Technical support

Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.

scientific method - The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation.
search operator - A search operator -- sometimes referred to as a search parameter -- is a character or string of characters used in a search engine query to narrow the focus of the search.
second (s or sec) - The second (s or sec) is the International System of Units (SI) unit of time measurement.
sensor - A sensor is a device that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment.
server stack - A server stack is the collection of software that forms the operational infrastructure on a given machine.
shift register - A shift register is a digital memory circuit found in calculators, computers, and data-processing systems.
six degrees of separation - Six degrees of separation is the theory that any person on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries.
Six Sigma - Six Sigma is a business methodology for quality improvement that measures how many defects there are in a current process and seeks to systematically eliminate them.
skunkworks project (Skunk Works) - A skunkworks project, also known as Skunk Works, is an innovative undertaking, involving a small group of people, that is outside the normal research and development (R&D) channels within an organization.
slack space (file slack space) - Slack space, or file slack space, is the leftover storage space on a computer's hard disk drive when a file does not need all the space it has been allocated by the operating system.
slice and dice - To slice and dice is to break a body of information down into smaller parts or to examine it from different viewpoints so that you can understand it better.
slowness movement - The slowness movement is a grassroots reaction to the hectic pace, overwork, and lack of leisure typical of modern life.
smart machines - A smart machine is a device embedded with machine-to-machine and/or cognitive computing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) or deep learning, all of which it uses to reason, solve problems, make decisions and even take action.
SMB (small and medium-sized business or small and midsize business) - SMB is an abbreviation for a small and medium-sized business, sometimes called a small and midsize business.
Sniglet - Words that should be in the dictionary (but aren't) - A sniglet is a word that should be in the dictionary but isn't.
soft copy - A soft copy (sometimes spelled 'softcopy') is an electronic copy (or e-copy) of some type of data, such as a file viewed on a computer's display or transmitted as an email attachment.
soft reset - A soft reset is a restart of a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or personal computer (PC).
software - Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks.
software documentation - In the software development process, software documentation is the information that describes the product to the people who develop, deploy and use it.
software package - A software package is a group of programs bundled together into a product suite.
software patch - A software patch or fix is a quick-repair job for a piece of programming designed to resolve functionality issues, improve security or add new features.
solid - A solid is a state of matter that retains its shape and density when not confined.
sound card - A sound card is a computer component responsible for generating and recording audio.
sound wave - A sound wave is the pattern of disturbance caused by the movement of energy traveling through a medium (such as air, water or any other liquid or solid matter) as it propagates away from the source of the sound.
space - Space is a term that can refer to various phenomena in science, mathematics and computing and generally encompasses the concept of an area or region.
spectrum analyzer - A spectrum analyzer is a device that measures and displays signal amplitude (strength) as it varies by frequency within its frequency range (spectrum).
square meter (meter squared) - The square meter, also called the meter squared, is the International System of Units (SI) unit of area.
Squid proxy server - Squid is a Unix-based proxy server that caches Internet content closer to a requestor than its original point of origin.
stack overflow - A stack overflow is a type of buffer overflow error that occurs when a computer program tries to use more memory space in the call stack than has been allocated to that stack.
standard temperature and pressure (STP) - Standard temperature and pressure (STP) refers to the nominal conditions in the atmosphere at sea level.
statistical mean, median, mode and range - The terms mean, median, mode, and range describe properties of statistical distributions.
Stefan-Boltzmann constant - The Stefan-Boltzmann constant, symbolized by the lowercase Greek letter sigma (σ), is a physical constant expressing the relationship between the heat radiation emitted by a black body and its absolute temperature.
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) - STEM is an educational approach that prepares primary and secondary students for college, graduate study and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
storage (computer storage) - Data storage is the collective methods and technologies that capture and retain digital information on electromagnetic, optical or silicon-based storage media.
storage filer - A storage filer is a type of file server designed and programmed for high-volume data storage, backup and archiving.
storage medium (storage media) - In computers, a storage medium is a physical device that receives and retains electronic data for applications and users and makes the data available for retrieval.
storage volume - A storage volume is an identifiable unit of data storage.
streaming media - Streaming media is video or audio content sent in compressed form over the internet and played immediately over a user's device, rather than being saved to the device hard drive or solid-state drive.
Sun Microsystems - Sun Microsystems (often just called "Sun"), the leading company in computers used as Web servers, also makes servers designed for use as engineering workstations, data storage products, and related software.
supercomputer - A supercomputer is a computer that performs at or near the highest operational rate for computers.
superposition - Superposition is the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured.
synchronicity - Synchronicity is a concept developed by psychologist Carl Jung to describe a perceived meaningful coincidence.
Sysprep (System Preparation Tool) - Sysprep is Microsoft's System Preparation tool intended to duplicate, test and deliver new installations for the Windows operating system based on an established installation.
system administrator (sysadmin) - A system administrator (sysadmin) is an information technolog professional who supports a multiuser computing environment and ensures continuous, optimal performance of IT services and support systems.
system software - System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer's hardware and application programs.
systems thinking - Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system's constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems.
TCO (total cost of ownership) - Total cost of ownership (TCO) is an estimation of the expenses associated with purchasing, deploying, using and retiring a product or piece of equipment.
tebibyte (TiB) - A tebibyte (TiB) is a unit of measure used to describe computing capacity.
technical requirements - Technical requirements, in the context of software development and systems engineering, are the factors required to deliver a desired function or behavior from a system to satisfy a user’s standards and needs.
technological convergence - Technological convergence is a term that describes bringing previously unrelated technologies together, often in a single device.
telecommuting - Telecommuting allows an employee to complete work assignments from outside the traditional workplace using telecommunications tools such as email, phone, chat and video apps.
template - A template is a form, mold or pattern used as a guide to make something.
Terabyte (TB) - A terabyte (TB) is a unit of digital data that is equal to about 1 trillion bytes.
theory of relativity - Albert Einstein's theory of relativity is actually two separate theories: his special theory of relativity, postulated in the 1905 paper, The Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies and his theory of general relativity, an expansion of the earlier theory, published as The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916.
throughput - Throughput is a measure of how many units of information a system can process in a given amount of time.
token - In general, a token is an object that represents something else, such as another object (either physical or virtual), or an abstract concept as, for example, a gift is sometimes referred to as a token of the giver's esteem for the recipient.
Total Quality Management (TQM) - Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management framework based on the belief that an organization can build long-term success by having all its members -- from low-level workers to its highest-ranking executives -- focus on improving quality and, thus, delivering customer satisfaction.
touch screen - A touch screen is an electronic display screen that is also an input device.
troubleshooting - Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem-solving that is often used to find and correct issues with complex machines, electronics, computers and software systems.
truncation error - A truncation error is the difference between an actual and a truncated, or cut-off, value.
truth table - A truth table is a breakdown of all the possible truth values returned by a logical expression.
unzipping - Unzipping is the act of extracting the files from a zipped single file or similar file archive.
uptime and downtime - In computing, uptime is a measure of how long a computer or service is on and available.
user group - In personal or business computing, a user group is a set of people who have similar interests, goals or concerns.
utility computing - Utility computing is a service provisioning model where a provider makes computing resources, infrastructure management and technical services available to customers as they need them.
value chain - A value chain is a concept describing the full chain of a business's activities in creating a product or service -- from initial receipt of materials through its delivery to market.
value-added reseller (VAR) - A value-added reseller (VAR) is a company that resells software, hardware, and other products and services that provide value beyond the original order fulfillment.
vendor - A vendor is an individual or company that sells goods or services to somone else in the economic production chain.
virtual - In computing, the term virtual refers to a digitally replicated version of something real, whether it's a machine, a switch, memory or even reality.
virtual reality sickness (VR motion sickness) - Virtual reality sickness (VR motion sickness) is the physical discomfort that occurs when an end user's brain receives conflicting signals about self-movement in a digital environment.
volatile - In general, volatile (from the Latin "volatilis" meaning "to fly")is an adjective used to describe something unstable or changeable.
volatile memory - Volatile memory is a type of memory that maintains its data only while the device is powered.
von Neumann bottleneck - The von Neumann bottleneck is a limitation on throughput caused by the standard personal computer architecture.
wall time - Wall time, also called real-world time, clock time, wall-clock time or -- more accurately -- elapsed real time, is the amount of time that a program or process takes to run from start to finish as measured by a person.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive - The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is a legislative act that the European Union adopted to address the growing amounts of e-waste that come from electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) at the end of its life.
web application (web app) - A web application (web app) is an application program that is stored on a remote server and delivered over the internet through a browser interface.
webmaster - A webmaster is someone who creates and manages the content and organization of a website, manages the computer server and technical programming aspects of a website, or does both.
What is a 3-tier application architecture? - A three-tier application architecture is a modular client-server architecture that consists of a presentation tier, an application tier and a data tier.
What is a cloud architect and how do you become one? - A cloud architect is an IT professional who is responsible for overseeing a company's cloud computing strategy.
What is a Server? - A server is a computer program or device that provides a service to another computer program and its user, also known as the client.
What is a unique identifier (UID)? - A unique identifier (UID) is a numeric or alphanumeric string that is associated with a single entity within a given system.
What is an API (application programming interface)? - An application programming interface (API) is code that enables two software programs to communicate.
What is an embedded system? - An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software designed for a specific function.
What is an entrepreneur (entrepreneurship)? - An entrepreneur is an individual who identifies a need in the marketplace and works to fulfill it.
What is asynchronous? - In general, asynchronous -- from Greek asyn- ('not with/together') and chronos ('time') -- describes objects or events not coordinated in time.
What is black box testing? - Black box testing assesses a system solely from the outside, without the operator or tester knowing what's happening within the system to generate responses to test actions.
What is call management? - Call management is a process in which inbound telephone calls are routed to call center agents.
What is continuous data protection (CDP)? - Continuous data protection (CDP), also known as 'continuous backup,' is a backup and recovery storage system in which all the data in an enterprise is backed up whenever any change is made.
What is cryptography? - Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communications using codes, so that only those for whom the information is intended can read and process it.
What is data? - In computing, data is information translated into a form that is efficient for movement or processing.
What is electronic data processing (EDP)? - Electronic data processing (EDP) refers to the gathering of data using electronic devices, such as computers, servers and internet of things (IoT) technologies.
What is first call resolution (FCR)? - First call resolution (FCR) is when contact center agents properly address a customer's needs the first time they call so there is no need for the customer to follow up with a second call.
What is Jira? - Jira is an application lifecycle management (ALM) and Agile project management tool from Atlassian.
What is machine code (machine language)? - Machine code, also known as ‘machine language’ or ‘native code,’ is the elemental language of computers.
What is matter? - Matter is a substance made up of various types of particles that occupies physical space and has inertia.
What is parallel processing? - Parallel processing is a method in computing of running two or more processors, or CPUs, to handle separate parts of an overall task.
What is parity in computing? - In computers, parity (from the Latin paritas, meaning "equal or equivalent") is a technique that checks whether data has been lost or written over when it is moved from one place in storage to another or when it is transmitted between computers.
What is patch management? Lifecycle, benefits and best practices - Patch management is the subset of systems management that involves identifying, acquiring, testing and installing patches, or code changes, that are intended to fix bugs, close security holes or add features.
What is quantum computing? How it works and examples - Quantum computing is an area of computer science focused on the development of computers based on the principles of quantum theory.
What is ROI? How to calculate return on investment - Return on investment (ROI) is a crucial financial metric investors and businesses use to evaluate an investment's efficiency or compare the efficiencies of several different investments.