Tech Jargon Translator

A browser add-on that hides most ads and trackers.

An app that gives you a rotating 6-digit code to log in — safer than codes by text.

A program that scans for and blocks malware.

Short for application. A program that does one thing — weather, email, banking.

The official shop on Apple devices where you browse and install apps safely.

A paid message trying to sell you something.

A way for one app to talk to another. You usually don't need to know or care.

Moving older items out of the way but keeping them available. Different from deleting.

Your personal profile with a service — an email + password that lets you in.

How much data your internet connection can carry at one time. More bandwidth means faster speeds and more devices working at once.

The program you use to visit websites — Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox.

When a company's systems get hacked and customer data leaks out.

A way for devices to connect wirelessly over short distances.

One full charge and discharge of a battery. Batteries wear out after many cycles.

The small red number on an app icon showing how many unread items you have.

A flaw in software that makes it do something wrong.

A spare copy of your files so you don't lose them if a device breaks.

A pause while more of a video loads. Usually a sign of a slow connection.

A small file a website saves in your browser so it can remember you — your login, what's in your cart, your preferences.

Files your device stores temporarily to load websites and apps faster next time.

A test to prove you're human and not a bot — usually picking stop signs or typing squiggly letters.

Central Processing Unit — the brain of your computer. It runs every program.

The cell-tower-based network your phone uses for calls, texts, and data when not on Wi-Fi.

When an app suddenly closes on its own.

Storing files on a company's internet servers instead of on your own device.

Squeezing a file down to take less space. .zip files are compressed.

The internet's phone book. It translates website names (like google.com) into the number addresses computers actually use.

A small program that lets your computer talk to a piece of hardware — a printer, webcam, or headset.

A color theme that swaps white backgrounds for black — easier on the eyes at night.

Copying a file from the internet to your device.

Digital Rights Management — tech that stops you from copying or sharing media you rented or bought.

A wired internet connection using a cable — usually faster and steadier than Wi-Fi.

Scrambling data so only the intended recipient can read it.

A SIM card that lives inside your phone as software — no plastic chip needed.

A hard drive or SSD that plugs into your computer with a cable.

Little picture characters you can type into messages — .

A security guard between your device and the internet. It blocks bad traffic from getting through.

The built-in software that tells a piece of hardware how to work — like the tiny operating system inside your router or printer.

Software built into hardware. Your router, printer, and smart TV all have firmware.

When an app or device stops responding but doesn't close.

Any piece of data saved on your device — a photo, a document, a video.

A container that holds files — like a paper folder in a filing cabinet.

Gigabits per second — 1,000 Mbps. Very fast, usually overkill for a typical household.

Graphics Processing Unit — a second brain specialized for drawing images on screen.

The official app store on Android phones.

1,000 megabytes. Most phones store hundreds of gigabytes.

A short, silent, looping animation. Pronounced "jif" or "gif" — people argue about this.

The "s" stands for secure. It means the website is using an encrypted connection so the info you send (like passwords) can't easily be snooped on.

Using your phone's cellular data to create a Wi-Fi network other devices can join.

The long-term storage inside your computer — where your files and programs live when powered off.

A cable that sends high-quality video and sound to a TV or monitor.

A unique number that identifies a device on the internet — like a mailing address for your phone or computer.

Internet Service Provider — the company you pay for internet, like Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T, or Verizon.

A browser mode that doesn't save your history or cookies after you close the window. Your internet provider can still see what you do.

Adding an app or program to your device so you can use it.

The code that makes web pages interactive — buttons, forms, animations.

The tiny delay between asking for something online and the response arriving. Lower is better.

Generations of cellular networks. 5G is newest; LTE is the older "good enough" standard most of us use.

Ending your session so someone else on the same device can't access your account.

A video broadcast happening in real time.

The box that brings internet into your house from the cable or phone line. It usually connects to the router.

Megabits per second — the unit used to measure internet speed. Higher is faster.

Multi-factor (or two-factor) authentication. A second way to prove it's really you — usually a code texted to your phone or generated by an app.

Short for "malicious software" — any program designed to harm or spy on your device.

A unit for measuring file size. About 1 million characters of text.

A joke — usually a picture with text — that spreads online.

Multimedia Messaging Service — a text with a photo, video, or group chat.

Info about a file — who made it, when, what camera took the photo, where.

A little alert from an app — a banner, a beep, or a red badge.

A quick test that measures how long a message takes to travel to a server and back.

A secret word or phrase that proves the account is yours. Longer is stronger.

A password made of several words strung together — easier to remember, harder to crack.

An app that remembers all your passwords for you behind one master password.

A modern replacement for passwords. Uses your device's fingerprint or face scan to log in. No password to steal.

A scam where someone pretends to be a company you trust, trying to trick you into sharing a password or payment info.

A hole or slot on your device where you plug in a cable.

Introducing two Bluetooth devices so they can recognize each other from then on.

Anything you plug into a computer — keyboard, mouse, printer, webcam.

A small window that opens on top of what you're doing. Some are helpful; many are ads or scams.

The public-ish info attached to your account — name, photo, bio.

The page inside an app where you control who sees what you do.

How much info about you is shared and with whom.

One dot on your screen. Your screen is millions of them.

An on-demand audio show you can stream or download.

A square barcode you scan with your phone's camera to open a link or menu.

The box in your home that broadcasts your Wi-Fi signal and sends internet to every device.

Malware that locks your files and demands a ransom — usually in cryptocurrency — to unlock them.

Random Access Memory — short-term memory your device uses while things are running.

Getting back into an account you've lost access to.

How many dots make up a picture. More = sharper.

Phishing by text message. The "sm" is for SMS.

Any attempt to trick someone into giving up money, information, or access.

Software that secretly monitors what you do — your keystrokes, your browsing, even your camera.

The technology that makes HTTPS secure — it encrypts the connection between your browser and a website.

Solid State Drive — a fast modern hard drive with no moving parts.

A tiny chip in your phone that identifies you to your cellular carrier.

A pen-shaped tool for writing or drawing on a touchscreen.

Software as a Service — software you rent monthly or yearly instead of buying outright.

A recurring charge — monthly or yearly — for an app or service.

Keeping the same info in multiple places. A photo taken on your phone appears on your laptop because they sync.

A tiny memory card that slides into cameras, some Android phones, and some tablets.

Proving it's you by entering your username and password.

Using one account (like Google or Apple) to log in to many sites.

Watching or listening to something over the internet without downloading the whole thing.

Short Message Service — a standard text message. Usually limited to 160 characters each.

A small piece of code on a website that watches what you do, often to serve ads later.

A screen that reacts to your finger instead of a mouse or keyboard.

1,000 gigabytes. Most external drives these days are 1 to 5 TB.

The address of a web page — the thing that starts with "https://".

A small, oval-shaped cable plug that fits either way up. Modern phones and laptops use it for both power and data.

A newer version of an app with fixes, features, or security patches.

Copying a file from your device to the internet.

The name you sign in with. Often an email address these days.

Phishing by phone call. The caller pretends to be the IRS, Social Security, or a grandkid in trouble.

A type of malware that spreads from device to device, often by attaching to files.

Virtual Private Network — a tool that hides your location and encrypts your internet traffic.

Proving you own an account or email address, often by clicking a link.

A way to connect to the internet without wires, using radio waves between your device and a router.

The camera on a computer, usually at the top of the screen.

A small live panel that shows info from an app right on your home screen.