IT Glossary

An accelerated processing unit (APU) is a microprocessor that combines the central processing unit (CPU) with the graphics processing unit (GPU) on a single computer chip. It makes a computer a bit faster than if the processors were set far apart from each other because, in that case, it would take more time for them to communicate.

You can compare an APU to a pencil with an eraser at the other end. There’s no need to drop the pencil and grab an eraser, erase the mistake, and then exchange the eraser back. Instead, you can easily and quickly make corrections to your work with a single tool. The APU works like that for today’s powerful gaming computers.

Agile methodology is a practice used to develop software quickly and efficiently. In essence, the developers are in a loop that starts with the requirements of the intended end-users. The programmers build the product based on these requirements, then pass it on to the users. They provide feedback, which the developers use to make adjustments to the software. The process then repeats itself for as long as there is a need for the software product.

Agile implies that the working team and client are in constant consultation every step of the way, allowing them to develop new requirements and apply changes to the project based on their current situation.

An algorithm is a procedural plan for solving mathematical and computer problems such as sorting data, for example. It’s not a computer program yet. It’s merely a description of how you want the program to perform a task.

You can think of an algorithm as an outline, such as one a writer prepares before writing a piece. Similarly, a developer can plan how to solve a problem before writing an actual program.

In computing, algorithms serve as a set of instructions that determines the “what” but also address the “how.” Using algorithms makes it easier for programmers to gain a better understanding of the processes that would help them solve problems.

Have you ever poured all your energy in preparing a report or an assignment, but discovered that it had been accidentally deleted moments before submission? Creating a backup would have prevented this catastrophe.

A backup is the extra copy or duplicate of your data as a safeguard against the loss or damage of the original. It can be used to recover information in case it gets deleted or corrupted. You can also use it to recover data from an earlier time.

Binary code is the language of computers. It consists of combinations of zeroes and ones, hence the term "binary". Each combination represents a specific set of instructions for the computer to carry out.

Here's an example. The word "HELLO", when written in binary code looks like this: 01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100001

The operating system then converts the binary code into the corresponding letters of the English alphabet, and instructs the system to display it on the screen as "HELLO".

In computing, a bug is an error in the source code that causes a program to produce unexpected results or crash altogether. Computer bugs can affect an application’s performance, so developers need to make sure they are corrected before the software gets sold to customers.

Back when mainframe computers were still state-of-the-art, some programmers kept getting wrong results from their programs. When they checked under the hood, they discovered that a moth got into the circuitry, causing errors in computations. That’s why programming errors are called “bugs.”

In the Wild West, sharp-shooting bounty hunters tracked down wanted criminals and brought them to justice in exchange for reward money from the authorities.

Fast forward to the 21st century — there’s a similar reward incentive in the Wild Web called bug bounty program.

This time, websites or business organizations are the ones offering attractive rewards in the form of money or recognition to any individual who reports a software bug, especially the types that pertain to exploits and vulnerabilities.

A bug bounty program, also called a vulnerability rewards program, is usually launched through a crowdsourcing initiative.

The computer's central processing unit (CPU) refers to the electronic circuitry that processes instructions and tells each part of the system what to do. It's arguably the most critical and defining component of a computer. Without it, your PC will not be able to do anything.

If your PC were a restaurant, the CPU would be its head chef. The quicker the chef works, the faster the food can be served to customers. Similarly, a CPU with higher processing power can perform more tasks faster.

You’ve read somewhere that “coding” is one of the highest paying jobs these days. Suddenly, everyone seems eager to learn how to do it. But what exactly is it?

The term refers to writing a computer program. The series of instructions programmers create is known as the “source code” of the program. They soon shortened the term to “code.” So when they are working on the source code of a software, an app, or a website, they refer to it as “coding.”

Imagine if human beings could share thoughts, plans, emotions and more through their minds alone. This ability would let people understand one another easily and thus accomplish more things because of the mutual connection.

A computer network can be thought of as a form of telepathy. But instead of people, it is made up of computers and other devices that are all interconnected.

Many things can be shared between connected computers such as access, files, and more. Basically, a computer network can let one computer do many things with the help of others which it wouldn’t be capable of doing by itself.

Imagine that you live in a mansion, with a butler to assist you with everything you need. Just let him know what you want and he'll take care of it.

A server or computer server is a computer that acts like a butler for you, giving you the information or computer process you need. You send a request to the server, for example, by using a browser to connect to a web page. The server then passes your request to the software you need the data from, in this case a web server. It then serves that information back to you in the form of the web page you wanted to access.

Decoding is the process of unlocking the contents of a coded file that has been transmitted. Media files, like movies and music, are normally encoded so that that they do not take up much bandwidth during transmission. They must be decoded back to their original form in order for you to view the video or listen to the music.

It's like receiving a locked gift box. You need to unlock it to find out what's inside.

The development environment is a collection of tools and procedures used by a software developer to create computer programs. It includes any hardware and software ( (i.e., debugger, source code editor, automation tools, etc.) the developer needs to do his work, and access to additional resources that may be needed during the course of developing the product.

The development environment is comparable to a workshop where a craftsman toils away at his creation.

DevOps. Sounds like a cool name for a spy movie, doesn’t it?

In reality, it’s a set of practices that are meant to help a company’s software development (Dev) and IT teams (Ops) to work better based on the culture of close collaboration.

Applied to a company that relies on its ability to provide products to its customers faster than the competition, DevOps motivates the working teams to put out innovative features, updates, and fixes that satisfy the needs of their customers. This isn’t possible when following a traditional software development approach.

When you convert temperature readings from Celsius to Fahrenheit or money from Japanese yen to U.S. dollars, the original values remain the same. They are just represented in a different form.

In the world of computers, encoding works in the same way. The computer converts data from one form to another. It does this to save on storage space or make transmission more efficient.

One example of encoding is when you convert a huge .WAV audio file to a tiny .MP3 file that you can easily send to a friend via email. The files are encoded in different formats but will play the same song.

Firmware is software that has been permanently installed in a machine, a device or a microchip, usually by the manufacturer. Without it, the electronic device will not be able to work. Unlike standard software, firmware is meant to control, operate or maintain the hardware in the background, and not interact with human users.

It usually requires special equipment to embed the firmware into a device, and you normally will not be able to alter or erase it without help from the manufacturer. Because it is planted into the hardware, firmware is also called "embedded software", or an "embedded system".

Were you good at drawing or painting during your childhood? Perhaps you’re that right-brained person in class who’s artistically inclined and excelled at visual art. If that’s the case, then you’re pretty much like a graphics processing unit (GPU).

A GPU is a computer component that excels in rendering graphical content. It allows a system to display visually intense videos, images, and animations from software or video games.

GPUs can handle complex calculations needed by a computer so it can show high-quality graphics outputs.

The cloud is a place where data can be stored and accessed over the Internet. More specifically, the term “hybrid cloud” refers to a combination of both private and public cloud services in one package.

It’s used by organizations that want to be as efficient as possible by making use of public cloud services for non-sensitive operations while using the private cloud only when needed.

We can think of the hybrid cloud as public and private transportation services. We usually take the bus (public cloud) when we still have time to spare and because it’s cheap. But if we’re in a rush or have sensitive items that need to be transported soon, we often take a cab (private cloud).

Do you remember how websites used to be very static and boring to look at not too long ago? In contrast, today’s websites are more dynamic, interactive and easier to use overall. One of the things that made this possible is a programming language called PHP.

PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, is a popular scripting language used to create the attractive, user-friendly and interactive Web pages that we see today. PHP is open-source which means that it is well-documented and can easily be downloaded for free from the Web.

An IT Infrastructure is like a natural ecosystem. Every part has its own role and contributes to the whole and the accomplishment of its goals and purposes.

IT Infrastructure is made up of software, hardware, network components, and services that are needed for an enterprise’s IT environment to exist and operate. It gives an organization the capability to deliver IT products and services either for itself or for other companies.

Java is a general-purpose programming language used to create software applications for computers, smartphones, tablets, and even websites. Programmers use it to write instructions that can be understood by computers. It is one of the most widely used languages, and software and apps created in Java are running on many devices today.

A native app is a software that was created to run on a specific device. For example, some apps were written specifically for Android phones. They have access to features that may not be found on other platforms, such as on an iPhone.

Native apps are like the locals in a city or town. They know all the ins and outs and can get to places that visitors may not even know about.

“On premises” also referred to as “on-premise,” “on-premises,” or “on-prem,” is a method of deploying software. With on-prem, the computer programs are installed right on the user’s computer through CDs or USB drives. Whereas with off-premise, the installer can be anywhere on the Web.

Many companies opt for on-prem because it doesn't require third-party access, gives owners physical control over the server hardware and software, and does not require them to pay month after month for access.

Think of how you buy your fast food meal. You could buy it and eat it "on premise" at the fast food restaurant. Or you can call and order your meal, and have it delivered to your home.

Open source software is any computer program whose source code is made available for anyone to inspect and modify. Open source is basically a philosophy of being able to share and modify something because its design is made accessible to everyone.

Normally, only the original software developers get to see and make changes to a program's source code. Open source software removes this restriction so that anyone can improve that program by adding features to it or fixing parts that don't always work correctly.

Say, the special stew they serve at a nearby restaurant is really good, although it's just a little bit too salty for you. If you had access to the recipe you could prepare your own version of the stew with a little less salt in your own kitchen. That's the essence of open source.

The operating system is a piece of software that makes sure all the processes and functions of a computer system perform properly. It controls all of the computer's hardware components, coordinates with other computers on the network, oversees all the software that runs on it and communicates with the human who uses it.

You can compare it to a traffic officer at an intersection who controls the flow of vehicles and lets drivers know when to stop and when to proceed. In short, this person makes sure that everything goes smoothly and that the intersection is trouble-free.

Do you remember back in high school when your teachers used to divide you and your classmates into groups to work on projects together? Everyone is ideally equally important in the group and each member is expected to contribute to the final output.

This is how P2P or Peer-to-Peer works. It refers to a group of computers that are interconnected to each other and sharing the same workload, rights, and duties without a central server to manage them.

Much like your high school group, the main purpose of a P2P network is to share its resources and let everyone involved work together to accomplish a specific task or service.

What if you could add another arm to your body so you can carry more, or give yourself another pair of legs so you can move in ways previously not possible? In the world of technology, a plug-in works the same way.

A plug-in is a software component that’s added to another computer program to give it new functions. An example of a plug-in is a virus scanner used in a Web browser in order to keep an eye on malicious software. By itself, the browser is not able to stop malware. But with the plug-in, it is secure and protected.

A private cloud is a network of servers owned by a single organization. Functionally, it provides the same services as a public cloud. The software and applications are installed on these servers, but access to them is restricted only to designated people.

Think of a private cloud as an exclusive VIP lounge at the airport. Only those with million-miler status can come in and enjoy the amenities.

A private key is one of a pair of codes used to access files encrypted using a process known as public-key cryptography. This type of encryption system uses two keys — a public key that is available to the general public, and a private key which only the recipient of an encrypted file has. You need both keys to be able to access the encrypted file.

To access a bank safety deposit box, some banks require two keys — one held by the bank manager and the other carried by the customer. This is somewhat how private keys work in the digital world.

A production environment is the setting where the latest working version of a computer program is installed and made available to end-users. Therefore it must always be in working condition, bug-free and available when the end-user needs it.

A production environment is different from a testing environment where company developers test the codes and updates but have the luxury of going back to the drawing board if any problem is encountered. In a production environment, everything is assumed to be perfect, and there’s no chance to undo the bad press if anything goes wrong.

A programming language is a system for instructing the computer how to solve a computing problem or perform a specific task. It consists of specific commands, basic logic, and a formal way to combine all of these elements into directives for the computer to execute.

Programming languages can be classified into two categories. The first is called 'high-level languages,' and programmers use them to write source code. The second category is called 'compiled languages' since the code must be compiled first before it could run.

A programming language is just like any human language. It has its own vocabulary and syntax, although the scope of what it can communicate is limited to what the computer can do.

Imagine having a computer that never breaks down, or that never needs to be upgraded. What if you never had to install any software, or had access to all the data storage space you can ever need? All you need to do is plug your computing device into a public cloud and simply pay for what you use.

The public cloud is a facility with a lot of processing capacity, virtually unlimited data storage, microprocessing power and Web bandwidth — that they sell to anyone who needs it.

Its main idea is that you do not need to buy, upgrade or maintain your own server computers. Public clouds also have capabilities to protect users from the dangers of losing their files and help avoid paying for expensive high speed Internet access for any software applications users want to make available online.

If you’ve used a Web app that enables managing projects online, real-time collaborations, getting funds for a startup idea, and the like, then you’ve probably already made acquaintance with Ruby.

It’s a programming language that was designed and developed in Japan back in the 90s. It has some similarities to other general purpose programming languages which make it easy to understand for programmers. Aside from that, it is also capable of supporting numerous features once it is applied.

A runtime error is an error that occurs when a program you’re using or writing crashes or produces a wrong output. At times, it may prevent you from using the application or even your personal computer. In some cases, users need only refresh their device or the program to resolve the runtime error. However, sometimes, users may have to perform a particular action to fix the error.

Runtime errors are of various types, including logic and encoding errors. Such errors are caused by unpatched bugs in the software build or used up memory. Simple fixes include reinstalling the affected program, updating it with a newer iteration, or operating it in Safe Mode.

Before a runtime error shows up on your computer, you may have noticed its performance slowing down. When runtime errors occur, your computer will always display a prompt stating the specific type of error you’ve encountered.

When you follow the step-by-step instructions in a recipe, you'll end up cooking a delicious meal.

A scripting language or script is like a recipe. It's a series of instructions that tells the computer what to do. Like a programming language, the script automates the computer's tasks. The main difference between a scripting language and a programming language is that scripts need to run within other programs such as browsers. Programs, on the other hand, are created through a more complex process that involves compiling the program into a binary file that can run by itself on the computer, without the help of other programs.

Smoke testing refers to trying out software to determine its usability and stability. It serves as a confirmatory step that a quality assessment (QA) team does before doing other software tests. It involves doing several runs to test primary functionalities and identify system stability and conformance issues early.

Smoke testing thus verifies if all of a software’s important features work and are not flawed. It helps lessen wasting time and resources incurred from back-and-forth testing.

The term was inspired by hardware testing, which primarily checks for smoke coming out of a hardware component when it is turned on. In the context of software testing, the system will not undergo further testing until it passes the smoke test.

A software development process is the process of creating a computer software product. It is a systematic operation that includes designing, preparing the specifications, programming, testing, bug fixing and documentation. These stages are also referred to as the software development lifecycle.

It's very similar to building a house. You need to plan, create the building specs, build the structure and then inspect it to make sure it complies with standards.

Any license is a document that grants permission and clarifies in detail the terms and conditions for which the permission is given.

A software license states who can use a software, and for what purpose. The software developer or creator is the one who decides on the terms involved in the license. The terms listed can answer questions, such as “Can I use this software to earn money?” or “Can I give this software to others?”

A software patch is an update that revises the underlying structure of a computer program. It addresses vulnerabilities in the program, such as unfixed bugs or unaddressed security risks. Also called a bugfix, a patch plugs the problem areas and improves the software’s performance.

A software patch does for programs what a cloth patch does for clothing – it covers up holes and can keep you from getting cold.

Software testing is the process of evaluating whether a software application meets high standards of functionality and reliability in actual use. Besides measuring quality, software testing aims to find out if there are any defects or bugs in the application. This is to make sure that consumers get the best product and manufacturers are safe from damage arising from any defect. 

You can compare software testing to taking a car on a road test to determine if it will perform according to its design and will be safe to drive. 

There are different types of software testing such as interface testing, integration testing, and system testing to name a few. Each of them seeks to find out if the test results match the desired results.

During the 1800s California gold rush, mines hired tough, no-nonsense guards to shoot troublemakers. They were referred to as “troubleshooters”.

Another story tells of technicians dispatched by the 19th-century telephone and telegraph companies to hunt for problems in the infrastructure. They were instructed to “shoot” these troublesome problems down.

Regardless of which story you believe, troubleshooting today is an important component of technical support and refers to searching for the source of the problem and solving it. It is an approach that is used to deal with problems in computer systems, machines, and electronic devices.

User experience (UX) describes how using a product or service affects the customer. It includes the person's opinions, feelings, and attitude about the experience. If the UX is pleasant, productive, and memorable for the user, there is a good chance that they will continue patronizing the product.

A UX that anyone can relate with is the dining experience offered by a posh restaurant. If they pay attention to all the details and you leave the place with a smile on your face, then you've just had a positive UX.

Imagine walking into a posh hotel. Whatever you see in front of you — the lush carpet, the luxurious lounge chairs, the amazing chandeliers — these are all part of the hotel's user interface. They all work together to set and define what you are about to experience.

For electronic devices and computers, the user interface consists of elements you can see, touch, and control to let the device know what you want done. Switches, buttons, levers, boxes, screens and audio speakers are among many user interface elements that let you issue commands to the computer and receive feedback from it.