Glossary of computer terms

Lost in the abundance of computer acronyms and concepts? 🤯 The purpose of this glossary is to help you!

‍

Discover all the components of the most frequently encountered computer equipment.

‍

If computer-related terms or acronyms that you don't understand are missing from the glossary, contact us !

‍

IP address

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a series of numbers that uniquely identify a device connected to a network, including the Internet. It's a bit like a digital mailing address: it allows you to send and receive data to the right destination. There are two types: IPv4 (the most common) and IPv6 (more recent, to deal with the saturation of available addresses). Each time you browse the web, your IP address allows servers to know where to send the requested information.

‍

ADSL

ADSL stands for “Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.” It is a technology that allows digital data to be transmitted at high speed via conventional copper telephone lines. The asymmetry comes from the fact that the download speed (download) is faster than the upload speed (sending data). Although gradually replaced by optical fiber, ADSL is still used in many areas that are not covered by more modern infrastructures.

‍

‍

Azerty - Qwerty

The letter sequences “Azerty” and “Qwerty” correspond to the first keys of two most common types of keyboards.

The Azerty keyboard is used mainly in France and Belgium, while the Qwerty keyboard is used in the rest of the world. Why the difference? Historically, the Qwerty keyboard was designed to slow the typing speed on mechanical typewriters, in order to avoid frequent key jams. The Azerty keyboard, on the other hand, was designed to accommodate the additional French characters used in the French language. Most keyboards imported into France are therefore in Azerty, but it may happen that this is not the case.

‍

Bug

A bug is an error or malfunction in a computer program. This can result in unexpected behavior, application crashes, or erroneous results. Bugs can be caused by a coding error, poor software interaction, or hardware issues. Developers often spend a lot of time “debugging” their software to ensure a smooth user experience.

‍

Graphics card

A graphics card is a physical computer component that is responsible for processing and displaying images on a computer. The graphics card is connected to the processor and, depending on its performance, it accelerates the rendering of complex images. As a result, it improves the graphics performance of the computer. A high-performance graphics card is therefore necessary for people who run intensive graphics applications (video games, 3D modeling, graphic design, etc.).

‍

Source code

Source code is a set of instructions written in a programming language that developers can understand. It is the basis of a software or a website. It is then transformed (or compiled) into machine language to be executed by the computer. Modifying the source code allows you to add features or fix bugs.

‍

Connectique

In computing, connectivity is the term that refers to all the connectors, cables, and other devices used to connect electronic devices to each other, as well as to a computer or other system. These connectors are used to transmit data, audio and video, electrical power, etc. Some examples of common connections: USB, HDMI, Ethernet, VGA, etc. Important to follow, on a practical level: each connector has its own specific tip!

‍

Cloud computing

The”Cloud computing“(or cloud computing) refers to access to computer services (servers, storage, databases, software...) via the Internet, rather than on a local computer or a physical server in the company. This technology allows for more flexibility, better accessibility and a reduction in hardware costs. For example, we speak of “cloud storage” when your files are hosted on remote servers that can be accessed at any time.

‍

DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) is often compared to a telephone book for the Internet. It allows readable domain names (like rzilient.club) to be translated into numerical IP addresses that computers use to locate each other. Without DNS, you would have to type a string of numbers to access each website, which would make the Internet much less convenient to use!

‍

ethernet

Ethernet is a local area network communication protocol (see definition of a LAN) used to connect computers and other devices together. The aim? Allow data and information to be shared between these devices. It was developed in the 1980s and has become one of the most commonly used protocols for local area networks.

‍

HDMI

Meaning of the acronym in English: High Definition Multimedia Interface.

‍

HDMI is a connection (see definition of connection) to connect “High Definition” devices to each other. It is the replacement for the Scart socket. HDMI is used for televisions, projectors, Blu-ray players, etc. Using a single cable, video and audio data are transmitted, in high digital quality.

‍

IAM (Identity and Access Management)

The IAM, or identity and access management, is a set of processes and technologies for securely managing who can access what in a computer system. Concretely, this means that each user has a digital identity (account, password, role) and that rules are put in place to control their access rights to company resources (files, applications, networks, etc.). IAM is essential for strengthening cybersecurity, limiting the risk of intrusion, and ensuring compliance with regulations like the GDPR.

‍

LAN

Meaning of the acronym in English: Local Area Network.

‍

This term refers to a local computer network, i.e. a set of computers and peripherals linked together by physical links (such as cables). These computers and peripherals communicate with each other via common protocols, such as the Ethernet protocol, for example. This local network consists of a specific physical location (such as an office building or a house). LANs are most often found in companies that have a large computer park, but also at home in a personal context (here is a frequent example: two computers and a printer linked together, thus constituting a LAN network, as long as they are linked together by physical cables and thus exchange data).

‍

Programming language

A programming language is a tool used by developers to write software, websites, or applications. There are many languages, each with its own specificities: Python, JavaScript, JavaScript, Java, C++, etc. Some are oriented to the web, others to artificial intelligence, embedded systems, or mobile applications.

‍

Processor

The processor is the brain of a computer. It is also called the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and it is the main component of the computer, carrying out calculations and data processing tasks. The task of the processor is therefore to execute the instructions contained in the programs and applications that you use on your computer! The faster and more technologically advanced a process is, the more data it can process in a short time.

‍

Electronic chip

A microchip is a tiny component that contains integrated circuits, often referred to as silicon integrated circuits (ICs). These circuits perform specific electronic tasks. Chips are used in a wide range of electronic products, ranging from computers and smartphones to cars and home appliances, etc.

‍

RAM

Meaning of the acronym in English: Random Access Memory

‍

La RAM is random RAM. More specifically, it is a type of memory used in computers to temporarily store data while a program is running. It is used to allow quick access to this data and to modify it in real time. The more RAM you have on a computer, the greater the number of applications that can be run simultaneously.

‍

Resolution

To be precise, screen resolution refers to the number of horizontal and vertical pixels that make up the image displayed on the screen. In concrete terms, this means that the higher the resolution - so the more pixels you have - the more accurate and sharper the image will be.

‍

Corporate Digital Responsibility (RNE)

La Corporate Digital Responsibility (RNE) refers to all the practices implemented by an organization to reduce the environmental, social and ethical impact of its use of digital technology. This can involve the choice of sustainable computer equipment, the optimization of the energy consumption of equipment, the responsible management of electronic waste, or even the awareness of employees about good digital practices. By integrating RNE into their strategy, companies are actively participating in a digital transition that is more respectful of the environment and individuals.

‍

Optical mouse

An optical mouse uses a light source and an optical sensor to detect mouse movements on a surface. This electronic mechanism replaces the traditional roller system.

‍

SSD

Meaning of the acronym in English: Solid-State Drive.

‍

An SSD is a computer hardware that replaces traditional hard drives.

It offers faster read and write performance than hard drives (the time to start up and load applications is much better). Solid state drives are more reliable because their technology is less sensitive to shock and vibration, making them more suitable for laptops and embedded systems.

‍

Operating system

An operating system (also known by the acronym OS, for “Operating System” in English) is the central software that manages the computer resources of a computer. The best known are Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Android. Without them, a computer would be unusable! The OS is the link between the user (you) and the incredible services that a computer can provide you (think of all the software and applications that run on your computer or smartphone). The operating system coordinates resources, such as memory, devices, and applications, and is responsible for managing the execution of tasks. Finally, it also provides a user interface allowing you to use a computer easily (pages, icons, etc.).

‍

USB

Meaning of the acronym in English: Universal Serial Bus.

‍

The term USB is, erroneously, mainly associated with the USB stick which, admittedly, contains a USB socket, but whose main role is to store data. However, USB is in fact a type of connection allowing the connection between different computer equipment for the transmission of data. The particularity of USB is that it was designed to replace the many different types of connectors and cables used before, to connect external devices. Its widespread use has made connecting and disconnecting these peripherals easier and more convenient. USB uses a standard connector, which plugs into a USB port on the computer, allowing multiple devices to be connected using a single port. New versions of USB are frequently released in order to make connections even faster (type A, type B, type C, etc.).

‍

VGA

Meaning of the acronym in English: Video Graphics Array

‍

VGA and HDMI are the two most used video connection standards.

The big difference between the two is as follows: the VGA cable is an analog cable (video data is transmitted via the 3 light beams: red, green, blue) while the HDMI is a digital cable that transmits digital data (binary code).

‍

wifi

Meaning of the acronym in English: Contraction of “Wireless” and “Fidelity” (WI-FI).

‍

Wi-Fi is a technology that makes it possible to network computer equipment (printer, PC, speakers, etc.) but without requiring cables or physical connection equipment. It uses high-frequency radio waves to transmit digital data between devices. The term WiFi is commonly used to refer only to Internet access, but this is actually a shorthand for language. Indeed, accessing the Internet via WiFi is not the only role of WiFi technology, which can also be used to establish a connection between a PC (or a Mac!) and a printer, for example. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, you can access the Internet or share files and printers with other devices on the same network.

‍

Do you want to simplify the management of your computer equipment?

Discover our tool for free!

‍