Personal computing

Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.

general-purpose computer - A general-purpose computer is one that, given the application and required time, should be able to perform the most common computing tasks.
glyph - In information technology, a glyph -- from a Greek word meaning carving -- is a graphic symbol that provides the appearance or form for a character.
Gmail - Gmail (pronounced Gee-mail) is a free web-based email service that provides users with 15 GB of storage for messages and the ability to search for specific messages.
GMPLS (Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching or Multiprotocol Lambda Switching) - GMPLS (Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching) is a networking technology that enables fast and reliable network switching of data flows on any type of network infrastructure.
GNU GRUB - GNU GRUB (or just GRUB) is a boot loader package that supports multiple operating systems on a computer.
Godwin's law - Godwin's law, also known as Godwin's rule of Hitler analogies, is a statement maintaining that if any online discussion continues long enough, someone will almost certainly compare someone else to Hitler.
Google Android 4.4 KitKat - Android 4.4 KitKat is a version of Google's operating system (OS) for smartphones and tablets.
Google ChromeOS - Google ChromeOS, formerly Chrome OS, is a lightweight operating system (OS) built on ChromiumOS, an open source OS that shares the same code base as ChromeOS.
Google Docs - Google Docs, first released in 2006, is a free web-based word processor in which documents can be created, edited and stored as part of the Google Docs Editors suite of free web applications.
Google Maps - Google Maps is a web-based service that provides detailed information about geographical regions and sites worldwide.
Google Street View - Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps that enables users to view and navigate through 360 degree horizontal and 290 degree vertical panoramic street level images of various cities around the world.
Google Trends - Google Trends is a free service provided by Google that displays how often specific keywords, subjects and phrases have been searched for on Google over a period of time.
GPS coordinates - GPS coordinates are a unique identifier of a precise geographic location on the earth, usually expressed in alphanumeric characters.
graceful shutdown and hard shutdown - Graceful shutdown and hard shutdown are two opposing methods of turning off a computer.
grawlix - A grawlix is a sequence of typographical symbols used to represent a non-specific, profane word or phrase.
grayscale - Grayscale is a range of shades of gray without apparent color.
green cloud - Green cloud refers to the potential environmental benefits that green IT services delivered over the internet can offer to individual companies and society as a whole.
greenhouse gas - A greenhouse gas lets the sun's rays warm the Earth's surface but restricts the heat from escaping into space.
grid computing - Grid computing is a system for connecting a large number of computer nodes into a distributed architecture that delivers the compute resources necessary to solve complex problems.
Group Policy - Group Policy is a management feature in Microsoft's Active Directory (AD) that enables network and system administrators to configure and assign user and computer settings in an AD environment.
GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) - GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) is a boot loader package developed to support multiple operating systems and allow the user to select among them during boot-up.
hacktivism - Hacktivism is the act of misusing a computer system or network for a socially or politically motivated reason.
haptics - Haptics is the science of applying a sense of touch and control to interaction with computer applications.
hard-drive encryption - Hard-drive encryption is a technology that encrypts the data stored on a hard drive using sophisticated mathematical functions.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) - HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a proprietary specification designed to ensure compatibility between video and audio devices over a single digital interface.
HDTV (high-definition television) - HDTV (high-definition television) is a television display technology that provides picture quality similar to 35 mm movies with sound quality similar to that of a compact disc.
home server - A home server is a computer that functions as a server in a client-server home network.
honey monkey - A honey monkey is a virtual computer system that is programmed to lure, detect, identify and neutralize malicious activity on the Internet.
host (in computing) - A host is a computer or other device that communicates with other hosts on a network.
hosting (website hosting, web hosting and webhosting) - Web hosting -- also known as website hosting or webhosting -- is the process where a web hosting provider stores and maintains website files and applications on a server to make its customers' websites accessible on the internet.
hotkey - A hot key is a key or a combination of keys on a computer keyboard that, when pressed at one time, performs a task (such as starting an application) more quickly than performing a task by using a mouse or other input device.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the set of rules for transferring files -- such as text, images, sound, video and other multimedia files -- over the web.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol daemon (HTTPD) - On the Web, each server has an HTTPD or Hypertext Transfer Protocol daemon that waits in attendance for requests to come in from the rest of the Web.
iBeacon - iBeacon is a small-scale network device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and acts as a transmitter to detect and track smartphones.
iCloud - Apple's free iCloud service stores subscribers' photos, videos, documents, apps and more and updates everything across users' synced devices.
icon - In today's age of technological advancement, most people recognize the word 'icon' as referring to a small selectable or nonselectable image representing or leading to something else in a computer's graphical user interface (GUI) or on the web.
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) - IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is an electronic interface standard that defines the connection between a bus on a computer's motherboard and the computer's disk storage devices.
ILOVEYOU virus - The ILOVEYOU virus comes in an email with 'ILOVEYOU' in the subject line and contains an attachment that, when opened, results in the message being re-sent to everyone in the recipient's Microsoft Outlook address book.
image - An image is a visual representation of something, while a digital image is a binary representation of visual data.
image compression - Image compression is a process applied to a graphics file to minimize its size in bytes without degrading image quality below an acceptable threshold.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) - Internet Message Access Protocol, or IMAP, is a standard email retrieval (incoming) protocol.
immersive technology - Immersive technology is an integration of virtual content with the physical environment in a way that allows the user to engage naturally with the blended reality.
immersive virtual reality (immersive VR) - Immersive virtual reality (immersive VR) is the presentation of an artificial environment that replaces users' real-world surroundings convincingly enough that they can suspend disbelief and fully engage with the created environment.
implied consent - Implied consent is an assumption of permission to do something that is inferred from an individual's actions rather than explicitly provided.
in-app purchase (IAP) - An in-app purchase (IAP) is something bought from within an application, typically a mobile app running on a smartphone or other mobile device.
Inbox Zero - Inbox Zero is a rigorous approach to email management that aims to keep an inbox empty -- or almost empty -- at all times.
InfiniBand - InfiniBand is an industry standard communications specification the InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA) developed.
Information Age - The Information Age is the idea that access to and the control of information is the defining characteristic of this current era in human civilization.
initialization vector - An initialization vector (IV) is an arbitrary number that can be used with a secret key for data encryption to foil cyber attacks.
inkjet printer - An inkjet printer is a computer peripheral that produces hard copies of a text document or photo by spraying droplets of ink onto paper.
inline frame (iframe) - An inline frame (iframe) is a HTML element that loads another HTML page within the document.
instance - In object-oriented programming (OOP), an instance is a specific realization of any object.
instant messaging - Instant messaging, often shortened to IM or IM'ing, is the exchange of near real-time messages through a standalone application or embedded software.
interactive whiteboard - An interactive whiteboard, commonly known as a 'smartboard,' is an advanced display tool that operates interactively, either directly or through other devices, serving as a technological advancement over traditional whiteboards.
interlaced display - An interlaced display, or interlaced scan video, is when a video only changes every other row of pixels in the image at each screen refresh.
internet - The internet, sometimes simply called 'the net,' is a worldwide system of interconnected computer networks and electronic devices that communicate with each other using an established set of protocols.
internet metering - Internet metering is a service model in which an internet service provider (ISP) keeps track of bandwidth use and charges users accordingly.
Internet Movie Database (IMDb) - The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database that provides information to consumers about movies, TV and film industry professionals.
Internet porn - Internet porn is sexually explicit content made available online in various formats including images, video files, video games and streaming video.
interrupt marketing - Interrupt marketing is the traditional model of product promotion, in which people have to stop what they're doing to pay attention to the marketing message or deal with it in some other way.
interrupt request (IRQ) - An interrupt request (IRQ) is a signal sent to a computer's processor to momentarily stop (interrupt) its operations.
intranet - An intranet is a private network contained within an enterprise that is used to securely share company information and computing resources among employees.
iOS software development kit (iOS SDK) - The iOS software development kit (iOS SDK) is a collection of tools for the creation of apps for Apple's mobile operating system (OS).
IP address (Internet Protocol address) - Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identifier for every device or network that connects to the internet.
iPad Air - Apple's iPad Air is a tablet that is lighter and thinner than Apple's previous tablets.
iPhone Configuration Utility - The iPhone Configuration Utility is free software for Windows and Mac OS X that lets an administrator control how an iOS device works within an enterprise IT network.
IRL (in real life) - IRL (in real life) is an abbreviation used to explain when person is speaking about something real and outside the digital world of communication, gaming or virtual reality.
ISP (internet service provider) - An ISP (internet service provider) is a company that provides individuals and companies access to the internet and other related services.
iTunes U - iTunes U is a dedicated section of Apple's iTunes Music Store that features educational audio and video files from universities, museums and public media organizations for free download to PCs and mobile devices.
jailbreaking - Jailbreaking, in a mobile device context, is the use of an exploit to remove manufacturer or carrier restrictions from a device such as an iPhone or iPad.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - JPEG (pronounced JAY-peg) is a graphic image file compressed with lossy compression using the standard developed by the ISO/IEC Joint Photographic Experts Group.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) - JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text-based, human-readable data interchange format used to exchange data between web clients and web servers.
Ken Burns effect - Ken Burns effect is the use of still photographs along with zooming, panning and transitions such as fading as the base for video content.
kernel panic - A kernel panic refers to a computer error from which the system's operating system (OS) cannot quickly or easily recover.
keyboard wedge (KBW) - A keyboard wedge can be either a software program or an inserted hardware device that translates digital signals from a barcode reader or magnetic strip reader (MSR) into keyboard strokes for a computer.
Klout score - A Klout score is a measure of a social influence that aggregates one's reach on various social media platforms.
LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) - LAMP is an open source Web development platform that uses Linux as the operating system, Apache as the Web server, MySQL as the relational database management system and PHP as the object-oriented scripting language.
laptop - A laptop, sometimes called a notebook computer by manufacturers, is a battery- or AC-powered personal computer (PC) smaller than a briefcase.
LARP (Live Action Role Playing) - LARP (Live Action Role Playing), also called LARPing, is a character-driven type of gameplay that is conducted in the physical world.
laser printer - A laser printer is a popular type of computer printer that uses a non-impact photocopier technology where there are no keys striking the paper.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) - LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is a type of flat panel display which uses liquid crystals in its primary form of operation.
leet speak (leet) - Leet speak, also known as simply leet, is the substitution of a word's letters with numbers or special characters.
Link Control Protocol (LCP) - In computer networking, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) provides a standard way to transport multiprotocol data over point-to-point links; within PPP, Link Control Protocol (LCP) establishes, configures and tests data link internet connections.
load balancing - Load balancing is a technique used to distribute network traffic across a pool of servers known as a server farm.
LTE (Long-Term Evolution) - LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a fourth-generation (4G) wireless standard that provides increased network capacity and speed for cellphones and other cellular devices compared with third-generation (3G) technology.
Luddite - A Luddite is a person resistant to increased industrialization or new technologies, especially computers.
MacBook Air - MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight laptop from Apple.
Macintosh - The Macintosh, now called the Mac, was the first widely sold personal computer (PC) with a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse.
mail bomb - A mail bomb is a form of a denial-of-service (DoS) attack designed to overwhelm an inbox or inhibit a server by sending a massive number of emails to a specific person or system.
mail server (mail transfer/transport agent, MTA, mail router, internet mailer) - A mail server -- also known as a mail transfer agent, or MTA; mail transport agent; mail router; or internet mailer -- is an application that receives incoming email from local users and remote senders and forwards outgoing messages for delivery.
massive open online course (MOOC) - A massive open online course (MOOC) is a typically free web-based distance learning program that's designed for large numbers of geographically dispersed students.
micro USB - A micro USB is a miniaturized version of the Universal Serial Bus interface developed for connecting compact and mobile devices, such as smartphones, MP3 players, Global Positioning System devices, printers and digital cameras.
microblogging - Microblogging is a short blog post designed for quick and typically direct audience interactions.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit - Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is a free utility IT can use to determine whether its infrastructure is prepared for a migration to a new operating system, server version or cloud-based deployment.
Microsoft Connectivity Analyzer (MCA) - The Microsoft Connectivity Analyzer (MCA) is a diagnostics tool for troubleshooting and testing connectivity to several Microsoft messaging products from a client machine on an organization's network.
Microsoft Edge - Microsoft Edge is a cross-platform browser created by Microsoft and installed by default on all new Windows devices.
Microsoft Exchange Control Panel - The Exchange Control Panel (ECP) is a Web-based management interface introduced in Exchange Server 2010.
Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Replication Service (MRS) - The Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Replication Service (MRS) is a feature that handles mailbox import, export, migration and restoration requests on Exchange Server.
Microsoft Exchange Management Shell (EMS) - Microsoft Exchange Management Shell (EMS) is a scripting platform that enables administrators to manage Exchange Server.
Microsoft Exchange RBAC (Role Based Access Control) - Microsoft Exchange RBAC is a permissions model used in Exchange Server 2010 and Exchange Server 2013.