JAM'IN REFERENCE CENTER
A Collection of Useful Online Tools and More!

Glossary
of Computer Terms

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A  B  C  D  E   F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  Y

A

Active X (Computer - Software): A Java-like Microsoft language that allows Web-originated programs to run on your computer.

Address Bar (Computer - Terminology): The empty bar at the top of a browser window where you enter URL's or search commands. Also will show the URL of whatever website you're visiting.

Adware (Security - Threats): Adware is a software application that brings up advertising banners without your consent. Adware can often contain spyware to customize the ads it sends in relation to your online surfing and shopping habits and preferences.

AIFF (Audio - Software): AIFF stands for Audio Interchange File Format, a common format for storing and transmitting sampled sound. The AIFF format was developed by Apple Computer and is the standard audio format for Macintosh computers. AIFF files generally end with a .AIF or .IEF extension and, since the format does not support data compression, the files tend to be large. However, there is a newer format called AIFF-Compressed (AIFF-C or AIFC) that supports compression ratios as high as 6:1.

Announce URL (Technology - BitTorrent): The website address that a BitTorrent tracker is using. If you make a Torrent file, make sure you use the announce URL of the site you want to upload your Torrent to.

App (Computer - Software): Short for application. A program or group of programs designed for end users, including database programs, word processors, and spreadsheets. Figuratively speaking, applications software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities. A killer app, for example, is an application that surpasses (i.e. kills) its competitors.

Applet (Computer - Software): A Java program designed to run on the Web. An applet is a small application or utility that can be executed on a graphical desktop panel.

Application (Computer - Software): A program such as Microsoft Word or Internet Explorer. Application filess almost always end in EXE.

Archive (Computer - Terminology): To archive is to assemble files into one large file for backup or storage purposes. Archives can help save disk space.

ARPANet (Computer - Terminology): Short for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, which was the predecessor to the Internet. Developed in the late 1960's and early 1970's by the US Department of Defence as an experiment in wide-area-networking that would potentially survive a nuclear attack.

ASCII (Computer - Terminology): Short for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. In essence, this code takes alphanumeric characters and represents them by numbers ranging from 0 to 127. They are then translated into a 7-bit binary code, allowing for easy transfer of text-only files between different kinds of computers. ASCII is a universal digital language code.

Avatar (Computer - Terminology): A cartoon representation of someone in a virtual chat room or game. The word actually means "a Hindu spirit in human form."

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B

Backdoor (Security - Threats): A Backdoor is a program that secretly accesses systems, and is often used to bypass security. Nearly all Backdoor programs make registry modifications but typically do not infect other host files.

Backup (Computer - Terminology): To periodically archive data on a system to lessen the risk of permanent data loss in the event of a computer crashing or a hard drive getting corrupted.

Bandwidth (Computer - Terminology): Bandwidth measures the amount of data that can be transferred over the Internet or phone system at any one time. The higher the bandwidth, the more data can fit through.

Baud (Computer - Terminology): In common usage, the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive in one second. When a modem is referred to as being 56.6K, that means 56.600 data signals are being transmitted per second over your phone line. See Also: Bandwidth, Bit, Modem.

BBS (Computer - Terminology): Short for Bulletin Board System. A computerized version of physical bulletin boards where people can leave messages and advertise things they want to buy or sell. BBSs are often run locally by computer user groups, and can sometimes include downloads of shareware and freeware. There are special interest bulletin boards, including those run by computer companies to provide information on their products. Aside from the bulletin boards, in chat lingo, the initials "BBS" is short for "Be Back Soon".

Beta (Computer - Software): A program which is being tested and distributed to users to find any potential problems.

Beta version (Computer - Software): A beta version is a test version of a software or Web page that is released to get users feedback and comments.

Binary code (Computer - Terminology): Binary code is a digital system using 2 as its base and 0s and 1s for its notation. Binary code is used by computers as it functions well with digital electronics and mathematics.

Bit (Computer - Terminology): Short for "binary digit". A bit is the smallest unit of information a computer can read and manipulate. The value of a bit is 1 or 0. Eight bits= 1 byte.

Bitrate (Computer - Terminology): The number of kilobits per second of data in your audio file. The bitrate chosen when creating an MP3 file determines the size and quality of the resulting MP3. The highest commonly available bitrate is 320 kbps. A file created using this bitrate will have excellent quality, but will be fairly large. The standard bitrate for MP3s is 128 kbps. A file created using this bitrate will have good quality, and take up about 1 Mb per 1 minute of sound. Bitrate can also mean the average number of bits that one second of video or audio data will transmit.

Bookmark (Computer - Terminology): Otherwise known as Favorites in Internet Explorer, a bookmark is a link to a URL saved by the user. Bookmarks are stored in bookmark.html and are accessed via the Bookmarks menu. Bookmarks enable you to organize your own personal list of your favorite or most frequented URLs.

Boot (Computer - Terminology): To start a PC from the off position, also know as a "cold start". "Booting" is the process of loading a computer's operating system. If your system is working properly, the operating system boots when the computer is turned on. To "reboot" is to restart your computer.

Browse (Computer - Terminology): To browse is to search and view pages on the World Wide Web using a software application such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla or Netscape Navigator, otherwise known as a Browser.

Browser (Computer - Software): Browsers are programs that allow you to browse the internet, also known as "web-surfing". Some examples are Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Mozilla.

Burn (Audio - Terminology): Slang term meaning to write data to a CD-ROM. A CD burner is another name for a CD-R drive.

Byte (Computer - Terminology): The amount of memory space used to store one character; generally 8 bits. A byte is group of binary digits (bits) processed as a single unit of information to make up a character, number or space. Also see Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte and Exobyte. Many are known by their prefixes (example: KB = kilobyte) In data transfer rates the refixes stand for powers of ten (example, 56 kb/s means 56,000 bits per second).

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C

Cache (Computer - Terminology): A "cache" (pronounced "cash") is a temporary storage area for currently-used or recently-accessed data. Cache can be system-level (residing on the motherboard or physically etched on the CPU) or disk-based (residing in main memory such as a hard disk drive or RAM).

CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW (Computer - Terminology): Compact Disk Read Only Memory. The letters "CD" stand for "Compact Disc" while "ROM" stands for "Read Only Memory," meaning the tracks are burnt in and cannot be changed. CD-R is a Compact Disc that is Recordable one time only, while CD-RW means a Compact Disc that is ReWritable and erasable. The RW type can be rewritten to many times but cannot be read on all CD players. Storage capacity is typically 650-700 megabytes.

Character (Computer - Terminology): An object, such as a symbol, that is comprised of one byte of computer storage.

Chat (Computer - Terminology): Text messaging (or instant messaging) to others online using messaging software such as MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others. Chat can also refer to text messaging to cell phones or wireless devices. See also Instant Messaging and SMS messaging.

Choked (Technology - BitTorrent): This term refers to the current state of a BitTorrent uploader regarding the thread that sends data from peer to peer. When a connection is choked, it means that the uploader isn't sending anything on that link, whether by choice or by transmission problems. There are various reasons why a BT client would signal that it has choked, but the most common is that the client has reached it's maximum number of simultaneous uploads, thereby choking the data pipeline. (Note: the default value is 4, which you can usually change manually).

Cluster (Computer - Terminology): A physical group of fragments or blocks on a computer disk, treated as a single logical unit. Also can refer to a collection of linked computer systems used for high-performance data processing load-balancing.

Codec (Computer - Terminology): Any method of COmpressing and DECompressing files such as video or audio. Every compressed file type must have an associated CODEC.

Command (Computer - Terminology): An order to execute a process given to a computer via a keyboard, mouse, or voice request. Commands can also be called from another running process or an executable script.

Component (Computer - Terminology): A single element within a larger system; it can be hardware or software based and performs essential functions needed by the system.

Control Key (Computer - Terminology): This is the key marked 'Ctrl' on the keyboard, usually in the lower corners. Like the Alt and Function keys, its use can vary from program to program, usually in conjunction with another key. The most common shortcuts are Ctrl+V (paste) Ctrl+C (copy) Ctrl+X (cut) and Ctrl+Z (undo). Once you get used to using them, it will increase your speed on the computer.

Control Panel (Computer - Terminology): The Control Panel is where you configure the basic functions of your computer, such as Add/Remove Programs, Mouse and Keyboard functions, and even Network Connections. It can be found in the Start popup menu.

Cookie (Computer - Terminology): A cookie is a small text file which is downloaded to your computer, usually without you being aware of its presence. They are mainly used to trace your activities for marketing purposes. To see the cookies on your computer, go to C:windowscookies and C:windows emporary internet files. In Windows, cookies can be deleted by using Windows Explorer or can be prevented by Internet Explorer security. The latter may prevent you from accessing certain sites, though, so be careful if you don't fully know what you're doing.

CPU (Computer - Terminology): An acronym for Central Processing Unit. The CPU controls the computation and operation of a computer system. Units within the CPU perform math and logic operations and translate and execute instructions.

Cyberspace (Computer - Terminology): The virtual universe you enter when you are "online".

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D

Data mining (Computer - Software): Data mining software looks for hidden patterns in groups of data that can be used to predict future behavior. For example, data mining software can help companies sort their customers with common interests to better target them. Data mining is increasingly utilized by marketers trying to distill useful consumer data from Web sites, and is also popular in the science and mathematical fields.

DDR-SDRAM (Computer - Hardware): Short for Double Data Rate-Synchronous DRAM, this is a type of SDRAM that effectively doubles the memory chip's data throughput though it's ceiling is 400MHz. DDR-SDRAM also consumes less power, which makes it well-suited to notebook computers. DDR-SDRAM is also called SDRAM II. and DDRAM.

DDR2-SDRAM (Computer - Hardware): Short for Double Data Rate-Synchronous DRAM Version 2. A new memory standard, as defined by JEDEC (Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council) whose members include many of the major computer memory and chipset manufacturers, DDR2 picks up where DDR memory currently stops, at 400MHz. DDR2 introduces some new features which allow it to ramp up to much higher speeds (with correspondingly higher bandwidth) and higher memory densities, all the while using less power.

Defrag (Computer - Terminology): Short for "defragment". To optimize a hard disk by unfragmenting files. On a PC, Windows sometimes stores files in fragments to make efficient use of hard disk space. "Fragmentation" refers to the condition of a disk in which files are divided into pieces scattered around the disk. Fragmentation occurs naturally when you use a disk frequently, creating, deleting, and modifying files. Sometimes, the data on the hard disk gets too fragmented and you must "defragment" the disk. This is entirely invisible to users, but it can slow down the speed at which data is accessed because the disk drive must search through different parts of the disk to put together a single file. In the act of defragmenting, the operating system basically goes through the hard disk and "re-aligns" all of the files so that all pieces of the file are in a "line" INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (contiguous). This way, the next time the OS needs to read information, it can read it all at once instead of bouncing all over the hard disk. Be patient while Defrag runs. The more defragmentation you have, the longer it can take to run. In Windows, you run Defrag by selecting Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter.

Dialer (Security - Threats): A program that dials premium phone numbers from your computer without your knowledge or consent. It can connect your system to a pay-per-call location where you are billed for the often-expensive calls.

Digital (Computer - Terminology): The method of storing or transmitting things as a series of numbers. These numbers are known as Binary Code, and they are simply different patterns of Zeros and Ones. The speed and accuracy with which digital information can be stored has enabled most data to be stored in this way, including music, video, photography, all computing functions and everything on the Internet.

DirectX (Computer - Software): Direct X is a free downloadable Windows program that enables graphics programs to work with all the different types of graphics hardware.

Disk Cache (Computer - Terminology): Hard disk-based memory used to store previously-accessed Web pages. It enables the Browser load the stored pages and graphics from the cache rather than from the web. Sites load faster because most of the graphics and page details are already stored on your computer from your last visit.

Disk Drive (Computer - Hardware): A disk drive reads data from and writes data onto a disk by rotating the disk very fast over one or more heads. There are different types of disk drives for different types of disks. For example, a hard disk drive INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (HDD) reads and writes hard disks, a CD drive reads and writes CDs, a DVD drive reads and writes DVDs and a floppy drive INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (FDD) accesses floppy disks, though the term "floppy" is outrecdated. As the names suggest, a magnetic disk drive reads magnetic disks, and an optical drive reads optical disks. Disk drives can be either internal INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (housed within the computer) or external INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (housed in a separate box that connects to the computer).

Distributed Copies (Technology - BitTorrent): In some versions of a BitTorrent client, you'll see the text "Connected to x seeds; also seeing x.xxx distributed copies." A distributed copy is a collective copy of a file among the swarm, while a seed is an individual copy of a file with one member of the swarm. If you use a book as an analogy, a distributed copy is where multiple peers have different pages that all make up one full copy of the book. Even if no one is seeding a complete copy of a file, as long as there is at least one distributed copy, everyone can get the complete file.

Divx (Computer - Software): DIVX is a video format that compresses video files to 100th the size of the current ones, thus enabling you to fit full-length films onto regular CDs.

Domain Name (Computer - Terminology): A domain name is a name or numerical address for an Internet site. An example of a domain name is mp3downloadhq.com. Domain names can also be expressed as IP addresses, such as 153.174.122. While each Internet site is required to have an IP address, domain names are optional. However, domain names are the most common way by far to access a website.

Dongle (Computer - Hardware): The term "dongle" has a couple of definitions. The most common definition is a little hardware key or special cable that plugs into the serial port or parallel port of a computer. Its purpose is to ensure that only authorized users can copy or use certain software applications- usually expensive, high-end programs. When the program runs, it checks the dongle for verification before continuing. If it does not find it, the program won't work, thereby making the illegal duplication of software rather pointless. The word "dongle" can also be used to describe the ethernet connector that attaches to a laptop PCMCIA card and is sometimes used to signify a generic adapter for peripherals.

DRAM (Computer - Hardware): Pronounced 'dee-ram', DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory, a type of memory used in most personal computers.

Driver (Computer - Software): Software that communicates directly with a computer hardware component or peripheral, allowing it to be used by the operating system. Also known as a "device module."

Dropper (Security - Threats): Malware that drops other malware into a system. Some droppers just drop viruses or Trojans, while others also drop copies of other malware into the system after performing their tasks.

DVD-ROM/DVD-R/DVD-RW (Computer - Terminology): Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory. The letters "DVD" stand for "Digital Versatile Disc" while "ROM" stands for "Read Only Memory," meaning the tracks are burnt in and cannot be changed. DVD-R is a Digital Versatile Disc that is Recordable one time only, while DVD-RW means a Digital Versatile Disc that is ReWritable and erasable. The RW type can be rewritten to many times but cannot be read on all DVD players.

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E

E-Commerce (Computer - Terminology): Any business conducted over the internet.

Email Client (Computer - Software): Program you use to send and receive emails. Outlook Express, Eudora and Netscape Communicator are examples of Email Clients.

Encryption (Computer - Terminology): Meant for security and privacy purposes, encryption involves the process of encoding data so that only users with proper authentication credentials can access it. For example, an encoded email or file could not be read unless the recipient had that proper software or tool to unlock the code.

Ethernet (Computer - Terminology): A network architecture that utilizes radio frequency signals to transmit data via a coaxial cable. Ethernet is most commonly used in local area networks to connect to DSL, as well as to connect local machines together. Ethernet will handle about 10 million bits-per-second and can be used with almost any kind of computer.

Exabyte (Computer - Terminology): (EB) 1024 Petabytes.

Exe (Computer - Software): Stands for "executable file". An executable file is a program which typically has a .exe suffix.

Exploit (Security - Threats): A Trojan that takes advantage of vulnerabilities on existing systems or services. Exploits typically utilize a known flaw in a system that allows it to run a program on the targeted computer system.

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F

Favorites (Computer - Terminology): Also called "bookmarks," your Favorites are a list of websites that you can list like a personalized directory for quick access. All Web Browsers give you the option to create a Favorites or Bookmarks list, and most will let you export it to other programs in case you switch.

Firewall (Computer - Security): A Firewall guards your computer by watching all data entering and exiting, as well as ensuring that your PC has no open 'ports' which might allow hackers to access it and wreak havoc with your data contents. Firewalls can also provide privacy by keeping the IP addresses of computers inside the firewall hidden from view. Though firewalls are not the easiest to configure correctly, they are a critical component of your computer security.

Firewire (Computer - Hardware): Firewire is a type of connecting cable for fast data transferring. A Firewire socket and cable enables much faster transfer of data than Serial or Parallel ports and 30 times faster than a USB port. If you are transferring large amounts of data like high quality audio or video for editing purposes, you would greatly benefit from Firewire.

Flaming (Computer - Terminology): Sending angry, hateful or inflammatory messages in e-mail or newsgroup postings. Flaming is considered bad netiquette.

Freeware (Computer - Software): Freeware is software that is given away for free by the author. Although it is available for free, the author retains the copyright, which means that you cannot do anything with it that is not expressly allowed by the author.

Function Keys (Computer - Hardware): Function keys are your the keys up top numbered F1 to F12. These are programmable and may vary in their use. Msot programs have functions for the Function Keys; reading the manual will help figure out what they are.

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G

Gif file (Computer - Terminology): Graphics Interchange Format. GIF is a graphic file format that Web browsers can display without the installation of plug-ins. Many text-based graphics on the Web are stored in as .gif files.

Gigabyte (Computer - Terminology): (GB) 1024 Megabytes.

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H

Hacker (Computer - Terminology): Though the media refers to a Hacker as a person who illegally break in or attempts to break into a computer system. a hacker doesn't necessarily engage in illegal activities. The original definition of hacker was "computer enthusiast," but the popular slang has turned it into a more negative description. It is usually used to refer to someone who is able to 'hack' into computers (i.e. access and/or manipulate data held in them by bypassing or overriding password protection and other security strategies.) Hackers often work at a distance physically from their target computers by exploiting the anonymity of the internet.

Hardware (Computer - Hardware): Any piece of computer equipment such as a printer, scanner or the computer itself.

Hijacker (Security - Threats): Programs which redirect your browser to websites you weren't planning on visiting, usually porn or ad-filled sites

Home page (Computer - Terminology): The main page of a Web site or the page you set as a default for your browser. The home page is sometimes called the start page.

Hosting (Computer - Terminology): When a website is stored on a server, we say it is being hosted by that server.

Hotspot (Computer - Terminology): Usually referring to places in airports, coffeehouses or hotels that provide a wireless area for connecting to the internet via laptops, PDA's and smartphones.

HTML (Computer - Terminology): HyperText Markup Language. This is the code or language that website pages are built with.

Hyperlink (Computer - Terminology): A link on a web page or document (usually blue and underlined) that takes you to another web page.

Hypertext (Computer - Terminology): A link on a document (usually blue and underlined) that takes you to a web page.When the cursor arrow hovers over one it will change its shape to the little hand icon to show it's a link. When Hypertext is clicked your computer may go online to access the site if you are not online already.

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I

IM (Computer - Terminology): Instant Messaging. Sending test-based messages to people online using programs such as MSN or AOL Instant Messenger. See also "chat" and SMS messaging.

Interested (Technology - BitTorrent): This is another term used in the BitTorrent protocol. It refers to the state of a downloader with respect to a connection where the downloader is marked as being interested if the other end of the link has any bits of the Torrent file that the client wants. In layman's terms, you are interested in finding the rest of the Torrent file you are trying to download.

Internet (Computer - Terminology): The Internet is the global network of computers that forms the World Wide Web. Any online features, including E-mail, the Web, USENET newsgroups, and FTP sites are on the Internet. Most people don't differentiate between the Internet and the World Wide Web.

Intranet (Computer - Terminology): An Intranet is an internal Web for a corporation or organization. Much like the Internet, an Intranet is used to share software or files as well as communicate amongst users.

ISO (Computer - Terminology): International Organization for Standardization. The ISO is a voluntary, nontreaty organisation founded in 1946, and is responsible for creating international standards in computers and communications. Its members are the national standards organisations of 89 countries, including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

ISP (Computer - Terminology): Internet Service Provider. A company which provides you with access to the Internet, usualy via DSL, cable modem or dialup connection.

ISP (Computer - Terminology): Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a company that provides Internet service to individuals or corporations so they can access the internet.

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J

Java/Javascript (Computer - Software): An open source programming language used on some web pages. Developed by Sun Microsystems®; Java is popular because of its ability to be compiled and run on several different computer architectures.

JPG or JPEG (Computer - Terminology): This is the most commonly used compressed graphic format for pictures. "JPEG" stands for "Joint Photographic Experts Group", an ISO committee that decides the standards for digital audio and video compression.

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K

Keylogger (Security - Threats): A program which makes a record of what you type. People use these to access things like your passwords, credit card numbers or other confidential information. These are very stealthy, and aren't readily detectable.

Kilobyte (Computer - Terminology): (KB) 1024 Bytes.

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L

LAN (Computer - Terminology): Local Area Network. Computers connected 'locally' (within a company or home) so they can communicate and share programs and data.

Leecher (Technology - BitTorrent): In BitTorrent; Someone who is downloading a Torrent file but hasn't finished it yet. Also can mean someone who is downloading more than they are uploading, which is bad manners in BT and may get you kicked off.

Linux (Computer - Software): An operating system (like Windows) but free and usually more stable. It requires software written especially for it.

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M

Macro (Computer - Software): A small program within another program which performs a series of actions at the touch of a couple of keys.

Mail server (Computer - Terminology): A computer that manages E-mail for the network. Mail servers are often called SMTP servers. SMTP is the standard Internet protocol for transferring E-mail between a local network and the Internet.

Malware (Security - Threats): Any software or programs that are meant to be malicious and destructive, including viruses, worms, spyware, Trojans, adware, keyloggers, and dialers.

Megabyte (Computer - Terminology): (MB) 1024 Kilobytes.

Megahertz (Computer - Terminology): A measure of how fast your PC processor works. A Megahertz is a million vibrations a second. One instruction takes place each vibration.

Memory (Computer - Terminology): The space used by a computer to store programs and data that are currently open; also used to run programs and process data. There are different kinds of Memory, though the purpose is still the same: data storage, either temporary or permanent.

Memory cache (Computer - Terminology): Memory cache is RAM-based memory that enables the browser to store Web pages for faster loading on your computer. Memory cache is usually represented in number of kilobytes (rather than megabytes). If a user's computer has 10 meg of RAM, that corresponds to 10,000 kilobytes. If your computer is running slowly, you can choose the Clear Memory Cache Now button to free up RAM. When setting memory cache, set the value conservatively. It should be no higher than half the amount of available RAM, so that other applications can run while the browser is in use. If a user's computer has 10 meg of RAM, the value in the Memory Cache box should be no higher than 5000 Kilobytes.

Metadata (Technology - BitTorrent): Metadata means that the file contains information about the data you want to download, not the data itself. A Torrent file contains Metadata.

Metatag (Computer - Terminology): Metatags are words used in the head of a Web page. They are not visible to the viewer, but many spiders and automated Web crawlers use these keywords to identify and catalog the Web page. When you search for a webpage, chances are Metatags had something to do with how the website was found.

MIDI (Audio - Terminology): Pronounced "middy", MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a standard adopted by the electronic music industry for controlling devices that emit music, such as synthesizers and sound cards. A MIDI representation of a sound includes values for the note's pitch, length, volume, attack and delay time. The MIDI standard is supported by most synthesizers, so sounds created on one synthesizer can be played and manipulated on another synthesizer. Computers that have a MIDI interface can record MIDI data for sounds created by a synthesizer and then manipulate that data to produce new sounds. There are many software programs available for composing and editing music that conform to the MIDI standard.

Modem (Computer - Hardware): A modem is a device which allows a PC to exchange data over phone lines to any network on the Internet. A modem is often described by its speed or baud rate: A 28.8K modem is now considered the standard modem speed, though a modem must be able to transmit at least 14.4 K bytes per second to support a Web browser. A modem connection is not considered a direct connection to the Internet; a direct connection is a line such as an Ethernet cable which connects the PC directly to a network without using a modem. This is most common with DSL connections.

Motherboard (Computer - Hardware): The main circuit board of a computer to which other components are attached, including memory, hard drives and sound cards. The Motherboard houses the central processing unit (CPU) the system bus, memory slots, expansion slots, and more.

Mp3 (Audio - Terminology): "MP3" is short for "Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3" INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (or MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3). An MP3 compresses digital audio to a compression factor of about twelve while preserving sound quality. MP3 is currently the most powerful algorithm in a series of audio encoding standards developed with the Moving Picture Experts Group INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (MPEG) and formalized by the International Organization for Standardization INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (ISO). MPEG-1 is optimised for CD-ROM and is the basis for MP3. MPEG-2 is aimed at broadcast quality video for applications such as digital television set-top boxes and DVD. MPEG-3 was merged into MPEG-2. MPEG-4 is a standard for low bandwidth video telephony and multimedia on the World-Wide Web.

MPG or MPEG (Computer - Terminology): This is the most commonly used compressed graphic format for video. "MPEG" stands for "Motion Picture Experts Group", an ISO committee that decides the standards for digital audio and video compression. MPEG-1 is optimised for CD-ROM and is the basis for MP3. MPEG-2 is aimed at broadcast quality video for applications such as digital television set-top boxes and DVD. MPEG-3 was merged into MPEG-2. MPEG-4 is a standard for low bandwidth video telephony and multimedia on the World-Wide Web.

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N

Netiquette (Computer - Terminology): Netiquette is short for InterNet Etiquette, the practice of civilized behavior on the Internet. Netiquette behaviors include: not sending junk messages or spamming, not violating copyrights, staying on topic in newsgroups, and generally being courteous to those you encounter in cyberspace.

Network (Computer - Hardware): A general term for any connected computers. See also WAN and LAN.

Newsgroup (Computer - Terminology): A newsgroup is an online group to organize, disperse and discuss Internet news messages. At the dawn of personal computing, there were just seven main USENET newsgroup categories: comp INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (computers) news, talk, rec INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (recreational) sci INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (science) soc INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (social) and misc INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (miscellaneous). Adding a new newsgroup required some considerable coordination and discussion, so a new category, alt INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (alternative) emerged as a way to start a new group immediately. Many more categories INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (particularly geographically-based) have been created over the last few years, and more are sure to come. Anyone can read a message on a newsgroup. Newsgoups exist on local networks only. See USENET.

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O

Optimistic Unchoking (Technology - BitTorrent): When some BitTorrent clients periodically reset their list of uploaders to avoid choking. This is done to make sure connections are working well.

OS (Computer - Software): Short for "Operating System". The OS is the main control software of a computer system, handling task scheduling, storage and communication with peripherals. All applications installed on a computer system must be able to communicate with the OS. Windows is an example of an OS.

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P

Parallel Port (Computer - Hardware): Usually a 25 pin 'female' socket on the back of a computer which is used for attaching printers, scanners and other external equipment. Is being phased out by the smaller and more efficient USB drives.

Partition (Computer - Terminology): To "partition" a hard drive is to divide it into smaller drives. You separate memory or storage disks into physical or logical segments such that each segment acts as an independent component. For example, you may take a 60GB hard drive and partition it into three 20GB drives or maybe one 30GB drive and three 10GB drives. Any number of partitions is possible, depending on what you need.

Path (Computer - Terminology): The location of a file or program on a disc or drive. For example, Microsoft Word can be found at C:program filesmicrosoftofficeofficewinword.exe

PCI slot (Computer - Hardware): Peripheral Component Interface. A type of connector that enables you to add components to your computer.

PCMCIA or PC card (Computer - Hardware): Short for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. PCMCIA's are small cards and connectors that fit into a slot on a laptop or PDA. They can be necessary when adding a modem, network card, or removable disk drive (especially on portable computers).

PDA (Computer - Hardware): Personal Digital Assistant. A small handheld computer like Palm Pilot, Clio, etc.

PDF file (Computer - Software): Short for Portable Document Format. Most common with Adobe Acrobat. PDF is a file format for rendering document objects (including text) as images, making it possible to send formatted documents and have them appear on a recipient's monitor or printer as they are intended. It's like taking a snapshot of a document or page.

Peer (Technology - BitTorrent): In BitTorrent; Someone who is uploading and/or downloading a Torrent file. Generally speaking, a peer is someone who is trading an incomplete file; if they were trading a complete file, they would be called a seed. Some people refer to peers as leeches, but there seems to be a more negative connotation to "leeching" than there is to being a "peer."

Peripherals (Computer - Hardware): Devices such as printers, modems, scanners, etc., that attach to and work in conjunction with your computer. Your monitor, mouse and keyboard are also considered peripherals.

Petabyte (Computer - Terminology): (PB) 1024 Terabytes.

Pixel (Computer - Terminology): A small picture element on a screen or in photograph. Most digital cameras are categorized by Megapixels (a megapixel is a million pixels). The more pixels, the better the quality of the picture and the larger the file.

Plug and Play (Computer - Terminology): Most new hardware (printers, scanners, CD or DVD drives, etc) are able to recognize when they are connected, enabling quick use without a tedious installation process.

Plug-in (Computer - Terminology): A plug-in is a software component that adds a specific feature or service to a larger system. The new component simply plugs in to the existing system.

POP (Computer - Terminology): Short for Post Office Protocol. POP is a network protocol used to retrieve email from a mail server. Clients that connect to a POP mail server must download and store all of their incoming email messages on the local system. If you use Outlook for your email, you are most likely using a POP mail server.

Pop under (Computer - Terminology): A pop-under is a type of browser window that appears behind the browser window of a Web site that a user has visited. In contrast to a pop-up ad, which appears on top of the browser window, a pop-under hides behind other windows so you don't realize you've linked to that page until after it's already up. Pop-unders are used extensively in advertising on the Web, though that's not the only application for them.

Pop-up (Security - Threats): An ad that pops up on your screen, most often when you don't want it to.

Port (Computer - Hardware): A socket on your computer, such as USB, parallel (printer) or Serial (communications) which allows communication to and from your computer.

Post (Computer - Terminology): To post is to put up a message on a newsgroup or board, whether it be to start a discussion or respond to one. When you post, the message can be seen publicly by anyone viewing online. Replying to a post creates a "thread" where people can follow or add to the discussion.

Protocol (Computer - Terminology): The standard procedure or rules for the task at hand; a standard framework for communication and data transmission.

Proxy server (Computer - Terminology): A proxy server permits access between computers behind a firewall and any external networks collecting and relaying communications between the two. The proxy server gives the illusion that the communication is direct.

PS/2 (Computer - Hardware): A smaller six-pin socket used for the keyboard and mouse. Being phased out by USB.

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Q

QWERTY (Computer - Terminology): Standard English-language keyboard arrangement; name represents the first six alphabetical keys on the top left corner of the keyboard.

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R

RAM (Computer - Hardware): Random Access Memory. Common computer memory which is used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is running. This integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and makes all storage locations equally accessible. RAM is used for temporarily storing currently running applications and accessed data.

Real Audio (Audio - Terminology): RealAudio is the de facto standard for streaming audio data over the World Wide Web. RealAudio was developed by RealNetworks and delivers FM-stereo-quality sound. To hear a RealAudio sound file, you'll need a RealAudio player or plug-in. The program is freely available from a number of places including www.real.com. It's included in current versions of both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Reboot (Computer - Terminology): To restart a computer without turning off the power. See boot.

Reseed (Technology - BitTorrent): In BitTorrent; if someone seeds a Torrent file again after they had already finished and closed it earlier. This is done when a Torrent has many leechers, but no seeder. It's a great way to help out the community. It reactivates the Torrent so to speak. Others can now finish their download and then seed. When there are no seeds for a certain Torrent file, then all the peers would have incomplete files since no one in the swarm has the missing bits. Whenever this happens, someone with a complete copy of the file (a seeder) must connect to the swarm to upload the missing pieces. This is what reseeding is. See How to Reseed a File

Ripper (Computer - Software): Rippers are software programs that transfer (or "rip") digital audio from a compact disc to a computer's hard drive. The integrity of the data is preserved because the digital signal does not pass through the computer's sound card and is not converted to an analog format. The digital-to-digital transfer creates a WAV file that can then be converted into an MP3 file. Some rippers can directly create MP3 files and more.

Router (Computer - Terminology): A type of hub that routes information between interconnected networks. Routers can be hardware or software and are sometimes referred to as gateways.

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S

S/PDIF (Audio - Terminology): Short for Sony/Philips Digital InterFace. Developed jointly by the Sony and Phillips corporations, S/PDIF is a standard audio file transfer format that allows the transfer of digital audio signals from one device to another without having to be converted first to an analog. Maintaining the integrity of a digital signal prevents the quality of the signal from degrading during transfer.

Safe Mode (Computer - Terminology): Safe Mode is when you start Windows in its most basic form with no background programs in operation. When you are in Safe Mode, the screen changes to its very basic layout (with large lettering). Safe Mode is used to cure or delete various problems and check on the computer's operations. To get into Safe Mode on most PC's, press F8 as Windows begins to load. Note: When you have cleared a virus always switch off your computer because the virus is very likely to still be in the memory.

Sampling (Audio - Terminology): Sampling is the main technique used to digitize analog information. For example, music CDs are produced by sampling live sound at frequent intervals and then digitizing each sample. See "sampling rate" for more on the parameters of sampling. The other meaning of "sample" is when someone takes a clip from a song and uses it in another song. Puff Daddy made himself famous that way and is only one of many artists who "sample" other artists for their own musical constructions.

Sampling rate (Audio - Terminology): Sampling rate is the rate at which samples of an analog signal are taken in order to be converted into digital form. A PC's sound card samples a received analog signal, such as through a microphone, and digitizes it for use by the computer. A higher sampling rate provides a better quality reproduction than a lower sampling rate. Also called a sample rate, it is typically expressed in samples per second, or hertz (Hz)

Scan Disk (Computer - Terminology): ScanDisk is a DOS and Windows utility that finds errors on hard disks and is able to correct some of them automatically. In DOS, you run ScanDisk by entering 'chkdsk /f' at the prompt and pressing the Enter key. In Windows, you can check for and correct Disk errors by selecting My Computer-> select disk to check-> File-> Properties-> Tools tab-> under Error checking click Check Now-> under Check Disk options select Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box-> Start. You should also check "Automatically Fix Filesystem Errors" to fix cross-linked files and lost clusters. You will most likely have to reboot your computer to fix errors. Among other things, ScanDisk checks the disk platters for defects and also looks for lost clusters that are sometimes created when a program aborts.

Scanner (Computer - Hardware): A piece of hardware capable of scanning pictures and documents to save as digital files on your computer.

SCSI (Computer - Terminology): Short for Small Computer Systems Interface; pronounced "Scuzzy." SCSI is a high-speed interface that can connect a computer to peripheral devices such as hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and tape drives. SCSI is gradually being supplanted by the newer USB standard.

SDRAM (Computer - Hardware): Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. A common type of computer memory chip.

Search engine (Computer - Terminology): A search engine is a Web database such as Excite, Google, Alta Vista and Lycos that is built by automated processes called spiders (or robots) that search the Web, gathering and updating information about web sites and pages. Since they are built automatically and constantly renewing their content, search engines build up catalogs of millions of Web pages and will help you find what you are looking for online.

Seeder (Technology - BitTorrent): Someone who has a complete file and lets others download it from him/her with BitTorrent. As soon as you finish downloading a torrent file, you should leave the torrent going so people can download from you. Then you become a seeder too. Once your client finishes downloading, it should automatically remain open until you manually click the Finish button or close the program. Whenever a new Torrent is posted to a tracker, someone must seed it in order for it to be available to others.

Self-extracting file (Computer - Software): A self-extracting file contains other files that have been compressed INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (typically through a program like WinZip) to transfer them more efficiently. Self-extracting files may end with the EXE file extension, though they can often be ZIP files. A self-extracting file contains within it the program software needed to "unzip" the file and execute the intended application. Therefore, the end user does not need any special software to execute the file. Simply executing the file INSERT INTO glossary (sectionname, subsectionname, term, description, recdate) VALUES (which means either saving the files on your computer's hard drive or opening it from its current location) will unzip the data and run the application. For example, a software upgrade will often come in the form of a self-extracting file that a user can download from the Internet or detach from an e-mail and execute. Self-extracting files typically can be deleted once they have been executed.

Serial Port (Computer - Hardware): A 9- or 25-pin socket used to connect several devices, including mice and modems.

Server (Computer - Terminology): High-capacity computers that store webpages and large amounts of electronic data, as well as manages files, services, and access to resources on a network.

Share Rating (Technology - BitTorrent): In BitTorrent, a Share Rating is the ratio of your amount uploaded divided by your amount downloaded. These amounts apply to your current session only, not over the entire history of the file. A Share Ratio of 1.0 means you have uploaded as much as you have downloaded; higher numbers mean you are contributing more, which is always a good thing in BT. If you open a BT client with a complete file to seed, your Share Ratio should show the symbol for infinity because you are not downloading anything. Though your Share Ratio doesn't directly affect the client, you should maintain a high ratio out of courtesy to others in the swarm.

Shareware (Computer - Software): Shareware is software distributed on the basis of an honor system. Most shareware is available free of charge, but the author usually requests that you pay a small fee if you like the program. By paying, you become registered with the producer so that you can receive service assistance and uprecdates. You can pass shareware along to others (hence the word "share") but they too are encouraged to pay a fee if they use the product. Shareware is inexpensive because it is usually produced by a single programmer and offered directly to customers without packaging or advertising expenses. Note: shareware differs from public-domain software in that shareware is copyrighted, which means that you cannot resell a shareware product.

Shortcut (Computer - Terminology): A shortcut is a link or hyperlink to any Web page. You can create shortcut icons on your desktop to easily revisit your favorite Web pages.

SMS (Computer - Hardware): Short Message System. Text messaging between PC and mobile phone or mobile to mobile. See Chat and Instant Messaging.

SMTP (Computer - Terminology): SMTP is the standard Internet protocol for transferring E-mail to the internet. The SMTP server manages E-mail transfers between the local network and the Internet.

Snubbed (Technology - BitTorrent): If a BitTorrent client waits over 60 seconds with no results for a peer or seed to upload, the client may mark the connection as being snubbed.

Sound Card (Computer - Hardware): An expansion board (or peripheral device) that enables a computer to manipulate and output sounds. Sound cards are necessary for hearing audio and are included in most modern personal computers. Sound cards enable the computer to output sound through your speakers, to record sound input from any microphone connected to the computer and to manipulate sounds stored on a disk. Nearly all sound cards support MIDI as well. Most sound cards are Sound Blaster-compatible, which means that they can process commands written for a Sound Blaster card, the de facto standard for PC sound. However, most motherboards today come with some kind of external sound chip built-in just in case you want decent sound without attaching a separate sound card.

Source Code (Computer - Software): The basic language for building computer programs, Source Code is specially written instructions by a software programmer to create executable programs when run through a compiler or language interpreter.

SPAM (Security - Threats): Short for "Superfluous Pieces of Additional Mail," SPAM is unsolicited advertising that usually arrives as e-mails or pop-ups.

Spider (Computer - Terminology): A spider is an automated program that scours the Web collecting data collection and building indexes from that data. The word "spider" can also be used as a verb; for example, Google spiders the internet for uprecdated webpages.

Spim (Security - Threats): Spam that occurs in Instant Messagers (IM).

Spyware (Security - Threats): Software applications that monitor a user's computing habits and personal information and sends this data to third parties without the user's authorization or knowledge, usually for marketing purposes.

Status Bar (Computer - Terminology): The status bar is the grey strip at the bottom of the browser window that displays information regarding hyperlinks and web connections. When you move your mouse over a hyperlink without clicking on it, the status bar will show the hyperlink's URL and the cursor will turn into a little hand. When you click on a hyperlink, the status bar will show the connection and exchange of information from the server that hosts the website you are going to. It can also indicate the security of the transmission to and from that server.

Streaming (Computer - Terminology): Sending and receiving digital data (including video and audio) over the internet in a continuous stream, rather than downloading it first.

Surf (Computer - Terminology): To "surf" the web is basically what you are doing when you are online- linking from Web page to Web page.

Swarm (Technology - BitTorrent): The group of BitTorrent peers that are connected for a particular Torrent file. If you start a BT client, it will show you a list of what peers and seeds you are connected to. That is the swarm.

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T

TCP/IP (Computer - Terminology): Short for "Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol," TCP/IP is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It is used to connect to a variety of different types of hosts on both private networks and carrier networks such as the Internet.

Temp file (Computer - Terminology): Short for Temporary file. A temp file is located on a user's hard disk so a browser can store Web site data for every Web page or URL address that a user visits. The next time the user visits the same Web site, the browser takes the data from the temporary Internet file, allowing the page to display quickly in the browser instead of having to wait for response from the Web site's server all over again. Basically, the browser is opening the Web page from the user's hard drive instead of re-downloading the files from the Internet. A buildup of temp files can eventually slow a processor down as it takes up valuable resource space. Your computer has methods of clearing out the temp file cache if there are too many files built up. In the IE toolbar, you can clear out temp files by searching under Tools for Internet Options and clicking the appropriate buttons under Temporary Internet Files.

Temporary Files (Computer - Terminology): These are files that are placed on your computer via the internet, installing software and even programs you are already running. Many use a part of your hard disk to enable them to work while you're using them and then leave the temporary files after they're done. It's a good idea to delete your temporary files and clear the space now and then. Temporary files often end in TMP.

Terabyte (Computer - Terminology): (TB) 1024 Gigabytes. Equals roughly one trillion bytes.

Text Messaging (Computer - Terminology): Sending text-based messages to or from mobile phones and PC's. See SMS, Instant Messaging and Chat.

Thread (Computer - Terminology): A linked series of posted messages and replies relating to one topic or theme in an email exchange, bulletin board system (BBS) or Internet newsgroup. Also in programming, a thread is one part of a larger program that can be executed independent of the whole.

Title bar (Computer - Terminology): The title bar is at the very top of a browser window and contains the name of the active Web page as well as the name of the active browser (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer). The title bar is also active in any program you use on your computer, such as Word or Excel.

Toolbar (Computer - Software): A row of icons at the top of a program (such as a wordprocessor or browser) that give you drop-down menus and buttons for various tasks.

Topology (Computer - Terminology): The physical or logical architecture of a private computer network.

Torrent file (Technology - BitTorrent): A .torrent file (aka metadata) is a small file with the extension .torrent which contains the information necessary for a BitTorrent client to download a larger file. Once the Torrent file is downloaded to your computer, clicking on it will open the BT download.

Tracker (Technology - BitTorrent): A tracker is a server on the Internet, usually run by a webmaster of a BitTorrent site that acts as a central hub for BT clients and their actions. When you open a Torrent file, your computer contacts the tracker and requests a list of peers to connect you with. The tracker will tell your computer how much you've downloaded and uploaded and how much time you have left before the transfer finishes. If a tracker is down, you will be unable to connect to any peers. If a tracker goes down during a transfer in progress, you will still be able to continue the transfer with the existing swarm. However, you won't be able to connect to any new peers until the tracker is back up. Most tracker errors are temporary, so be patient while downloading.

Trojans (Security - Threats): A malicious program camouflaged as something else to enter your system, allowing the perpetrator to remotely view or control your computer contents, often performing unexpected or unauthorized actions. The main difference between a Trojan and a virus is the ability to replicate. Trojans can breach your security and cause unexpected system behaviors, problems in operation and even the loss of valuable data, but they do not replicate. If it replicates, then it should be classified as a virus. 'Trojan' is coined from Greek mythology's Trojan horse, arriving in good packaging but containing hidden and malicious intent within.

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U

UNIX (Computer - Software): Pronounced "you-niks," UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time and has TCP/IP built-in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet. UNIX is a multi-user, multitasking network operating system developed at Bell Labs in the early 1970s. Linux is based on, and is highly compatible with, UNIX.

Upgrade (Computer - Software): To replace older hardware or software with a new or revised version. Usually, software companies will sell upgrades at a discount to previous users of their products. You may have to prove you own an older version of the product to qualify for the upgrade price. The installation routines for upgrades usually check to make sure that an older version is already installed on your computer.

URL (Computer - Terminology): Universal Resource Locator, which is your Web address. It always starts with http:// and is usually followed by www. and the website name. Example: http://www.mp3downloadhq.com

USB (Computer - Hardware): Universal Serial Bus. This newer communication port can transfer data fast and enable equipment to be 'hot swapped' whilst the machine is on. It also contains a power supply so so equipment such as webcams do not need a plug or transformer. Earlier models of Windows are not equipped with USB ports, but in some cases, add-on cards are available for older computers.

USB2 (Computer - Hardware): Universal Serial Bus 2. A new faster version of the USB connector. Can also take older USB connectors.

USENET (Computer - Terminology): USENET is the part of the Internet that contains newsgroups. USENET is like a worldwide bulletin board system that can be accessed through the Internet or through many online services. The USENET contains more than 14,000 forums, called newsgroups, which cover every imaginable interest group. These newsgroups can be accessed by anyone online.

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V

VDU (Computer - Hardware): Visual Display Unit. Your monitor and screen.

Viruses (Security - Threats): Malicious programs that infect computers, often hiding within other programs. These programs that replicates itself and may cause damage to a computer system by attacking or attaching itself to boot information, another program or even a document that uses macros.

VOIP (Computer - Terminology): Voice Over Internet Protocol. Any technology providing voice and telephone services over IP connections.

W

WAN (Computer - Terminology): Wider Area Network. Computers connected to others over a wider area so they can communicate and share programs and data.

Warchalking (Computer - Terminology): The art of marking office walls with a ) ( sign, to show that a wireless network is being used so people outside the building can steal time from their Wi-Fi connection. See Wi-Fi

Warez (Computer - Software): Pronounced wayrz. "Warez" refers to commercial software that has been pirated and made available to the public via P2P, a BBS or the Internet. Pirates de-activate the copy-protection or registration scheme used by the software, making the use and distribution of warez software illegal. In contrast, shareware and freeware may be freely copied and distributed.

WAV (Audio - Terminology): The preferred format for storing sound in files developed jointly by Microsoft and IBM. Support for WAV files is built into Windows, making it the standard for sound on PCs. WAV sound files end with a .wav extension and can be played by nearly all Windows applications that support sound as well as on Apple Macs. When you rip a CD to your hard drive, it will usually be saved in a WAV format. WAV files can be burnt right onto CD-Rs and played on most stereos.

Webmaster (Computer - Terminology): A Webmaster is responsible for the maintenance of a Web site, which often includes answering site-related E-mail and creating or updating webpages.

Wi-Fi (Computer - Hardware): Wireless Fidelity. A common term for any wireless networking. The number 802.11 is standard protocol for radio-frequency wireless data transmission and networking, otherwise known as Wi-Fi.

Wizard (Computer - Software): A program which helps you through a process such as installing new Software or Hardware.

WMA (Audio - Terminology): Short for Windows Media Audio, a Microsoft file format for encoding digital audio files similar to MP3. However, WMA can compress files at a higher rate than MP3. WMA files use the ".wma" file extension and can be compressed to match any different connection speeds or bandwidths.

Worms (Security - Threats): These are viruses which arrive mainly as email attachments and use your email contacts to spread their infection to others. A worm can replicate and send itself between computer systems, causing damage by itself or acting as a delivery agent for a virus. They can also actually add malicious programs to your computer.

WWW (Computer - Terminology): World Wide Web. A global network of connected computers that serve documents, files, and other resources over the Internet.

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Y

Yottabyte (Computer - Terminology): (YB) 1024 Zettabytes. That equals 1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176 bytes!

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Z

Zettabyte (Computer - Terminology): (ZB) 1024 Exabytes.

ZIP file (Computer - Terminology): A type of compressed file that ends in ZIP or CAB. To view their contents, you must use a program such as Winzip or Enzip.

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