Browse Definitions by Alphabet

primary storage (main storage) - Primary storage is the collective methods and technologies that capture and retain digital information in active use and critical for an organization's operations.
prime number - A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 whose only factors are 1 and itself.
primitive (programming) - In computer programming, a primitive is one of a set of fundamental language elements that serve as the foundation for a programming language.
principle of least privilege (POLP) - The principle of least privilege (POLP) is a concept in computer security that limits users' access rights to only what is strictly required to do their jobs.
print server - A print server is a software application, network device or computer that manages print requests and makes printer queue status information available to end users and network administrators.
printed circuit board (PCB) - A printed circuit board (PCB) is a structure for assembling electronic components and their connections into a unified circuit that allows electrical current to pass between components.
printer - A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper, usually to standard-size, 8.
printer pool - Printer pooling is a standard feature of Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 that allows agroup of printers to share the same name and function as if they were one printer.
Prisma - Prisma is a cloud security suite that provides four different services that use rule-based security policies and machine learning to protect cloud services.
privacy compliance - Privacy compliance is a company's accordance with established personal information protection guidelines, specifications or legislation.
privacy impact assessment (PIA) - A privacy impact assessment (PIA) is a method for identifying and assessing privacy risks throughout the development lifecycle of a program or system.
privacy policy - A privacy policy is a legal document that explains how an organization handles any customer, client or employee information gathered in its operations.
private 5G - Private 5G is a wireless network technology that delivers 5G cellular connectivity for private network use cases.
private API - A private API is an application programming interface that has its application hosted with in-house developers.
private branch exchange (PBX) - A private branch exchange is a telephone system within an enterprise that switches calls between users on local lines, while enabling all users to share a certain number of external phone lines.
private CA (private PKI) - A private CA is an enterprise-specific certificate authority that functions like a publicly trusted CA.
private certificate authority (CA) - Private CA stands for private certificate authority and is an enterprise specific certificate authority that functions like a publicly trusted CA but is exclusively run by or for the enterprise.
private cloud storage (internal cloud storage) - Private cloud storage, also called internal cloud storage, is a service delivery model for storage within a large enterprise.
private IP address - A private IP address is a range of non-internet facing IP addresses used in an internal network.
private key - A private key, also known as a secret key, is a variable in cryptography that is used with an algorithm to encrypt and decrypt data.
private platform as a service (private PaaS) - Private platform as a service (private PaaS) is software that facilitates development, deployment and operations for IT on a private infrastructure or behind a firewall.
private sector - The private sector is the part of a country's economic system that is run by individuals and companies, rather than a government entity.
privilege creep - Privilege creep is the gradual accumulation of access rights beyond what individuals need to do their job.
privileged access management (PAM) - Privileged access management (PAM) is the combination of tools and technology used to secure, control and monitor access to an organization's critical information and resources.
privileged identity management (PIM) - Privileged identity management (PIM) is the monitoring and protection of superuser accounts that hold expanded access to an organization's IT environments.
problem list - A problem list is a document that states the most important health problems facing a patient such as nontransitive illnesses or diseases, injuries suffered by the patient, and anything else that has affected the patient or is currently ongoing with the patient.
problem program - Now seldom used, the term problem program is used to distinguish a computer program that directly supports a user application from an operating system, a utility, or any other underlying support programming.
process - A process is an instance of a program running in a computer.
Process Explorer - Process Explorer is a free Windows task manager and system monitoring tool that details which programs in a user's system have a specific file or directory open.
process hollowing - Process hollowing is a security exploit in which an attacker removes code in an executable file and replaces it with malicious code.
process innovation - Process innovation refers to a change in an existing operation or product that creates significant value for an organization.
process intelligence (business process intelligence) - Process intelligence is data that has been systematically collected to analyze the individual steps within a business process or operational workflow.
process manufacturing - Process manufacturing is a production method in which goods are created by combining supplies, ingredients or raw materials using a predetermined formula or recipe.
process mining - Process mining is a technique that interprets logs from enterprise applications -- like customer resource management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms -- to identify the steps in common business processes, detect variations and prioritize areas of improvement.
processing in memory (PIM) - Processing in memory, or PIM (sometimes called processor in memory), refers to the integration of a processor with Random Access Memory (RAM) on a single chip.
processor (CPU) - A processor is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.
procure to pay (P2P) - Procure to pay is the process of requisitioning, purchasing, receiving, paying for and accounting for goods and services.
procurement plan - A procurement plan -- also called a procurement management plan -- is a document that is used to manage the process of finding and selecting a vendor.
product analytics - Product analytics is the process of gathering and transforming user-level data into insights that reveal how customers interact with specific products.
product data management (PDM) - Product data management (PDM) is the process of capturing and managing the electronic information related to a product so it can be reused in business processes such as design, production, distribution and marketing.
product development (new product development) - Product development -- also called new product management -- is a series of steps that includes the conceptualization, design, development and marketing of newly created or rebranded goods and services.
product information management (PIM) - Product information management (PIM) is a classification of software products that support the global identification, linking and synchronization of product information across heterogeneous data sources.
product-qualified lead (PQL) - A product-qualified lead (PQL) is an individual or business that experienced value from using a product as a result of a free trial, use of a limited feature model or other types of first-hand experience with a product.
production planning - Production planning is the act of developing a guide for the design and production of a given product or service.
productivity software - Productivity software is a category of application programs that help users produce things such as documents, databases, graphs, spreadsheets and presentations.
professional services - A professional service is an intangible product that a contractor or product vendor sells to help a customer manage a specific part of their business.
profit and loss statement (P&L) - A profit and loss statement (P&L), also called an income statement or statement of operations, is a financial report that shows a company's revenues, expenses and net profit or loss over a given period of time.
program - In computing, a program is a specific set of ordered operations for a computer to perform.
program counter - A program counter is a special register in a computer processor that contains the memory address (location) of the next program instruction to be executed.
program/erase cycle (P/E cycle) - A solid-state storage program/erase cycle (P/E cycle) is a sequence of events in which data is written to a solid-state NAND flash memory cell, such as the type found in a flash or thumb drive, and is subsequently erased and rewritten.
programmable logic controller (PLC) - A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a small, modular, solid-state computer with customized instructions for performing a particular task.
programmable network (network programmability) - A programmable network is one in which the behavior of network devices and flow control is handled by software that operates independently of network hardware.
progressive web app (PWA) - A progressive web app (PWA) is a website that looks and behaves as if it is a mobile app.
project charter - A project charter is a formal short document that states a project exists and provides project managers with written authority to begin work.
project constraint - A constraint in project management is any restriction that defines a project's limitations.
project management - Project management is the discipline of using established principles, procedures and policies to guide a project from conception through completion.
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) - The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a document containing standard terminology, best practices and process guidelines around project management as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
project management framework - A project management framework is a set of processes, tasks, and tools that provide guidance and structure for the execution of a project.
Project Management Professional (PMP) - Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a qualification program overseen by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Project Nightingale - Project Nightingale is a controversial partnership between Google and Ascension, the second largest health system in the United States.
Project planning: What it is and 5 steps to create a plan - Project planning is a project management discipline that addresses how to complete a project in a certain time frame, usually with clearly defined stages, milestones and designated resources.
Project portfolio management: A beginner's guide - Project portfolio management is a formal approach used by organizations to identify, prioritize, coordinate and monitor projects that align with their strategy and goals.
project post-mortem - A project post-mortem is a business process that lets the project team, project management, and other stakeholders review and evaluate the results at the end of a project or after the resolution of an incident.
project scope - Project scope is the part of project planning that involves determining and documenting a list of specific project goals, deliverables, tasks, costs and deadlines.
Prometheus - Prometheus is an open source monitoring and alerting toolkit for microservices and containers that provides flexible queries and real-time notifications.
promiscuous mode - In computer networking, promiscuous mode is a mode of operation, as well as a security, monitoring and administration technique.
prompt chaining - Prompt chaining is a technique used when working with generative AI models in which the output from one prompt is used as input for the next.
prompt engineering - Prompt engineering is an AI engineering technique encompassing the process of refining LLMs with specific prompts and recommended outputs, as well as the process of refining input to various generative AI services to generate text or images.
proof of concept (POC) - A proof of concept (POC) is a demonstration of a product in which work is focused on determining whether an idea can be turned into a reality.
proof of concept (PoC) exploit - A proof of concept (PoC) exploit is a nonharmful attack against a computer or network.
proof of stake (PoS) - Proof of stake (PoS) is an approach used in the cryptocurrency industry to help validate transactions.
propagation delay - Propagation delay is the amount of time required for a signal to be received after it has been sent; it is caused by the time it takes for the signal to travel through a medium.
property management system (PMS) - A property management system (PMS) is a software application for the operations of hotels, other hospitality accommodations and commercial residential rental properties.
proportional control - Proportional control is a control system technology in which the response (output) is proportional to the difference between a setpoint value and the current value of a process variable.
PropTech (property tech) - PropTech, or property technology, is any form of technology that combines the real estate market with IT in order to help users buy, research, sell or manage property.
Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) - Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) is a security protocol commonly used to protect wireless networks.
protected mode - Protected mode, also called protected virtual address mode, is the primary mode of operation for an Intel-based x86 microprocessor.
proton - A proton is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom.
prototype - A prototype is an early version of a product from which future versions are developed.
prototyping model - The prototyping model is a systems development method in which a prototype is built, tested and then reworked as necessary until an acceptable outcome is achieved from which the complete system or product can be developed.
provisioning - In the context of IT and computing, provisioning refers to the process of setting up IT infrastructure and providing access to authorized users to the various resources that are part of the infrastructure.
proxy hacking - Proxy hacking is a cyber attack technique designed to supplant an authentic webpage in a search engine's index and search results pages to drive traffic to an imitation site.
pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) - A pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) is a program written for, and used in, probability and statistics applications when large quantities of random digits are needed.
pseudocode - Pseudocode is a detailed yet readable description of what a computer program or algorithm should do.
pseudoscience - Pseudoscience is a proposition, a finding or a system of explanation that is presented as science but that lacks the essential rigor of the scientific method.
PST file - A PST file is a personal folder file in Microsoft Outlook.
PTO (paid time off, personal time off) - Paid time off (PTO) is a human resource management (HRM) policy that provides employees with a pool of bankable hours that can be used for any purpose.
public cloud storage - Public cloud storage, also called online storage, is a service model that provides data storage on a pay-per-use basis.
public data - Public data is information that can be shared, used, reused and redistributed without restriction.
public domain - Public domain is a designation for content that is not protected by any copyright law or other restriction and may be freely copied, shared, altered and republished by anyone.
Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) - Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) are a set of standard protocols, numbered from 1 to 15.
public-private partnership (PPP) - A public-private partnership (PPP) is a funding model for public infrastructure projects and initiatives such as a new telecommunications system, public transportation system, airport or power plant.
pulse - A pulse is a burst of current, voltage, or electromagnetic-field energy.
pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) - Pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) is the transmission of data by varying the amplitudes (voltage or power levels) of the individual pulses in a regularly timed sequence of electrical or electromagnetic pulses.
purchase intent - Purchase intent is the probability that a consumer will buy a product or service.
pure risk - Pure risk refers to risks that are beyond human control and result in a loss or no loss with no possibility of financial gain.
Pure Storage - Pure Storage is a provider of enterprise data flash storage products designed to substitute for electromechanical disk arrays.
purple screen of death (PSOD) - A purple screen of death (PSOD) is a diagnostic screen with white type on a purple background that's displayed when the VMkernel of a VMware ESXi host experiences a critical error, becomes inoperative and terminates any virtual machines (VMs) that are running.
purpose-built backup appliance (PBBA) - A purpose-built backup appliance (PBBA) is a standalone disk-based storage device that is configured and optimized for storing backup data.
push notification - Push notification, also called server push notification, is the delivery of information from a software application to a computing device without a specific request from the client.