Personal computing

Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.
  • spoliation - Spoliation is the destruction, alteration, or mutilation of evidence that may pertain to legal action.
  • stateful inspection - Stateful inspection, also known as dynamic packet filtering, is a firewall technology that monitors the state of active connections and uses this information to determine which network packets to allow through the firewall.
  • static IP address - A static IP address is a 32 bit number that is assigned to a computer to be its address on the internet.
  • Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) - Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) is a connection-oriented network protocol for transmitting multiple streams of data simultaneously between two endpoints that have established a connection in a network.
  • substrate - A substrate is a solid substance or medium to which another substance is applied and to which that second substance adheres.
  • tablet (tablet PC) - A tablet is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touchscreen interface.
  • takedown request - A takedown request, also called a DMCA takedown or a notice and take down request, is a procedure for asking an internet service provider (ISP) or search engine to remove or disable access to illegal, irrelevant or outdated information.
  • technology addiction - Technology addiction is an impulse control disorder that involves the obsessive use of mobile devices, the internet or video games, despite the negative consequences to the technology user.
  • telegraph - A telegraph is a communication system that sends information by making and breaking an electrical connection.
  • texture mapping - Texture mapping is a graphic design process in which a two-dimensional (2-D) surface, called a texture map, is "wrapped around" a three-dimensional (3-D)object.
  • thick client (fat client) - A thick client (sometimes called a fat client) is a form of client-server architecture.
  • thumbnail - A thumbnail is a small image representation of a larger image, usually intended to make it easier and faster to look at or manage a group of larger images.
  • TikTok - TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create, share and discover short-form videos.
  • timeline - A timeline is a visual representation of a chronological sequence of events along a drawn line that helps a viewer understand time relationships.
  • Tor browser - The Tor (the onion routing) browser is a web browser designed for anonymous web surfing and protection against traffic analysis.
  • touch screen - A touch screen is an electronic display screen that is also an input device.
  • trackball - A trackball is a computer cursor control device used in many laptop computer keyboards and older versions of computer mice.
  • TrackPoint (pointing stick) - A TrackPoint, also called a pointing stick, is a cursor control device found in Lenovo ThinkPad notebook computers.
  • tweet - A tweet is a post on Twitter.
  • U (measurement) - A U is a standard unit of measure for designating the height in computer enclosures and server rack cabinets.
  • UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration) - UDDI, or Universal Description, Discovery and Integration, is an Extensible Language Markup (XML)-based standard to describe, publish and find information about web services.
  • Ultra High-Definition TV (UHDTV) - Ultra-high-definition (UHD) television, also abbreviated UHDTV, is a digital television display format in which the horizontal screen resolution is on the order of 4000 pixels (4K UHD) or 8000 pixels (8K UHD).
  • uncanny valley - The uncanny valley is a common unsettling feeling people experience when androids or humanoid robots and audio/visual simulations closely resemble humans in many respects but aren't quite convincingly realistic.
  • unified communications (UC) - Unified communications (UC) is an umbrella term for the integration of multiple enterprise communication tools -- such as voice calling, video conferencing, instant messaging (IM), presence and content sharing -- into a single, streamlined interface, with the goal of improving user experience (UX) and productivity.
  • Universal Naming Convention (UNC) - The Universal Naming Convention (UNC) is a standard for naming resources -- such as files and devices -- that are shared by computers on a network.
  • uploading - Uploading is the transmission of data from a local device to a remote device.
  • URN (Uniform Resource Name) - A URN (Uniform Resource Name) is a permanent identifier for internet resources that employs the urn scheme.
  • USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) - USB 3.0 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) data transfer standard that is backwards compatible with USB 2.
  • USB-C - USB-C, or Universal Serial Bus Type-C, is a standard connection type for mobile and portable devices.
  • User Principal Name (UPN) - In Microsoft Active Directory, a User Principal Name (UPN) is a username and domain in an email address format.
  • Uuencode (Uuencode/Uudecode) - Uuencode (also called Uuencode/Uudecode) is a popular utility for encoding and decoding files exchanged between users or systems in a network.
  • vector graphics - Vector graphics are computer images created through a sequence of commands or mathematical statements that place lines and shapes in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space.
  • Viber - Viber is a VoIP and instant messaging application with cross-platform capabilities that allows users to exchange audio and video calls, stickers, group chats, and instant voice and video messages.
  • video streaming service - A video streaming service is an on-demand online entertainment source for TV shows, movies and other streaming media.
  • Vimeo - Vimeo is a U.
  • virtual asset - A virtual asset is a digital representation of an item that has value in a specific environment.
  • virtual classroom - A virtual classroom is an online learning environment.
  • virtual reality cloud (VR cloud) - Virtual reality cloud is the application of cloud computing to create VR environments and experiences.
  • virtual reality gaming (VR gaming) - Virtual reality gaming (VR gaming) is the application of a three-dimensional (3D) artificial environment to computer games.
  • virtual reality sickness (VR motion sickness) - Virtual reality sickness (VR motion sickness) is the physical discomfort that occurs when an end user's brain receives conflicting signals about self-movement in a digital environment.
  • vishing (voice or VoIP phishing) - Vishing (voice or VoIP phishing) is a type of cyber attack that uses voice and telephony technologies to trick targeted individuals into revealing sensitive data to unauthorized entities.
  • visitor-based networking (visitor-based network) - Visitor-based networking (VBN) is a computer network with high-speed internet access provided by an organization for temporary use by visitors, guests or other users in a public area.
  • von Neumann bottleneck - The von Neumann bottleneck is a limitation on throughput caused by the standard personal computer architecture.
  • walled garden - On the internet, a walled garden is an environment that controls the user's access to network-based content and services.
  • WAN (wide area network) - A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically distributed private telecommunications network that interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs).
  • war driving (access point mapping) - War driving, also called access point mapping, is the act of locating and possibly exploiting connections to wireless local area networks (WLANs) while driving around a city or elsewhere.
  • water cooling - Water cooling, also called liquid cooling, is a method used to lower the temperature of computer processor units (CPUs), and sometimes graphics processor units (GPUs).
  • wearable computer - A wearable computer is any small technological device capable of storing and processing data that can be worn on the body.
  • Web 2.0 - Web 2.0 are websites and applications that make use of user-generated content for end users.
  • weblog - A blog, short for weblog, is a frequently updated web page used for personal commentary or business content.
  • webOS - WebOS is an LG-owned, Linux-based operating system for smart devices, particularly smart TVs.
  • What are Internet data caps and why do providers use them? - A data cap, also known as a bandwidth cap, is a limit that service providers impose on the amount of data a user account can transfer at a specified level of throughput over a given time period, for a specified fee.
  • What are port numbers and how do they work? - A port number is a way to identify a specific process to which an internet or other network message is to be forwarded when it arrives at a server.
  • What are the top 10 spyware threats? - The top 10 spyware list describes the most common spyware threats behind famous spyware attacks and is frequently identified by leading antispyware tools from vendors like Webroot, Norton and Malwarebytes.
  • What is a cloud access security broker (CASB)? - A cloud access security broker (CASB) is a software tool or service that sits between an organization's on-premises infrastructure and a cloud provider's infrastructure.
  • What is a command prompt? - A command prompt is the input field in a text-based user interface screen for an operating system (OS) or program.
  • What is a Consensus Algorithm? - A consensus algorithm is a process in computer science used to achieve agreement on a single data value among distributed processes or systems.
  • What is a device driver? - A device driver, or driver, is a special kind of software program that controls a specific hardware device attached to a computer.
  • What is a drone (UAV)? - A drone is an unmanned aircraft.
  • What is a host (in computing)? - A host is a computer or other device that communicates with other hosts on a network.
  • What is a microcomputer? - A microcomputer is a complete computer on a small scale, designed for use by one person at a time.
  • What is a motherboard? - A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer.
  • What is a personal area network (PAN)? - A personal area network (PAN) is a small network that interconnects technology devices within a limited range of just a few meters.
  • What is a remote desktop and how does it work? - A remote desktop is a program or an operating system feature that allows a user to connect to a computer in another location, see that computer's desktop and interact with it as if it were local.
  • What is a Request for Comments (RFC)? - A Request for Comments (RFC) is a formal document created by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that outlines technical specifications, organizational notes and standards relevant to internet and networking technologies, including protocols such as routing, addressing and transport technologies.
  • What is a server? - A server is a computer program or device that provides a service to another computer program and its user, also known as the client.
  • What is a spam trap? - A spam trap is an email address that's used to identify and monitor spam email.
  • What is a stablecoin? - A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable market value by pegging its price to a reserve asset, such as a fiat currency, e.
  • What is a SYN flood DoS attack? - A SYN flood attack is a type of denial-of-service (DoS) attack on a computer server.
  • What is a thin client (lean client)? - A thin client (lean client) is a virtual desktop computing model that runs on the resources stored on a central server instead of a computer's resources.
  • What is a third-party cookie? - A third-party cookie is a cookie that's placed on a user's device -- computer, cellphone or tablet -- by a website from a domain other than the one the user is visiting.
  • What is a uniform resource identifier (URI)? - A uniform resource identifier (URI) is a character sequence that identifies a logical (abstract) or physical resource -- usually, but not always, connected to the internet.
  • What is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator)? - A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a unique identifier used to locate a resource on the internet.
  • What is a web server? - A web server is software and hardware that uses HTTP and other protocols to respond to client requests made over the World Wide Web.
  • What is A2P messaging (application-to-person messaging)? - A2P messaging (application-to-person messaging) is a type of SMS messaging technique in which a person receives text messages from a software application rather than from another user.
  • What is acceptable use policy (AUP)? - An acceptable use policy (AUP) is a document stipulating constraints and practices that a user must agree to for access to or use of a corporate network, the internet or other computing resources.
  • What is Amazon? Definition and company history of Amazon.com - Amazon (Amazon.
  • What is AMD Ryzen? - AMD Ryzen is the brand name for Advanced Micro Devices' line of desktop and mobile processors.
  • What is an AI assistant? - An AI assistant, or digital assistant, is software that uses artificial intelligence to understand natural language voice commands and complete tasks for the user.
  • What is an executable file (EXE file)? - An executable file (EXE file) is a computer file that contains an encoded sequence of instructions the system executes when the user clicks the file icon.
  • What is an inbound call? - An inbound call is typically initiated by a customer to a call center or contact center.
  • What is an initialization vector? - An initialization vector (IV) is an arbitrary number that can be used with a secret key for data encryption to foil cyber attacks.
  • What is an IP address (Internet Protocol address)? - An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identifier for every device or network that connects to the internet.
  • What is an operating system (OS)? - An operating system (OS) is the program that, after being initially loaded into the computer by a boot program, manages all the other application programs in a computer.
  • What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)? - An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that allows a computer to keep running for at least a short time when incoming power is interrupted.
  • What is ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)? - ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is the most common character encoding format for text data in computers and on the internet.
  • What is Bluesky? - Bluesky is an open source social media platform -- similar to X, formerly Twitter -- allowing users to create posts with a 300-character limit, which can include text, photos or videos.
  • What is brain hacking? - Brain hacking, or neurohacking, is the application of techniques or technologies to affect an individual's mental state, cognitive processes or level of function.
  • What is CAD (computer-aided design)? - CAD (computer-aided design) is the use of computer-based software to aid in design processes by creating simulations of real-world objects.
  • What is CCTV (closed-circuit television)? - CCTV (closed-circuit television) is a video surveillance system in which signals are transmitted to a specific set of monitors and are not publicly broadcast.
  • What is challenge-response authentication? - In computer security, challenge-response authentication is a set of protocols used to protect digital assets and services from unauthorized users, programs and activities.
  • What is COPE (corporate-owned, personally enabled)? - COPE (corporate-owned, personally enabled) is a mobile device management model that allows employees to use corporate-owned mobile devices for specific types of personal use.
  • What is customer self-service? - Customer self-service is digital support that lets end users access information and perform routine tasks without requiring the assistance of live agents or representatives.
  • What is cyberstalking and how to prevent it? - Cyberstalking is a crime in which someone harasses or stalks a victim using electronic or digital means, such as social media, email, instant messaging (IM) or messages posted to a discussion group or forum.
  • What is defragmentation? - Defragmentation, also known as 'defragging' or 'defrag,' is the process of rearranging the data on a storage medium, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), to ensure efficient storage and access.
  • What is device as a service (DaaS)? - The device as a service (DaaS) model offers PCs, smartphones and other mobile computing devices as a paid service.
  • What is DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)? - DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network management protocol used to dynamically assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to any device on a network so it can communicate.
  • What is email spam and how to fight it? - Email spam, also known as 'junk email,' refers to unsolicited email messages, usually sent in bulk to a large list of recipients.
  • What is File Allocation Table (FAT)? - File Allocation Table (FAT) is a file system that was developed by Microsoft to support small disks and simple folder structures.
  • What is FileZilla? - FileZilla is a free, open source file transfer protocol (FTP) application that enables users to transfer files between local devices and remote servers.