Active X - Microsoft-based technology build to link desktop applications to the World Wide Web.

Adware - Free software that is supported by advertisments.

Application & App (Program) - Computer software that performs a task or set of tasks.

APS.NET - A set of Web development tools offered by Microsoft.

Bandwith - How much data one can send through a network or modem connection; usually measured in bits per second, or "bps."

Bluetooth - A short-range wireless technology that enables communication between Bluetooth compatiable devices. Most commonly used between desktop & laptop computers, PDAs and cellular phones.

Bookmark - An Internet marker for a Web site. A.K.A. Favourites.

Boot - To power up a computer.

Browser - Software used to navigate the Internet.

Byte - A set of 8 bits that represent a single character in the computer's memory.

Cache - Stores recently-used information in a place where it can be accessed extremely fast.

Codec - Short for coder-decoder, a form of audio and video compression.

Computer - A programmable machine.

Cookie - Data sent to your computer by a Web server that records your actions on a certain Web site.

Cursor -
a. Where your mouse pointer is
b. Where the next character typed will be entered in a line of text.

Cyberspace - Used to describe the virtual world of computers.

Database - A data structure used to store organized information.

Desktop - Gives owner easy access to items on their hard drive.

DirectX - A set of standard commands and functions that software developers can use when creating their programs.

DNS Record - Are stored in zone files and used for translating domain names to IP addresses.

Domain - Contains a group of computers that can be accessed and administered with a common set of rules.

Domain Name - The name that identifies a specific Web site.

Double Click - Double clicking invovles clicking your mouse button quickly two times.

Dual Core - A CPU with two processors or "execution cores" in the same integrated circuit.

E-mail - Part of the standard TCP/IP set of protocols. Sending messages is typically done by SMTP and receiving messages is handled by POP3 or IMAP.

Emoticon - Little text-based faces and objects used in e-mail and online chat.

Encryption - The coding or scrambling of information so that it can only be decoded and read by someone who has the correct decoding key.

End User - The person that a software program or hardware device is designed for.

Ethernet - Most common type of connection computers use in a local area network; used to connection a computer to another computer, a local network, or DSL/Cable modem. The port looks a lot like a regular phone jack, but is slightly wider.

FAT32 - Windows-based storage File Allocation Table, which keeps track of all your files and helps the computer locate them on the disk drive.

File - A collection of data stored in one unit, under a filename.

Firewall - Used to protect a networked server or client machine from damage by unauthorized users.

Firmware - A software program on a hardware device which provides necessary instructions for how the device communicates with the other computer hardware.

Flash Memory - A type of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

Floating Point - Numbers that contain floating decimal points.

Freeware - Completely free software that can be downloaded and shared with other users.

Gigabyte - 2 to the 30th power, or 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Gigahertz - 1 = 1,000 megahertz or 1,000,000,000 Hz.

Google - The worlds most popular search engine.

Hacker - Used to refer to someone who can gain unauthorized access to other computers.

Hard Drive - The hardware inside your computer that stores all your data.

Hardware - Refers to the physical parts of a computer and related devices.

Heat Sink - Dissipates the heat from the processor, preventing it from overheating.

Host - A computer that acts as a server for other computers on a network.

Hyper-Threading - A technology developed by Intel Corporation which enables the processor to execute two sets of instructions at the same time.

Hyperlink - A word, phrase or image that you can click on to jump to a new document or section in the current document.

Icon - A visual representation of an object or a program on your hard drive.

Illegal Operation - An error given by the system when a program encounters a bug.

Install - Installing a software program writes the necessary data for running the program on your hard drive.

Integrated Circuit - A small chip that can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, microprocessor, or computer memory.

Internet - Created in 1969, during the Cold War, by the United States military which today spreads across the globe and consists of counless networks and computers, allowing millions of people to share information.

Intranet - An internal or private network that can only be accessed within the confines of a organization.

IP Address - A code made up of numbers separated by dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet.

Java - Refers to a porgramming language developed by Sun Microsystems.

Javascript - Used to create dynamic, interactive Web pages.

Keyboard Shortcut - A key combination that performs a particular command.

Kilobyte - Technically 1,024 bytes because it is measured by 2^10, but is commonly estimated to 1,000 bytes.

Linux - A Unix based operating system created by Linus Torvalds.

Localhost - Refers to the local computer that a program is currenting running.

Mas OS - An operating system that works on Macintosh Computers.

Macro -
a. A keyboard shortcut
b. A small program

Malware - AKA Malicious software, referring to programs designed to damage or do harmful unwanted actions on a computer system.

Megabyte - 2 to the 20th power, or 1,048,576 bytes.

Megahertz - One megahertz is equal to one million cycles per second.

Megapixel - 1 megapixel = 1 million pixels.

Menu Bar - A horizontal strip that contains lists of available menus for a particular program.

Meta Tag - A special HTML tag used to store information about a Web page, but can only be viewed in the source code.

Mirrored Volume - A storage media device that stores an exact copy of the data from another volume.

Mnemonic - A pattern that can be used as an aid for memorizing information.

Modem - Short for Modulator/Demodulator; A communications device that allows one computer to connect another computer to transfer data over telephone lines.

Monitor - Displays the computer's user interface and open programs, allowing the user to interact with the computer via keyboard & mouse.

Motherboard (Mainboard) - The main circuit board of your computer.

Mouse - A primary input device used on today's computers, most commonly controlled by the hand.

Multimedia - The integration of multiple forms of media.

MySQL - An open source relational database management system, most commonly used on Web servers.

Name Server - Translates domain names into IP addresses.

Network - Two or more computers connected to each other enabling the sharing of files and information between the systems.

Null - A term used to describe a variable that has no value.

OpenGL - Open Graphics Library, a 3D graphics language developed by Silicon Graphics.

Operating System - The software that communicates with computer hardware on a basic level.

Packet - Small amounts of data transferred over a network.

Parallel Port - Used on older PCs for connecting external devices like scanners and printers.

Partition - A section of a hard disk which is recognized as individual disks by the computer's operating system.

Peripheral - Any external device that provides input and output for a computer, i.e. keyboard and mouse

Phishing - An attempt by users on the internet to steal your personal information most commonly through e-mail scams.

Plug and Play - A device that will work with a computer as soon as it is connected.

PostScript - A description language used to describe a page's text and graphical content.

Protocol - A specific set of communication rules.

Registry - A MS Windows database used to store configuration information about software installed on a computer.

Remote Access - The ability to access your computer from a remote location.

Resolution -
a. How many pixels a monitor can display
b. How fine a printer can print

Router - Hardware that routes data from a local area network to another network connection.

Search Engine - A website that indexes millions of sites on the Web so that users may find desired information.

Serial Port - A type of connection on PCs that are used for peripherals.

Server - A machine that serves information to computers that connect to it over a network.

Service Pack - A software package that contains several updates for an application or operating system.

Shareware - Commercial software that one can use for a trial period before being required to purchase or un-install from the system.

Spam - Junk e-mail or irrelevant postings to a newsgroup or forum board.

Spyware - Software on the computer that spies on your web browsing habits, e-mail, usernames and passwords and credit card information.

Streaming - Multimedia data being played back without being fully downloaded first.

Surge Protector - Allows multiple devices to be plugged in while simultaneously protecting each from power surges.

System Tray - A collection of small icons on the opposite side of the Start Menu in the right side of the Windows toolbar.

Task Bar - In Windows operating systems it is a bar that spans the bottom of of the screen and contains the Start button and system tray.

Toolbar - A set of icons or buttons that are part of a software program's interface or an open window.

Tweak - Modifying a particular piece of hardware for better performance.

Upload - Sending a file from your computer to another system.

Username - A name that uniquely identifies a person on a computer screen.

Virtual Memory - Increases the available memory your computer has by enlarging places in memory where data can be stored once the physical memory has run out.

Virus - Small malicious programs or scripts that can negatively affect the health of your computer.

Web Host - Stores all the pages of one's website and makes them available to computers connected to the Internet.

Web Page - Documents written in HTML and translated by your Web browsers.

Webmaster - A person in charge of maintaining a Web site.

Word Wrap - When a line of text is automatically wrapped to the next line when it reaches the end of the page or text field.

Workstation - Refers to a computer that has been configured to perform a particular set of tasks.