpler RISC-type instructions, known as microinstructions.
Chipset – A set of integrated circuits that assists the processor and is necessary for the system to function. It communicates directly with the CPU and controls peripheral ports such as USB and SATA ports, among others.
CPU (Central Processing Unit) – Main component of a computer system that allows the interpretation of instructions from any software by performing different basic arithmetic, logical and input/output operations of the system
D
Direct3D – Part of the DirectX multimedia library suite, a Microsoft proprietary API for 3D graphics. It is available for all versions of Windows and Xbox consoles.
Discord – A freeware VoIP application designed for gaming communities. It can currently be used via a web browser or an executable client, and already boasts over 250 million active users.
DNS (Domain Name System) – A decentralized, hierarchical naming system for devices connecting to IP networks such as the Internet or a private network. This service associates a domain name with each participant.
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory ) – A type of RAM that uses capacitors, which gradually lose their charge. This memory requires a dynamic refresh circuit that periodically checks the charge and replenishes it in a refresh cycle.
Driver – A computer program that allows the operating system to interact with peripherals
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) – A high-capacity optical storage device. Different formats exist, and they can have up to two layers, thus varying the final storage capacity.
E
Email (electronic mail) – A service that allows users to send and receive messages via electronic communication networks. It not only allows sending text, but also attaching digital files such as images, videos, and other documents.
EPIC – A programming paradigm that began development in the 80s, also known as 'Independence' architectures. It was used by Intel and HP to develop the Intel IA-64 architecture and has been implemented in Itanium and Itanium 2 server processors.
Scanner – A peripheral device used to make copies using light, such as printed images and digital documents.
Windows Desktop – The main screen that appears when we start the system and contains the taskbar, the start button, and executable icons, among others.
Windows Explorer – This is the official file manager for the Microsoft operating system. It was first implemented in Windows 95 and was called File Explorer up to Windows 8.
F
Firewall – A component of a computer system or network designed to block unauthorized access to the network or system. Firewalls can be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both.
FireWire – A high-speed physical interface for data input and output. It was used to interconnect digital devices such as digital cameras and camcorders. It was discontinued in 2009 because it was superseded by USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt.
FPS (Frames Per Second) – This is the frequency at which a device displays images on a screen. This term applies to movies, video cameras, video games, and more.
Freeware – Software that is distributed at no cost to the user and can be used without restrictions, but retains copyright, therefore it cannot be commercialized or modified
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) – A network protocol for transferring files between systems connected to a network, based on a client-server architecture.
G
Gamer – A term used to describe all fans and enthusiasts of video games
Gaming – Trade name for all products specially developed for gamers
Gigabyte – A unit of information storage, symbolized by GB , equal to 10⁹ bytes . It is commonly abbreviated as giga in computer jargon.
Gigabyte Technology – A Taiwanese company specializing in the manufacture of computer hardware. The company is best known for its motherboards, graphics cards, RAM, monitors, and a wide range of gaming peripherals.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) – A solution for graphics processing and floating-point operations. It reduces the workload on the processor when processing graphics in video games and/or 3D applications.
H
Hardware – Physical and tangible parts of any computer system
Primary hardware – Physical and tangible parts necessary for computer equipment to function
Peripheral hardware – All those physical and tangible elements that connect to the system and allow data input and output, as well as interaction with the system
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) – A storage unit based on magnetic recording. These drives consist of two or more rigid disks coated with a magnetic material attached to a rotating spindle. A movable read/write head moves over the platters to read and write information.
I
Icon – An image, either on our desktop or while browsing folders, that represents a drive, file, folder, or other item
Print – The act of sending any file from our system (image, text, etc.) to a printer to print it on paper or another suitable surface
The Internet is a network of decentralized communication networks that use the TCP/IP protocol. The first system of this type was established in 1969 using several computers at the University of California (United States) and was called ARPANET.
Intranet – A private network that uses the same protocols as the internet. This network can be isolated from the internet, have an internet access point, or be completely isolated. In the latter case, this is primarily for security reasons, as confidential data or files may be stored on the network.
IP – A unique numerical address for each computer that identifies all computers connected to the internet
J
Jabber – An open, XML-based protocol that enables real-time message exchange between two points on the internet. It is commonly used as an extensible messaging platform and instant messaging network with functionalities similar to other communication systems. Its main characteristic is that it is free and not managed by companies.
Jack – Connector commonly used for sound systems, both input (microphone) and output (speakers)
Jailbreak – A term used to describe removing the protections installed by Apple on its products, allowing the running of applications not approved by the company. Each new iOS update modifies the process. It's important to note that jailbreaking violates Apple's product license and therefore voids the warranty.
JavaScript – A programming language based on the ECMAScript standard. This programming language is defined as object-oriented, prototype-based, imperative, weakly typed, and dynamic.
Jumper – This is a small plastic component with an internal metal bridge that closes contacts in a system component. It prevents the component's operation from being modified by software.
K
Karma – A set of tools used to test the security of wireless clients at multiple layers. It works by exploiting vulnerabilities in the 802.11 network protocols, creating a framework that allows for the exploitation of connected users in various ways.
Kernel – The basic core of any operating system upon which the different layers for communication with the hardware are based.
Key Distribution Center (KDC) – A network service that provides temporary access keys for login used in the Kerberos V5 authentication protocol. Windows 2000 and Windows XP had a KDC that ran a privileged process on all domain controllers.
Keyboard Power On Selector (KBPOS) – A feature that ensures that a system using an ATX power supply can be turned on and off from the keyboard
Kilobyte (Kb) – A unit of measurement that is equivalent to 1.000 bytes or approximately one thousand characters
L
LAN (Local Area Network) – A network of interconnected computers in the same physical space, which can be a home or an area of a building.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) – This is a type of screen panel based on liquid crystal. It was primarily used in laptops.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) – A light-emitting source created from a semiconductor material with two terminals. It is based on a pn junction that emits light when activated by an electrical voltage.
LibreOffice – An open-source office suite that originated as a hard fork of OpenOffice. It is currently the most widely used alternative office suite to Microsoft Office.
Library – A library is a collection of modules or programming elements used to design or develop applications. These libraries can be free to use or require payment.
Link – An element in an electronic document that refers to another resource. Hyperlinks allow you to create references to files on the system or web pages accessed through browsers.
Local Dimming – Sony's proprietary technology that allows for increased contrast while reducing light leakage at the pixel level
M
Megabyte (Mb) – Unit of measurement that is equivalent to 1.000Kb, which is approximately one million characters
Megahertz (MHz) – A unit of frequency that measures the speed of processors, graphics cards, and RAM, and is also used to measure the operating speeds of communication buses.
Micro ATX – The most common motherboard form factor with dimensions of 305x244mm
Microarchitecture – This refers to the design of integrated circuits on silicon that form the cores of microchips used in GPUs, CPUs, memory, and other devices that use chips.
Microsoft – The company that develops the most popular operating system, whose most recent version is Windows 10. They also develop other tools, such as the Office suite and the Skype communication tool.
Microsoft Office – A suite of tools designed for office automation, the most well-known being the Word text editor, the Excel spreadsheet, and the PowerPoint presentation tool.
Microsoft Teams – A video conferencing communication and collaboration platform that allows file storage and application integration, such as Office.
Mini ITX – The most compact motherboard form factor with dimensions of 170x170mm
MUA (Mail User Agent) – Software that allows the user to manage one or more email accounts. Some of the most popular are Outlook and Thunderbird.
N
NAND (memory) – Type of memory used for SSD drives, memory cards for cameras, USB storage drives, smartphones, etc.
NAND (logic gate) – These logic gates produce a false output if all inputs are true; therefore, the output is the complement of the AND gate
Nanometer (nm) – One billionth of a meter or one millionth of a millimeter. It is commonly used to indicate the size of transistors integrated into a microchip.
Nibble – A grouping of 4 bits that is represented as 2 ^4 = 16 possible values
Node – A system that directs traffic to and from other points on the network, and from these points to the clients it provides access to. We could say it's a router with enhanced capabilities.
Core – One of the parts that make up a microchip that performs computing tasks. CPUs can integrate several of these, rapidly increasing their number. GPUs have many of these units.
NUMA (Non-Uniform Memory Access) – Non-Uniform Memory Access refers to a parallel processing architecture that allows a processor to access not only local memory, but also the other 'microprocessors' in the system.
O
Office automation – This refers to the set of techniques, applications, and computer tools used in offices to automate and optimize tasks. These tools allow users to devise, create, manipulate, transmit, and store information.
Ohm – Unit of measurement that measures the electrical resistance of a material to the passage of a current with a given voltage
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) – A technology patented by Kodak based on organic LED diodes that allows for the manufacture of brighter and highly efficient panels for data display screens. In addition, these panels are easier and cheaper to manufacture than liquid crystal displays.
Open Source – An open-source software development project that advocates offering software or code free of charge to the user
OpenCL – A programming language that can be used on heterogeneous platforms, allowing users to leverage the power of all processors in a system regardless of type or manufacturer. Developed by the Kronos Group, it is designed for distributed parallel computing between CPUs and GPUs.
OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) – A standard that defines a multi-language, multi-platform API for producing 2D and 3D graphics. Originally developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. in 1992, it is primarily used for CAD, virtual reality, scientific rendering, data visualization, and flight simulation. It is also used in game development, though less frequently.
Overclocking – The practice of increasing the operating frequency of the processor, graphics card, or memory, primarily, although it can be done to other components, such as monitors.
Overflow – A memory overflow situation, usually in RAM, that causes a system error and can lead to a program crashing or a blue screen of death.
P
P2P (Peer-to-Peer) – A set of interconnected computers on a network that share files. This type of network is based on the connection of ad hoc nodes to share all kinds of files, data, or information. Some of the best-known examples include the Torrent network and the Bitcoin network.
USB flash drive – A small, low-capacity USB memory stick. These drives have become popular for conveniently transporting files.
Ping – The time it takes for a connection to be received between one client and another, such as a server. The lower the ping value, the better the connectivity quality.
Pixel – The smallest unit of graphic information on a screen. Screens are divided into this number of points on a panel and can use 8, 16, 24, or 32 bits of color.
Motherboard – Physical support where the different components of a computer are connected
Q
QoS (Quality of Service) – This refers to the router's management of traffic prioritization. It is primarily used to assign priority to applications or services, and is often used to prioritize games over other applications and/or services.
QR (Quick Response) codes originated in Japan and are an evolution of barcodes, offering more possibilities. Graphically, they are a matrix of dots designed to store information and were developed by Denso Wave in 1994. Originally used for cataloging vehicle manufacturing or for inventory management, they are now used to store information that can be read by smartphone cameras.
Quartz – A Mac OS X graphics engine that uses a bitmap graphics generation model, compositing graphics on screen in real time. It's a graphics engine concept that allows for dynamic graphical deformations, infinite layer transparencies, shadows, and the combination of 2D and 3D or any digital media that can be handled by QuickTime.
QuickTime – A playback technology developed by Apple for playing video and audio in a compressed format widely used by designers
Quick Start – Technology implemented in processors that reduces power consumption when there is no workload or when the system enters sleep mode
Query – These are queries that allow you to retrieve a group of records provided they meet a specific condition. Any SQL expression that defines an operation to be performed on a database
R
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) – A system that allows you to combine different storage units to work together. There are various possible configurations, allowing you to combine units to work as a single unit or in mirror format for backups, among other things.
RAM (Random Access Memory) – A memory unit that allows for the temporary storage of data and the results of computer processes. This memory is volatile, meaning that the data is erased when it loses power.
RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) – A rather primitive storage system that allowed for the storage of 5MB of information on systems with 50 disks/platters, each almost 61 centimeters in diameter. A RAMAC system would be roughly the size of a modern washing machine.
Ransomware – Malicious code that encrypts system files and requires a specific key for decryption. This type of attack hijacks the system of a user or group of users and demands a ransom payment for the key.
Ray tracing – Real-time light ray tracing technology that has recently been adapted for video games by NVIDIA. The company was the first to release graphics cards with support for this technology, and Battlefield V is the first game to implement it.
RISC – A processor architecture that implements a reduced instruction set, being a 'simplified' version of the CISC architecture. RISC processors are characterized by having fewer than 100 instructions, all of which have the same number of bits, making them faster.
ROM (Read Only Memory) – A type of non-volatile memory that only allows reading. This type of memory is not volatile, and the information is not lost when the system is turned off. This type of memory is commonly used for the BIOS of computer systems.
S
Operating System – It is a graphical interface that allows the user to interact with the hardware without needing to know machine code. Three fundamental elements can be distinguished: kernel (the core of the operating system), drivers, and UI (user interface).
Slack – A team communication tool that can be used for free by small teams, although a paid membership is required for full use.
Socket – The motherboard connector where the processor is installed. Internally, it has a small array where the pins fit, called a Pin Grid Array or PGA . Alternatively, the pins can be located on the motherboard itself, in which case the arrangement is called a Land Grid Array or LGS.
Software – It is the logical support of a computer system that includes all types of programs, instructions and computer rules that allow a computer to perform different tasks
SSD (Solid State Disk) – Solid state data storage unit based on memory chips that can persistently store information
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) – An element developed by Netscape that provides a system for exchanging and authenticating information. It is currently widely used in computer communications, especially on the World Wide Web, as a security measure that strengthens authentication, confidentiality, and data integrity.
T
Network card – A controller that allows you to create system networks or connect to the internet, depending on your needs. Currently, they use the RJ-45 connector and also allow wireless connections via Wi-Fi.
Graphics card – A component specifically designed for calculating and rendering 2D and 3D graphics. The graphics card is sometimes confused with the GPU or graphics chip. In reality, the graphics card is the entire PCB where the GPU, VRAM, power supply, video outputs, and other components are installed.
TCP/IP – This is a set of communication protocols used to interconnect electronic systems. This communication system is based on five layers: physical layer, data link layer, internet layer, transport layer, and application layer.
Salami Technique – An internet fraud that exploits data repetition, where the attacker repeatedly transfers negligible amounts of money from one account to another. This way, the account holder doesn't realize they are being robbed in the short term.
Terabyte (TB) – A unit of computer storage capacity. Each terabyte is equal to 1024 gigabytes, or one trillion bytes.
Trojan – Computer software that, under the guise of legitimate software, hides malware that infects a computer system. They behave much like viruses, but are not designed to replicate on their own. They are usually disguised as legitimate software to prevent users from detecting that it is corrupted.
U
Ubuntu – This desktop operating system is a version of GNU/Linux based on Debian and maintained by Canonical Ltd., whose owner is South African Mark Shuttleworth.
Unicode – An encoding standard developed by the Unicode Consortium. It is essentially a 2-byte character set for representing each character. It allows the representation of any character in any desktop language worldwide, including symbols from the Chinese, Japanese, or Korean alphabets.
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) – A network connection protocol that greatly simplifies the identification and setup of a device to the internet. When the device connects to the network, it is automatically identified and becomes available for data exchange without further configuration.
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) – A power system that activates as soon as a power outage occurs. It is typically based on one or more batteries and is used to safely shut down the system and prevent data loss.
URL (Universal/Uniform Resource Locator) – An address that unifies locations on the internet. A URL can contain a lot of data, such as the name of a hypertext page, which is usually identified by the file extension .html or .htm.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) – A standard connection port for data transfer that is completely plug and play. It has become the primary data connection port for connecting peripherals, components, portable storage devices, etc.
V
Valentia – An island in Ireland where the first submarine cable connecting Europe and North America arrived in 1866. This cable was a telegraph cable.
Watt – It is the unit of actual power consumed by a computer system
VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) – A non-profit organization that standardizes various aspects of video connectivity and similar technologies.
Video game – A generic term for all software of a recreational nature. These can be for computers, consoles, or smartphones.
ViolaWWW – It is considered the first graphical web browser in history, developed by Pei-Yuan Wei of the University of California
W
W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) – A non-profit organization that regulates and develops the standards used on the web, such as XML, HTML, CSS, and others. This association was founded in 1994 with the mission of unifying the operation of the web.
Web – A space within the internet where a company, association, institution, group, or individual shares information of any kind, whether commercial, informational, or cultural.
Windows – An operating system developed by Microsoft that offers an attractive and user-friendly interface. It provides a simple and intuitive graphical environment to which add-ons and other software can be added to extend its capabilities and functionality.
Wireless – Device connections without cables that allow data transfer. Although this technology seems modern, its first version actually allowed the transmission of Morse code using radio waves.
WUSB (Wireless USB) – Data transfer technology using a wireless communication standard that aims to replace the USB port
X
X.25 – Standard connection interface for data terminals in public networks. This protocol is based on a switched system defined by the ITT Advisory Committee and subsequently adopted by ISO.
X.400 – A message exchange protocol that is much more secure and robust than SMTP. It is typically used in environments where message security and confidentiality are critical.
x86 – The architecture used in processors based on Intel's 32-bit system. It defines how a processor works, the types of instructions it can encode, the decoding methodology, and the internal organization of the chip's electronics.
Xeon – Intel processors designed for workstations and servers, where high computing power with specific characteristics is required
XviD – An open-source version of the DivX codec, making it free to distribute. It originated from Project Mayo, which has become an independent branch licensed under the GPL with a significant number of improvements.
xvYCC – This standard defines a color space generated with twice the number of tones as the sRGB standard. It allows for the reproduction of images using the same color rate as film cameras.
Y
Y2K – This acronym stands for 'Year 2000' and refers to the well-known 'Y2000K bug'. A kind of 'computer apocalypse' was predicted because computers would theoretically be unable to represent the year 2000 and would revert to 1900. When the time came, absolutely nothing happened.
YAML (YAML Ain't Another Markup Language) – A human-readable standard data serialization format that aims to reduce the abstraction of programming code and simplify programming.
YModem – This is a file transfer protocol and an extension of the original XModem protocol. It originated in the 80s, adding new features such as filename transfer and multi-file transfer.
Yonah – The name of Intel's first multi-core technology for laptops. It replaced Dothan-based solutions.
Yottabyte (YB) – A unit of storage measurement that is equivalent to 2 80 bytes in the binary system or 10 24 bytes in the decimal system.
Z
Z-Buffer – A technique that draws in the buffer memory of a graphics card, rendering objects furthest away first and then closest, in order. This ensures that the final image has objects in the correct order.
Zigbee – A fairly popular wireless technology used primarily for home automation applications such as sensors, industrial connectivity, and measurement devices. These applications don't require knowledge of the underlying technology; users only need to know how to use them.
Zettabyte (ZB) – A unit of storage measurement of 2 <sup>70 </sup> bytes in binary and 10 <sup>21 </sup> bytes in decimal
ZIP – A lossless data compression format. This compression format is quite common, especially for containing and transferring a set of files, whether via instant messaging or email.
Socket – Also known as a socket, this is the space on the motherboard where the processor is installed. The term "socket" is also used for the connection systems of memory, graphics cards, and other devices.
Zoom – An application for making video calls and virtual meetings that is available for computers, tablets, and smartphones.