Computer Glossary

A small Java application that is downloaded by an ActiveX or Java-enabled web browser. Once it has been downloaded, the applet will run on the user's computer. Common applets include financial calculators and web drawing programs.

• Applet
• ASCII
• WYSIWYG

Computer software that performs a task or set of tasks, such as word processing or drawing. Applications are also referred to as programs.

• Application
• Bandwidth
• Worm

American Standard Code for Information Interchange, an encoding system for converting keyboard characters and instructions into the binary number code that the computer understands.

• ASCII
• Binary code
• World Wide Web ("WWW" or "the Web")

The capacity of a networked connection. Bandwidth determines how much data can be sent along the networked wires. Bandwidth is particularly important for Internet connections, since greater bandwidth also means faster downloads.

• Bandwidth
• Bit
• Word processor

The most basic language a computer understands, it is composed of a series of 0s and 1s. The computer interprets the code to form numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and symbols.

• Binary code
• Boot
• Window

The smallest piece of computer information, either the number 0 or 1. In short they are called binary digits.

• Bit
• Boot
• Webcam

To start up a computer. Cold boot means restarting computer after the power is turned off. Warm boot means restarting computer without turning off the power.

• Boot
• Browser
• WAV

Software used to navigate the Internet. Google Chrome, Firefox, Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are today's most popular browsers for accessing the World Wide Web.

• Browser
• Bug
• Virus

A malfunction due to an error in the program or a defect in the equipment.

• Bug
• Byte
• Virtual reality (VR)

Most computers use combinations of eight bits, called bytes, to represent one character of data or instructions. For example, the word cat has three characters, and it would be represented by three bytes.

• Byte
• Cache
• Video teleconferencing