- Hardware
- The physical parts of a computer system that you can touch.
- Software
- The programs (sets of instructions) that run on the hardware.
- Application software
- Software that lets the user do a task, such as a word processor.
- System software
- Software that runs and maintains the computer, such as the operating system and drivers.
- Motherboard
- The main circuit board that connects all the components.
- CPU
- Central processing unit: carries out program instructions.
- RAM
- Random access memory: volatile memory holding the programs and data in use.
- ROM
- Read-only memory: non-volatile memory holding the start-up instructions.
- Volatile
- Loses its contents when the power is turned off.
- Backing storage
- Long-term, non-volatile storage such as a hard disk or SSD.
- Analogue data
- Data that changes smoothly and can take any value, like temperature.
- Digital data
- Data made of separate values, stored in binary.
- Operating system
- System software that manages the hardware, files and programs, and gives the user an interface.
- GUI
- Graphical user interface: windows, icons, menus and pointers.
- CLI
- Command line interface: the user types text commands.
- Expandability
- How easily parts can be added or upgraded.
- Artificial intelligence
- A computer system that does tasks normally needing human thinking.
- Virtual reality
- A computer-made world that fully replaces what the user sees.
- Augmented reality
- Computer images added on top of a live view of the real world.
- Input device
- Hardware that sends data or instructions into a computer.
- Output device
- Hardware that shows, prints, plays or does the result of processing.
- Direct data entry (DDE)
- Reading data straight from its source with no manual typing.
- Sensor
- An input device that measures a physical quantity such as temperature.
- Actuator
- An output device, such as a motor or valve, that makes something move or happen.
- OMR
- Optical mark recognition: reads shaded marks in set positions on a form.
- OCR
- Optical character recognition: turns a scanned image of text into editable text.
- RFID
- Radio frequency identification: reads a tag using radio waves, without contact.
- Barcode
- A pattern of lines that stands for a number, read by a light beam.
- QR code
- A square pattern of black and white squares that holds more data than a barcode.
- Chip and PIN
- A bank card chip read by a terminal; the user types a PIN to prove identity.
- Impact printer
- A printer that strikes the paper through an inked ribbon, such as dot matrix.
- Plotter
- An output device that draws very large, accurate drawings.
- 3D printer
- A device that builds a solid object layer by layer.
- Trackerball
- A pointing device where you roll a ball; the device stays still.
- Storage medium
- The thing data is stored on, such as a disc or a chip.
- Storage device
- The hardware that reads and writes the storage medium.
- Capacity
- How much data a storage device can hold.
- Magnetic storage
- Storing data as magnetised areas on a disk or tape.
- Optical storage
- Storing data as pits and lands on a disc, read by a laser.
- Solid-state storage
- Storing data in flash memory chips with no moving parts.
- Direct access
- Going straight to any piece of data, as on a disk.
- Serial access
- Reading data in order from the start, as on a tape.
- R (recordable)
- An optical disc that can be written once.
- RW (rewritable)
- An optical disc that can be written and erased many times.
- ROM disc
- An optical disc written at the factory that cannot be changed.
- Dual layer
- A disc with two data layers, so nearly double the capacity.
- Backup
- A copy of data kept separately so it can be restored if lost.
- Flash memory
- Non-volatile memory chips that store data as trapped electric charge.
- Network
- Two or more devices connected so they can share data and resources.
- NIC
- Network interface card: hardware that connects a device to a network.
- MAC address
- A unique hardware address given to each NIC by the manufacturer.
- IP address
- An address that identifies a device on a network or the internet.
- Hub
- Connects devices on a LAN and sends data to all of them.
- Switch
- Connects devices on a LAN and sends data only to the right device, using MAC addresses.
- Bridge
- Joins two LANs that use the same protocol.
- Router
- Sends data between networks, such as a LAN and the internet, using IP addresses.
- LAN
- Local area network: covers one building or site.
- WLAN
- Wireless LAN: devices connect by Wi-Fi.
- WAN
- Wide area network: covers a large area, joining many LANs.
- Intranet
- A private network for members of one organisation.
- Extranet
- Part of an intranet that authorised outsiders can reach.
- Cloud computing
- Storing data and running software on remote servers over the internet.
- Authentication
- Proving a user is who they say they are.
- Biometrics
- Using unique body features such as fingerprints for authentication.
- One-time password
- A code that works only once, made by a token.
- Zero login
- Authentication without typing, using biometrics and behaviour.
- Anti-malware
- Software that detects, quarantines and removes malicious software.
- Microprocessor
- A small processor on one chip that controls a device using a fixed program.
- Microprocessor-controlled device
- A device whose actions are controlled by a built-in microprocessor.
- Smart device
- A microprocessor-controlled device that connects to the internet and can be controlled remotely.
- Data security
- Protecting personal data from being stolen, changed or misused.
- Autonomous vehicle
- A vehicle that drives itself using sensors and a computer.
- Lidar
- A sensor that measures distance using pulses of laser light.
- Radar
- A sensor that measures distance and speed using radio waves.
- RSI
- Repetitive strain injury: pain in fingers, wrists or arms from repeated movements.
- Ergonomic
- Designed to fit the human body and reduce strain.
- Eye strain
- Tired, sore or dry eyes and blurred vision from long screen use.
- Anti-glare filter
- A screen cover that reduces reflected light.
- Posture
- The way you hold your body when sitting or standing.
- Streaming
- Playing audio or video as it arrives over the internet, without saving the whole file.
- VoIP
- Voice over internet protocol: making voice calls over the internet.
- Computer model
- A program that uses rules and formulas to act like a real system.
- What if
- Changing a model's inputs to see what would happen.
- Production line control
- Using sensors, computers and robots to run a factory line automatically.
- Computer-aided learning (CAL)
- Using computers to teach and test, with instant feedback.
- Double booking
- Selling the same seat or room to two people; prevented by seat locking.
- ATM
- Automated teller machine: a cash machine.
- EFT
- Electronic funds transfer: moving money between accounts electronically.
- Cheque clearing
- The process that moves money from the payer's bank to the payee's bank.
- Expert system
- Software that copies the knowledge and decisions of a human expert.
- Inference engine
- The part of an expert system that applies rules to facts to reach conclusions.
- Knowledge base
- The store of facts in an expert system.
- Rules base
- The IF … THEN rules in an expert system.
- EFTPOS
- Electronic funds transfer at point of sale: the card terminal at a till.
- Re-order level
- The stock level at which a new order is sent to the supplier.
- NFC
- Near field communication: very short-range radio used for phone payments.
- ANPR
- Automatic number plate recognition: reading number plates from camera images.
- GPS
- Global positioning system: satellites that let a receiver work out its position.
- GIS
- Geographic information system: location data shown as layers on a map.
- Systems life cycle
- The stages used to create a new system: analysis, design, development and testing, implementation, documentation, evaluation.
- Systems analyst
- The person who studies the current system and plans the new one.
- Questionnaire
- A set of written questions given to many people to collect their views.
- System specification
- A list of the hardware and software the new system needs.
- Field
- One item of data in a record, such as Surname.
- Coding of data
- Storing short codes such as M or F instead of whole words.
- Validation
- An automatic computer check that data is sensible and allowed.
- Check digit
- An extra digit calculated from the other digits, used to detect input errors.
- Data capture form
- A paper or on-screen form used to collect data.
- Test plan
- A table listing each test, its data, the expected and actual outcomes and any remedial action.
- Normal data
- Sensible data that should be accepted.
- Abnormal data
- Data that should be rejected, such as out of range or the wrong type.
- Extreme data
- Data at the limits of the allowed range, which should be accepted.
- Live data
- Real data from the organisation, used to test the system with known results.
- Remedial action
- What was done to fix a test that failed.
- Direct changeover
- The old system stops and the new one starts immediately.
- Parallel running
- Old and new systems run together until the new one is trusted.
- Pilot running
- The new system is tried in one branch before the rest.
- Phased implementation
- The new system is introduced one part at a time across the organisation.
- Evaluation
- Judging the finished system against the original requirements after it has been used.
- Electrocution
- Injury or death from an electric current passing through the body.
- Data protection act
- A law controlling how organisations collect, store and use personal data.
- Personal data
- Data about a living person who can be identified from it.
- Sensitive personal data
- Personal data, such as health or religion, that could cause harm or unfair treatment if leaked.
- eSafety
- Using the internet and devices in a way that keeps you, your data and others safe.
- Hacking
- Getting into a computer system without permission.
- Phishing
- A fake email with a link to a fake website that steals personal details.
- Smishing
- Phishing using SMS text messages.
- Vishing
- Phishing using voice calls or voicemail.
- Pharming
- Malicious code that redirects a user to a fake website even when the correct address is typed.
- Malware
- Any software written to cause harm, such as viruses, worms, spyware or ransomware.
- Shoulder surfing
- Watching someone enter a PIN or password to steal it.
- Card cloning
- Copying the magnetic stripe of a card to make a fake copy.
- Key logging
- Recording every key a user presses to steal passwords and card numbers.
- Digital certificate
- An electronic document from a trusted authority that proves a website is genuine.
- SSL
- A protocol that encrypts data between a browser and a web server; shown by https and a padlock.
- Encryption
- Scrambling data with a key so only someone with the right key can read it.
- Firewall
- Hardware or software that checks incoming and outgoing traffic and blocks what breaks set rules.
- Two-factor authentication
- Logging in with two different types of proof, such as a password and a code sent to a phone.
- Audience
- The group of people a product is made for.
- Audience appreciation
- Understanding the audience's needs and planning a product to suit them.
- Purpose
- The job a product must do, such as inform, persuade, entertain or sell.
- Expectations
- What users expect a product to look like and be able to do.
- Accessibility
- Designing so that people with disabilities or extra needs can use a product.
- Copyright
- A law that protects the creator of an original work from it being copied without permission.
- Software piracy
- Illegally copying, sharing or selling software.
- Licence
- Permission to use software under set rules; the buyer does not own the program.
- Product key
- A unique code entered during installation to prove the copy is genuine.
- Activation
- Checking a product key with the producer's server so it is used on a limited number of devices.
- Dongle
- A small USB device that must be plugged in for the software to run.
- Digital signature
- Encrypted data added by the producer to prove software is genuine and unchanged.
- EULA
- End user licence agreement: the terms you must accept before installing software.
- Netiquette
- Good manners and polite behaviour when communicating online.
- cc
- Carbon copy: sends a copy to people whose addresses all recipients can see.
- bcc
- Blind carbon copy: sends a copy to people whose addresses are hidden from everyone else.
- Forward
- Send an email you received on to another person.
- Attachment
- A file sent along with an email.
- Email group
- One name that stands for a list of addresses, so one email reaches them all.
- Spam
- Unwanted email sent to large numbers of people.
- ISP
- Internet Service Provider: a company that gives access to the internet.
- URL
- Uniform Resource Locator: the full address of a web page.
- Hyperlink
- Text or an image that takes you to another page, file or place when clicked.
- Web browser
- Software that fetches and displays web pages.
- Search engine
- A website that finds pages matching the keywords you type.
- Protocol
- A set of rules for sending data between devices.
- HTTPS
- The secure, encrypted version of HTTP, used for logins and payments.
- FTP
- File Transfer Protocol: rules for uploading and downloading files.
- File
- A named block of data stored on a disk, such as a document or photo.
- Folder
- A container that holds files and other folders.
- File extension
- The letters after the dot in a file name, showing the file type.
- Import
- Bring data from a file of one type into another application.
- Export
- Save a copy of a file in a different format.
- Folder structure
- The planned arrangement of folders inside each other.
- Application-specific format
- A file format made for one type of software, keeping all its features.
- Generic format
- A file format that many different programs can open.
- CSV
- Comma separated values: table data stored as plain text with commas between fields.
- RTF
- Rich text format: text with basic formatting that most word processors can open.
- PDF
- Portable document format: a fixed-layout document that looks the same on any device.
- Compression
- Making a file smaller by storing its data more efficiently.
- Archive
- A single file, such as .zip or .rar, holding one or more compressed files.
- Extract
- Unzip a compressed archive to get the original files back.
- Lossless compression
- Compression where no data is lost, so the original is restored exactly.
- Lossy compression
- Compression that removes some data permanently to make the file much smaller.
- Aspect ratio
- The width of an image compared with its height, such as 4:3.
- Distortion
- An image looking stretched or squashed because width and height were changed by different amounts.
- Resize
- Make an image bigger or smaller.
- Crop
- Cut away the outer parts of an image without stretching what is left.
- Rotate
- Turn an image round by an angle, such as 90°.
- Reflect (flip)
- Make a mirror image, swapping left and right or top and bottom.
- Text wrapping
- How text flows around an image: square, tight, above and below, or in line.
- Brightness
- How light or dark the whole image is.
- Contrast
- How big the difference is between the light and dark parts of an image.
- Pixel
- One tiny dot of colour; images are made of a grid of pixels.
- Resolution
- The number of pixels in an image, given as width × height.
- Colour depth
- The number of bits used to store the colour of one pixel.
- Group
- Join several objects so they move and resize as one.
- Layer
- The order objects are stacked in; the top object hides those below.
- Bring forward / send back
- Move an object up or down one layer in the stack.
- Data entry accuracy
- Typing text exactly as given, with no errors in spelling, case, spaces or punctuation.
- Clipboard
- A temporary store in memory that holds what you last cut or copied.
- Cut
- Remove selected content and place it on the clipboard.
- Copy
- Place a copy of selected content on the clipboard and leave the original.
- Paste
- Insert the clipboard contents at the cursor.
- Drag and drop
- Move selected text or an object by dragging it with the mouse.
- Cell
- One box in a table, where a row and a column meet.
- Merge cells
- Join two or more cells into one larger cell.
- Gridlines (borders)
- Lines drawn around table cells.
- Shading
- A background colour filling a cell or area.
- Header
- The area at the top of every page that repeats on each page.
- Footer
- The area at the bottom of every page that repeats on each page.
- File path
- The full location of a file, including the drive and folders.
- Style
- A named, saved set of formatting settings applied in one click.
- Corporate house style
- The rules an organisation uses so all its documents look the same.
- Style guide
- A document that sets out an organisation's house style rules.
- Font face
- The design of the letters, such as a serif or sans-serif font.
- Serif font
- A font with small strokes at the ends of the letters.
- Sans-serif font
- A font with no small strokes at the ends of the letters.
- Point size
- A measure of text height; 72 points is about one inch.
- Enhancement
- Emphasis added to text: bold, italic or underline.
- Alignment
- Where text lines up: left, right, centre or fully justified.
- Spacing before/after
- Extra space above or below a paragraph, measured in points.
- Line spacing
- The gap between lines inside a paragraph, such as single or double.
- Bullet
- A symbol placed before each item in a list.
- Direct formatting
- Formatting applied to selected text by hand, not through a style.
- Template
- A starting file that already holds the styles and layout of a house style.
- Consistency
- The same kind of text always having the same formatting.
- Proofing
- Checking work for errors before it is used or printed.
- Spell check
- A tool that compares words with a stored dictionary and flags unknown ones.
- Grammar check
- A tool that flags possible mistakes in sentence structure.
- Verification
- A check that data has been copied accurately from its source.
- Visual verification
- A person compares entered data with the source document by eye.
- Double data entry
- Data is typed twice and the computer compares the two versions.
- Source document
- The original document the data is taken from, such as a paper form.
- Transposition error
- Two characters swapped round, such as 54 typed as 45.
- Range check
- Validation that a value lies between a lowest and highest value.
- Presence check
- Validation that a field has not been left empty.
- Format check
- Validation that data matches a set pattern, such as DD/MM/YYYY.
- Widow
- The last line of a paragraph left alone at the top of a new page.
- Orphan
- The first line of a paragraph left alone at the bottom of a page.
- Proofreading
- Reading a document carefully to find errors in text and layout.
- Chart
- A picture of data, such as bars, lines or slices, that makes patterns easy to see.
- Contiguous data
- Cells next to each other in one block.
- Non-contiguous data
- Cells in separate blocks, selected together while holding the control key.
- Pie chart
- A circle split into slices, each showing a part of the whole.
- Bar chart
- Bars of different lengths for comparing categories; vertical bars are also called a column chart.
- Line graph
- Points joined by lines to show change over time.
- Scatter graph
- Points plotted for two numeric variables to show whether they are related.
- Data series
- One set of values plotted on a chart.
- Legend
- The key that says what each colour or pattern on a chart means.
- Axis title
- Text naming what an axis measures, with its units.
- Category labels
- The names along the category axis, such as months or products.
- Data label
- A value or percentage shown on a bar, point or slice.
- Axis minimum / maximum
- The lowest and highest values shown on the value axis.
- Increment (major unit)
- The step between values on an axis, such as every 10.
- Secondary axis
- A second value axis, usually on the right, for a series with a different scale.
- Extract (explode) segment
- Pull one pie slice out from the rest to highlight it.
- Page orientation
- Whether the page is portrait (tall) or landscape (wide).
- Margin
- The blank border between the edge of the paper and the text.
- Gutter
- Extra margin on the edge that will be bound, so text is not lost in the binding.
- Column
- A vertical strip of text; text flows from one column to the next.
- Column spacing
- The gap between two columns.
- Page break
- A marker that forces the text after it onto a new page.
- Section break
- A marker that starts a new section, which can have its own columns, margins or orientation.
- Column break
- A marker that forces the text after it into the next column.
- Tab stop
- A set position on a line that the cursor jumps to when the tab key is pressed.
- Decimal tab
- A tab stop that lines up numbers on their decimal points.
- Hanging indent
- All lines of a paragraph except the first are moved in from the margin.
- First-line indent
- Only the first line of a paragraph is moved in from the margin.
- Superscript / subscript
- Small text raised above (superscript) or lowered below (subscript) the line.
- Find and replace
- A tool that finds text and swaps it for other text.
- Match case
- A find option that only finds text with the same capital and small letters.
- Bookmark
- A named hidden marker at a place in a document, used as a link target.
- Database
- An organised store of data that can be searched, sorted and reported on.
- Table
- A set of records about one kind of thing, such as members or bookings.
- Record
- One row of a table: all the data about one item.
- Field type
- The kind of data a field holds: text, numeric, date/time or Boolean.
- Boolean
- A field type with only two values, such as Yes/No or True/False.
- Display format
- How a value looks on screen or paper, without changing the stored value.
- Primary key
- A field whose value is different for every record, used to identify each one.
- Foreign key
- A field in one table that holds the primary key of another table, to link them.
- One-to-many relationship
- A link where one record in a table matches many records in another table.
- Flat-file database
- A database with only one table.
- Relational database
- A database with two or more tables linked by keys.
- .csv file
- A plain-text file where each line is a record and commas separate the fields.
- Query
- A search that shows only the records that meet given criteria.
- Criteria
- The conditions a record must meet to appear in a query result.
- Wildcard
- A symbol in a search pattern: * means any number of characters, ? means exactly one.
- Calculated field
- A field in a query that is worked out from other fields, not typed in.
- Calculated control
- A box on a report or form that shows a calculation, such as a total.
- Tabular layout
- A report layout with records in rows under column headings.
- Columnar layout
- A report layout that shows one record at a time, with each label beside its value.
- Master slide
- A template slide whose layout, styles and objects appear on every slide.
- Placeholder
- A box on a layout that sets where a title, text or image goes and how it looks.
- Slide layout
- A pattern of placeholders, such as title and content or two content.
- Transition
- The visual effect when one slide changes to the next.
- Animation
- A visual effect that makes an object on a slide appear, move or disappear.
- Action button
- A ready-made shape, such as a Home arrow, that runs a link or action when clicked.
- Presenter notes
- Notes for the speaker under each slide, not shown to the audience on screen.
- Hidden slide
- A slide kept in the file but skipped when the show runs.
- Alternative text
- A short description of an image or object, read aloud by screen readers.
- Looped presentation
- A show that advances on timings and restarts by itself after the last slide.
- Presenter-controlled
- A show that moves to the next slide only when the speaker clicks or presses a key.
- Handout
- A printout with several slides on each page for the audience.
- Slide sorter
- A view showing small copies of every slide, used to reorder, hide or check slides.
- Cell reference
- The address of a cell: column letter then row number, such as C3.
- Range
- A block of cells written first:last, such as C3:C8.
- Formula
- A calculation in a cell that starts with =.
- Function
- A ready-made formula with a name, such as SUM or VLOOKUP.
- Argument
- One input to a function, written inside its brackets and separated by commas.
- Nested function
- A function used inside another function, such as ROUND(AVERAGE(...),2).
- Replication
- Copying a formula into other cells, usually with the fill handle.
- Relative reference
- A reference like E3 that moves when the formula is copied.
- Absolute reference
- A reference like $I$7 that stays fixed when the formula is copied.
- Mixed reference
- A reference with only the column or only the row fixed, such as $I7 or I$7.
- Named range
- A name, such as TripCost, given to a cell or range and used in formulae.
- Hard-coded value
- A number typed into a formula instead of a cell reference; it does not update.
- Lookup
- A function that finds a value in a table and returns a matching value.
- Exact match
- A lookup that only accepts the identical value (FALSE in VLOOKUP).
- Filter
- Hiding rows that do not meet a condition, without deleting them.
- Conditional formatting
- Formatting that changes automatically when a cell meets a rule.
- Formulae view
- A display mode that shows the formulae in cells instead of their results.
- HTML
- HyperText Markup Language: the language of the content layer of a web page.
- CSS
- Cascading Style Sheets: the language of the presentation layer, which sets how a page looks.
- Tag
- A word in angle brackets, such as `<p>`, that marks the start or end of an element.
- Attribute
- Extra information inside an opening tag, written name="value", such as src or alt.
- Head
- The part of a page holding information about it: title, meta tags, stylesheet links.
- Meta tag
- A head element that gives data about the page, such as charset, description or viewport.
- External stylesheet
- A separate .css file attached to pages with the link element.
- Inline style
- CSS written in a style attribute inside one tag; it affects only that element.
- Class
- A label given to elements with the class attribute so CSS can style them as a group.
- Selector
- The part of a CSS rule that says which elements it styles, such as h1 or .note.
- Generic font family
- A fallback type of font (serif, sans-serif, monospace) used if named fonts are missing.
- Cascade
- The rules that decide which style wins when two styles set the same property.
- Relative path
- A file location described from the current file's folder, such as images/logo.png.
- Absolute path
- A full file location from the very start, such as a full URL or C:/...
- Target
- The attribute that sets which window a link opens in, such as _blank.
- colspan / rowspan
- Attributes that make a table cell stretch across columns or down rows.
- Padding
- The space inside an element or cell between its border and its content.
- Alt text
- Alternative text for an image, read by screen readers and shown if the image fails.