CyberLogic Blog
Common computer terms
Posted: August 23rd, 2010 by Stewart Beyers
Have you ever heard a salesman or a computer person speak and wondered what language they were speaking? Ever bought a computer and got asked about RAM or SATA drives?
Below are some of the more commonly used acronyms with a brief explanation to try and help you better understand this fascinating and sometimes confusing language.
| Acronym | Long Form | Definition |
| ADSL | Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line | This is a type of high speed Internet access service |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit | Also known as a processor, this is the “brain” of any computer and one of the most important parts |
| CRT | Cathode Ray Tube | This is the technology behind an old analog monitor. Large in size, these monitors have been largely replaced by LCDs |
| FSB | Front Side Bus | Used to measure the speed between the processor and the memory on a computer. The faster the better! |
| HDMI | High-Definition Multimedia Interface | This is the interface or port used for high-definition audiovisual equipment like TVs |
| HTML | Hyper-Text Markup Language | This is the computer language used for most Internet websites |
| HTTP | Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol | The networking protocol used to deliver web pages to the browser |
| LAN | Local Area Network | Is a network located in a single site, such as within an office or building |
| LCD | Liquid Crystal Display | This is the most common technology used in most modern screens. Thinner in size, these have replaced CRT monitors |
| OS | Operating System | This is the base software that runs on a computer, like Microsoft Windows for example. It manages the hardware and allows you to access other software applications. |
| POP3 | Post Office Protocol | This is a protocol used to retrieve email from a mail server |
| RAM | Random Access Memory | This is hardware used by the computer to read and write data that is accessed by the CPU. Although RAM isn’t the only kind of memory, it is typically RAM that we are referring to when we speak about the “memory” in a computer. |
| SATA | Serial Advanced Technology Attachment | Is an interface used for connecting storage devices such as hard drives and optical drives |
| SMTP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol | Similar to POP3 but used to send email instead of receiving |
| TCP/IP | Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol | These are two of the protocols (languages that computers use to communicate) commonly used on networks such as the Internet |
| VoIP | Voice Over Internet Protocol | This term refers to the use of data networks to carry voice data |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | This is a network that spans multiple physical locations, connecting two or more LANs. WANs can stretch between provinces, countries or even continents. |
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