GEEK FREE
By Joe Callison
4 January, 2025
A, B, C’s of Computer Terms (Part 1)
Computer technology comes with its own jargon that may not be familiar to some non-technical seniors. Here is a partial alphabetical list of some common terms. More of the alphabet will be covered in future articles.
App
Short for application. This is synonymous with a program in computer parlance, but is now generally used in reference to the category of single-purpose applications found on phones and tablets, but can also appear on computers along with the more complex programs.
Browser
A computer program or app used to access, view, and interact with content on the World Wide Web (also called the Internet). A browser has many options for searching the internet, called search engines, and for additional add-on features, called extensions. These options may be provided by the same company providing the browser program or by a different company.
Cookie
Data saved by a browser when viewing or clicking on web page content or entering data. Cookies may be for the owner of the web page or its third-party advertisers. Acceptance of some or all cookies may be required to access the web page. Third-party cookies are generally blocked by default in the browser settings.
Download
A file that is retrieved from the internet and placed in a folder on the computer (or phone). The default folder is generally Downloads, but can be any designated folder chosen for the location.
Ethernet
The standard way of connecting computers and other devices on a network over a wired connection, as opposed to Wi-Fi over a wireless connection.
Firmware
A program or instructions stored on hardware in a reprogrammable memory that enables it to communicate with other hardware. Firmware is in almost all types of connected hardware and can be updated for performance, compatibility, or security reasons.
GPU
Graphics Processing Unit. The hardware that translates data into visual images. It may be incorporated into the computer chip for the Central Processing Unit that processes data to run programs or maybe on a separate computer chip.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language. The language used to create web pages.
IP Address
Internet Protocol Address. A unique address that identifies a device on the internet or on a local network of devices.
