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Sometimes abbreviated as tech, technology is knowledge or a set of tools that helps make things easier or resolve problems.

Pronounced as two separate letters (i-s), IS is also short for information systems or information services. The IS team or department is responsible for computer, networking, and data management in the company.<br><br>In some industries, informations systems is the same as IT (information technology)

Pronounced as two separate letters (I-T), IT is short for information technology (infotech) and is a department, group of people, or person responsible for a companies technical support. This department is also sometimes known as MIS.<br><br>Information technology is the technology used to create, maintain, and make information available. IT manages and supports the technologies needed to develop, maintain, and use computer hardware and software, along with network connectivity and performance.

Abbreviated as gen, generation refers to a computer or components released because of new hardware or technology. For example, the IBM-compatible Intel Pentium and Intel Pentium II are two different generations of computer processors. There are also multiple generations of computers. The ENIAC and Apple II are examples.<br><br>When a new generation of technology is released, it may include new capabilities and features that make previous generations incompatible or obsolete.<br><br>Computer generations are based on when major technological changes in computers occurred, like the use of vacuum tubes, transistors, and the microprocessor.<br><br><strong>First Generation (1946 - 1959):</strong> Vacuum Tubes<br><strong>Second Generation (1959 - 1965):</strong> Transistors<br><strong>Third Generation (1965 - 1971):</strong> Integrated Circuits<br><strong>Fourth Generation (1971 - Present):</strong> Microprocessors

Alternatively called an end user, a user is any individual who is not involved with supporting or developing a computer or service. For example, you are the end-user of the computer you are using when you call technical support for help.<br><br>Generic types of users: <br>Computer users can be broken up into the following groups based on how experienced the computer user is with a computer.<br><br>Advanced user, hardcore user or power user: <br>- A user with advanced knowledge about computers software and hardware that require no assistance.<br><br>Casual user or regular user: <br>- A user who has some computer experience and can navigate and use the computer without much assistance.<br><br>Basic user, beginner, novice, or newbie: <br>- A user who started using a computer and requires lots of assistance.

Alternatively called an admin, administrator, and gatekeeper, root is a superuser account on a computer or network and has complete control. When referring to a Unix and Linux computer, this user is often known as root. On a Windows computer and on a network, this user is often called an administrator. However, each of these terms is interchangeable.<br><br>When dealing with computers, there can be many different administrators in a company. Listed below are a few examples of the different administrators a company may employ.<br><br>Types of network administrators: <br>- DBA (Database Administrator)<br>- IT, LAN, or Network Administrator<br>- Linux Administrator - Individual responsible for Linux systems.<br>- System Administrator (sysadmin) - Individual responsible for managing the users and system settings of computers.

A dev or developer is an individual who is responsible for creating or working on the development of a product or service. Most developers utilize one or more programming languages to develop their product or service. They may work alone or on a team, and may develop part of or all a product or service. Companies like Microsoft and Oracle employ many developers, due to the complexity of the products and services they develop and sell to customers.<br><br>For example, a software developer is an individual that may create a new software program or maintain an existing software program. A web developer is an individual that creates or updates web pages, utilizing HTML, JavaScript, or other web programming languages.<br><br>Alternatively called a coder or software developer, a programmer is an individual who writes code or creates software for a living. Many programmers who program for a profession have a college degree in computer science. While each job differs, most programmers are responsible for creating the software program or parts of a program, debugging problems, or adding onto a program.<br><br>Ada Lovelace is credited as being the world's first computer programmer.

Data analysis is when a data analyst collects, cleans, interprets, and models data to help companies solve questions and problems related to that data.<br><br>In general, an analysis is a detailed examination of anything with the hope of learning as much as possible.

Alternatively called technical support and user support, support describes a group of individuals or help documents used to assist users with a product or group of products. Support is commonly required when an end user experiences a problem or wants additional information on a product.<br><br>When making a phone call or sending an e-mail, you're making a support request. These requests are handled by one or more technicians who often track the request using a ticket or unique id. For example, when sending Computer Hope a question, it's assigned a CHID number (e.g., CHID: 123456). That unique number can track the progress of the answer to the question and reference the history of the question.

Department or Job designed with assisting users with their computer-related questions and issues. A help desk only supports employees in the same company or third-party companies under special contacts.

Also called a support specialist, a technician is an individual capable of providing technical support or assistance to users with computer hardware or software. Commonly, a technician has years of experience with computers, software, and related hardware.

In general, data is any set of characters that is gathered and translated for some purpose, usually analysis. If data is not put into context, it doesn't do anything to a human or computer.<br><br>There are multiple types of data. Some more common types of data include the following: <br>- Single character<br>- Boolean (true or false)<br>- Text (string)<br>- Number (integer or floating-point)<br>- Picture<br>- Sound<br>- Video

Raw data is data that's collected and stored, but not yet been processed. For example, many sites collect data about each person who visits. The information they collect is raw until it is processed and sorted to make it easier for the web designer to understand.

When referring to network or data security, integrity, also know as data integrity, is data that is intact. More specifically, data that may only be accessed, modified, or copied by those who are authorized to do so. <br><br>Any data with lost integrity is said to be compromised.

Information is defined in terms of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. Information is a collection of processed data from a variety of sources.

In general, knowledge is the familiarity or understanding of a topic that's gained through experience or study. For example, someone with computer knowledge has a broad understanding of computers, and the software and hardware used on a computer.<br><br>Knowledge is a dynamic combination of experience, values, contextual information, expert insight, and grounded intuition that provides an environment and framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. It originates and is applied in the minds of knowers. The key term associated with knowledge is context.

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do.

IT is a system of moral principles a person should follow while using a computer at their home, school, and office. The Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility has developed the following Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics as a guideline of how to be ethical on your computer.<br><br>Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics<br>1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.<br>2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.<br>3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.<br>4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.<br>5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.<br>6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software you have not purchased.<br>7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.<br>8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.<br>9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing.<br>10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration and respect for your fellow humans.

When referring to a computer, system or system unit is used to distinguish the complete computer. See our computer definition for full information about a computer.<br><br>When referring to an Apple Macintosh, System is the computer's operating system, or macOS. System is commonly followed by a number, for example, System 7.

Alternatively called information processing cycle, IPOS (input, processing, output, and storage) is a series of events that allow a computer to work.<br><br>Information processing cycle steps<br>Below are brief explanations of each step in the information processing cycle, with examples of the steps.<br><br>Input<br>Information (input) is entered into the computer using an input device. For example, using a keyboard to type a person's name into a computer.<br><br>Processing<br>Perform operations (processing) on the data to get information. For example, the computer processes the user's name entered in the input step.<br><br>Output<br>Present the results (output) of what was processed. For example, if the computer processed the inputted user's name and found results, those results would be displayed.<br><br>Storage<br>Store the data and information in temporary storage while used, and then optionally on a storage device for permanent storage. For example, if after inputting the person's name, the person's record was opened and updated, it could be stored for future reference.

Sometimes abbreviated as SW and S/W, software is a collection of instructions that enable the user to interact with a computer, its hardware, or perform tasks. Without software, most computers would be useless. For example, without your Internet browser software, you could not surf the Internet or read this page. Without an operating system, the browser could not run on your computer.

Sometimes called machine code or object code, machine language is a collection of binary digits or bits that the computer reads and interprets. Machine language is the only language a computer can understand.<br><br>The exact machine language for a program or action can differ by operating system. The specific operating system dictates how a compiler writes a program or action into machine language.<br><br>Computer programs are written in one or more programming languages, like C++, Java, or Visual Basic. A computer cannot directly understand the programming languages used to create computer programs, so the program code must be compiled. Once a program's code is compiled, the computer can understand it because the program's code is turned into machine language.

Sometimes called assembly or ASM, an assembly language is a low-level programming language.<br><br>Programs written in assembly languages are compiled by an assembler. Every assembler has its own assembly language, which is designed for one specific computer architecture.

A programming language is a computer language programmers use to develop software programs, scripts, or other sets of instructions for computers to execute.<br><br>Although many languages share similarities, each has its own syntax. Once a programmer learns the languages rules, syntax, and structure, they write the source code in a text editor or IDE. Then, the programmer often compiles the code into machine language that can be understood by the computer.<br><br>Scripting languages, which do not require a compiler, use an interpreter to execute the script.<br><br>The top 10 languages are: JavaScript, Java, Python, PHP, C++, C#, TypeScript, Shell, C, and Ruby.

Programmer is limited to high level control constructs such as while loops, for loops, and if/else statements and not allowed to use primitive GOTO statements.

Coined by Alan Kay, object-oriented programming, also known as OOP or OO programming, is a programming language paradigm. In an object-oriented program, the code can be structured as reusable components, some of which may share properties or behaviors.Object-oriented programming can improve the developer's ability to quickly prototype software, extend existing functionality, refactor the code, and maintain it as it's developed.

As a verb, to program a computer is the writing of instructions, statements, or commands that instruct the computer how to process data. There are several programming languages used to program a computer.<br><br>As a noun, a program, also called an application or software, is a set of instructions that process input, manipulate data, and output a result. For example, Microsoft Word is a word processing program that allows users to create and write documents.

A shell is a software program used to interpret commands that are input via a command-line interface, enabling users to interact with a computer by giving it instructions. Some examples of shells are MS-DOS Shell (command.com), csh, ksh, PowerShell, sh, and tcsh.

More commonly known as a driver, a device driver or hardware driver is a group of files that enable one or more hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating system. Without drivers, the computer could not send and receive data correctly to hardware devices like printers.

With computer software, a service is software that performs automated tasks, responds to hardware events, or listens for data requests from other software. In a user's operating system, these services are often loaded automatically at startup, and run in the background, without user interaction.<br><br>For example, in Microsoft Windows, many services are loaded to accomplish different functions. They respond to user keyboard shortcuts, index and optimize the file system, and communicate with other devices on the local network. An example of a Windows service is Messenger, which allows users to send messages to other Windows users.

A utility or software utility is computer system software intended to analyze, configure, monitor, or help maintain a computer. Usually, a utility is smaller than a standard program and may be included with an operating system or installed separately.

A VM (virtual machine) is a software program that is capable imitating a physical device, such as a computer. A good example of a software application capable of doing this is VMware.

System software is software on a computer that is designed to control and work with computer hardware. The two main types or categories of system software are the operating system and the software installed with the operating system, often called utility software. In some cases, the operating system and utility software depend on each other to function properly.<br><br>Some system software is used directly by users and other system software works in the background. System software can allow users to interact directly with hardware functionality, like the Device Manager and many of the utilities found in the Control Panel

An operating system or OS is software installed on a computer's hard drive that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer and software programs would be useless.<br><br>With earlier computers, the user interacted with them using a command line interface, which required memorization of commands. Today, almost every computer uses a GUI (Graphical User Interface) operating system that's easy to use and operate.

When referring to an operating system, the kernel is the first section of the operating system to load into memory. As the center of the operating system, the kernel needs to be small, efficient, and loaded into a protected area in memory, to prevent overwriting. It can be responsible for such things as disk drive management, interrupt handler, file management, memory management, process management, etc.

A script or scripting language is a computer language with several commands within a file capable of being executed without being compiled. Examples of server-side scripting languages include Perl, PHP, and Python. The best example of a client side scripting language is JavaScript.<br><br>Advantages of scripts:<br>- Open source, allowing users to view and edit the script if needed.<br>- Does not require the file to be compiled, but may be when necessary.<br>- Easy to learn and write.<br>- Easy to port between different operating systems.<br>- Much faster to develop than an actual program - some individuals and companies write scripts as a prototype for actual programs.<br><br>Disadvantages of scripts:<br>- Open source, allows others to view source code, which may be prohibited by some companies.<br>- Requires the user to install an interpreter or separate program before the script can run.<br>- In some situations, they may be slower than a compiled program.

Compile is the creation of an executable program from code written in a compiled programming language. Compiling allows the computer to run and understand the program without needing programming software used to create it. When a program is compiled it is often compiled for a specific platform (e.g., IBM platform) that works with IBM compatible computers, but not other platforms (e.g., Apple platform).

In computer programming, an interpreted programming language does not need to be compiled before its programs are executed. Instead, another program, called an interpreter, reads the program line by line, translates, and executes it on the fly at run time.

A compiled program generally performs better for the end user, because its machine code can be highly optimized during the compilation process. In contrast, interpreted languages can offer unique benefits to the programmer.<br><br>Many computer languages can be either compiled or interpreted.

A translator or language translation program is a software application or service that translates text or speech from one language to another.<br><br>Translators can also interpret programming code, converting it to instructions that a computer can understand and execute.<br><br>For example, a compiler is an example of a translator that takes a programming language (e.g., C++) and translates into machine language or assembly language the computer can understand.

When Apple introduced the iPhone, they popularized the term "app," but an app (application) and program are the same thing. Today, most people think of an "app" as an application on an Apple computer, smartphone, or tablet. A program is thought of as something that runs on a computer (e.g., a Windows computer).

When a program is created, it's compiled into a language that the computer can understand. Once compiled, the program does not need any other programs to run as long as the computer has the required operating system and platform. <br><br>A script is not compiled and needs an interpreter to translate the script into something the computer understands. Without an interpreter, the script cannot run on the computer. However, once installed, a script can run on any platform without needing to be re-written.

A command is an instruction that is given to a program or operating system to perform an action.

Proprietary software, also known as closed-source software, is copyrighted software that prohibits the redistribution or modification of its program. Legal information about a program is in the license agreement.<br><br>Proprietary software is also software designed to work on a specific hardware platform or operating system.

Any software that must be purchased to be used. The complete opposite of a commercial software program would be freeware.

Short for Structured Query Language, SQL, originally known as SEQUEL (structured English query language), was developed by Dr. Edgar F. Codd at the IBM research center in 1974. Today, SQL has become the de facto standard database language. SQL statements are used to tell the database server to perform an action or retrieve data.

Alternatively called free software, freeware is software that is made available 100% free as long as it remains unmodified. The complete opposite of freeware is commercial software. Unlike open-source software, freeware cannot be modified and is often only licensed to be used by non-commercial users.

Open source describes a program or file that can be freely modified by anyone. Open source allows users or organizations to adjust the program's functionality to perform for their specific needs. There are numerous open source licensing agreements a program or file may follow. Therefore, it is best to refer to the appropriate documentation to see what the original developer allows and prohibits.

Also called demoware or trial software, shareware is a limited version of software intended to demonstrate its features on the user's computer before purchase. It can be downloaded and installed on the user's computer, and shared with other users, free of charge. If the user likes the software, the full-featured version of the software can be purchased from the software publisher.<br><br>The idea behind shareware is "try before you buy." The shareware model lets you try the program to make sure it's something you find useful or enjoy. And importantly, it lets you make sure the program works on your computer before you spend any money on it.

Abbreviated as HW, hardware is best described as any physical component of a computer system containing a circuit board, ICs, or other electronics. A perfect example of hardware is the screen on which you are viewing this page. Whether it be a monitor, tablet, or smartphone, it is hardware.<br><br>Without any hardware, your computer would not exist, and software could not be used.<br><br>Below is a list of external hardware or hardware found outside a computer.<br>Flat-panel, monitor, and LCD<br>Gamepad<br>Joystick<br>Keyboard<br>Microphone<br>Mouse<br>Printer<br>Projector<br>Scanner<br>Speakers<br>USB thumb drive<br><br>Below is a list of internal hardware or hardware found inside a computer.<br>CPU (central processing unit).<br>Drive (e.g., Blu-ray, CD-ROM, DVD, floppy drive, hard drive, and SSD).<br>Fan (heat sink)<br>Modem<br>Motherboard<br>Network card<br>Power supply<br>RAM<br>Sound card<br>Video card

With hardware, a component or part is one hardware unit designed to connect to and function as part of a larger system. For example, an integrated circuit can be considered a component of the motherboard, and a video card can be considered a computer component.<br><br>Components in a computer: <br>CPU (processor).<br>Disc drive: CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, or Blu-ray.<br>Expansion card: ISA, PCI, AGP, and PCI-X.<br>Fan (heat sink).<br>Floppy drive.<br>Hard drive: HDD and SSD.<br>IDE cable (data cable), new computers use SATA.<br>Motherboard (see page for motherboard components).<br>PSU (power supply).<br>RAM (memory).

Alternately called a processor, central processor, or microprocessor, the CPU (pronounced sea-pea-you) is the central processing unit of the computer. A computer's CPU handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software running on the computer. For example, the CPU processed the instructions to use a web browser to open and display this web page on your computer.

Computer memory is any physical device capable of storing information temporarily, like RAM (random access memory), or permanently, like ROM (read-only memory). Memory devices utilize integrated circuits and are used by operating systems, software, and hardware.

Alternatively known as an address bus, data bus, control bus, or local bus, a bus is a link between components or devices connected to a computer. For example, a bus carries data between a CPU and the system memory via the motherboard.

Alternatively called a box, main unit, and system box, a system unit is the case containing all the main parts of a computer.

In general, the clock refers to a microchip that regulates the timing and speed of all computer functions. In the chip is a crystal that vibrates at a specific frequency when electricity is applied. The shortest time interval any computer can observer is one clock cycle, or one vibration of the clock chip. The speed of a computer processor is measured in clock speed, for example, 1 MHz is one million cycles, or vibrations, a second. 2 GHz is two billion cycles, or vibrations, a second.<br><br>A system clock or system timer is a continuous pulse that helps the computer clock keep the correct time. It keeps count of the number of seconds elapsed since the epoch, and uses that data to calculate the current date and time.

Alternatively called main memory, primary memory, or system memory, RAM (random-access memory) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved on a computer. RAM is usually associated with DRAM, a type of memory module. Because data is accessed randomly instead of sequentially like it is on a CD or hard drive, access times are much faster.<br><br>However, unlike ROM, RAM is a volatile memory and requires power to keep the data accessible. If the computer is turned off, all data contained in RAM is lost.<br><br>Types of RAM: <br>Over the evolution of the computer, there have been different variations of RAM. Examples are DIMM, RIMM, SIMM, SO-DIMM, and SOO-RIMM.

A hard disk drive (sometimes abbreviated as a hard drive, HD, or HDD) is a non-volatile data storage device. It is usually installed internally in a computer, attached directly to the disk controller of the computer's motherboard. It contains one or more platters, housed inside of an air-sealed casing. Data is written to the platters using a magnetic head, which moves rapidly over them as they spin.<br><br>Internal hard disks reside in a drive bay, connected to the motherboard using an ATA, SCSI, or SATA cable. They are powered by a connection to the computer's PSU (power supply unit).

Short for Basic Input/Output System, the BIOS (pronounced bye-oss) is a ROM chip found on motherboards that lets you access and set up your computer system at the most basic level.<br>What is included in a BIOS?<br>The BIOS includes instructions on how to load basic computer hardware. It includes a test known as a POST (Power-On Self-Test) that helps verify the computer meets the requirements to boot up properly. If the computer does not pass the POST, you hear a combination of beeps indicating what is malfunctioning in the computer.<br>What are the four main functions of a PC BIOS?<br>POST - Test the computer hardware and make sure no errors exist before loading the operating system. Additional information on the POST is available on our POST and beep codes page.<br>Bootstrap Loader - Locate the operating system. If a capable operating system is located, the BIOS will pass control to it.<br>BIOS drivers - Low-level drivers that give the computer basic operational control over your computer's hardware.<br>BIOS setup or CMOS setup - Configuration program that lets you configure hardware settings, including system settings, such as date, time, and computer passwords.

Alternatively called an auxiliary device, a peripheral is a hardware input device or output device that gives a computer additional functionality. Peripheral devices, however, are not essential for the computer to perform its basic tasks; they are an enhancement to the user's experience.

A pointing device, or sometimes called a pointing tool, is a hardware input device that allows the user to move the mouse cursor in a computer program or GUI operating system. Using a pointing device, you can point at or manipulate any object or text on the screen. For example, using a pointing device you could point at and select an icon from a list of icons.<br><br>Below are examples of pointing devices that can be used on a computer.<br>Camera mouse<br>Computer mouse (shown in picture)<br>Finger on touch screen<br>Footmouse<br>J mouse<br>Joystick<br>Leap Motion<br>Light pen (pen)<br>Stylus<br>Trackball<br>TrackPoint<br>Touchpad<br>Keyboard (Can be used to move the mouse pointer.)

Alternatively called a cord, connector or plug, a cable is one or more wires covered in plastic that transmit power or data between devices or locations. The picture is an example of what the power cord may look like for your computer or monitor. The power cord is one example of thousands of other cables found in and around computers.<br><br>There are two main types of computer cables, a data cable and a power cable. A data cable is a cable that provides communication between devices. For example, the data cable (i.e., DVI, HDMI, or VGA) that connects your monitor to your computer allow it to display a picture on the monitor. Other popular examples of data cables include the CAT5, IDE/EIDE, SATA, and USB cables. A power cable is any cable that powers the device. For example, the power cord that connects to your computer and a Molex style cable inside the computer are examples of power cables.

Short for uninterruptible power supply, UPS is a hardware device that provides a backup power source in case of a power outage (blackout), brownout, or a surge in power. A UPS provides enough power to prevent unsaved work from being lost with a power failure by allowing the user to save work and shut down. If the outage is short, the computer remains running during the outage.

In general, a hub refers to a hardware device that enables multiple devices or connections to connect to a computer. An example is a USB hub, which allows multiple USB devices to connect to one computer, even though that computer may only have a few USB connections.

The observation was that ever since the integrated circuit was developed, the number of transistors contained in them has doubled every two years. Dr. Gordon Moore has admitted that his law cannot be sustained indefinitely and that eventually transistors would reach the limits of miniaturization.

When referring to a LAN (local area network), local refers to a network with networking equipment or computers in close proximity to each other. Instead of a WAN (wide area network) or network that is spread across multiple locations or even around the world. <br><br>When referring to a file or storage medium, local refers to a storage location on the computer being used.

When referring to a connection a remote connection or connect remotely is another way of saying remote access. <br><br>A hardware device that allows a user to control a device or object in another location. For example, the TV remote changes the channel, volume, or turn on and off the TV, without the viewer needing to leave their seat.

To troubleshoot is solving a problem or determining a problem to an issue. Troubleshooting often involves the process of elimination, where a technician follows a set of steps to determine the problem or resolve the problem.

A network is a collection of computers, servers, mainframes, network devices, peripherals, or other devices connected to allow data sharing. An example of a network is the Internet, which connects millions of people all over the world. To the right is an example image of a home network with multiple computers and other network devices all connected.

Sometimes called an access method, a protocol is a standard used to define a method of exchanging data over a computer network, such as local area network, Internet, Intranet, etc. Each protocol has its own method of how to handle data in the following situations:<br>- How data is formatted when sent.- What to do with data once received.<br>- How data is compressed.<br>- How to check for errors in the data.<br><br>Likely the most important protocol is TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) which is used to govern the communications of every computer connected to the Internet. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), used to transmit data over the world wide web (Internet), is "carried" by TCP/IP.

Short for transmission control protocol/Internet protocol, TCP/IP is a set of rules (protocols) governing communications among all computers on the Internet. More specifically, TCP/IP dictates how information should be packaged (turned into bundles of information called packets), sent, and received, and how to get to its destination. TCP/IP was developed in 1978 and driven by Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf.

A workstation refers to an individual computer, or group of computers, used by a single user to perform work.<br><br>For example, a "workstation" may be an average-powered computer connected to a larger network. It can also refer to a powerful computer intended for serious academic or professional computation.

There are more advantages to a network than disadvantages. In fact, many companies today wouldn't exist without accessing some form of network. Below are the advantages of a network.<br><br>1. Share data and information - One of the biggest advantages of a network is sharing data and information between each of the devices on it. In addition, networks allow access to databases and help with collaboration on more complex work.<br>2. Communication - A network gives all users the ability to quickly communicate with each other using chat, instant messaging, e-mail, and videoconferencing.<br>3. Share hardware - Hardware devices connected to a network can be shared with all users. Below are a few examples of network hardware that can be shared.<br> - NAS (network-attached storage) can store and access vast amounts of information. <br> - A network printer allows all network users to print to one printer. <br> - More powerful computers, supercomputers, and render farms can perform complex tasks that would take a normal, single computer longer to complete.<br>4. Share software - With the proper software license, software can also be shared.<br>5. Transferring money - Being connected to a secure network allows a person or business to digitally transfer money between banks and users. For example, a network could allow a company to not only manage employees' payroll, but also transfer their pay to the employee's bank account.<br>

Although there are many advantages to a network (mentioned above), there are some disadvantages. Below are the disadvantages of a network. <br> - Virus and malware - Networks make sharing information between network users easy. Unfortunately, this also means that viruses and malware have an easier time spreading between computers on a network. <br> - Vulnerabilities - When a network is created, it introduces new methods of accessing the computers remotely, especially if they're connected to the Internet. With these potential new methods of accessing the computer, it can introduce new vulnerabilities to computers, users, and data on a network. <br> - Complexity - Networks are complex, and setting up and managing a network for a business or corporation requires someone with a lot of experience or certification.

A method of distributing data over a network first developed by Leonard Kleinrock between 1959 and 1962, that was used on ARPANET. In packet switching, information is broken into small segments of data known as packets and then reassembled when received at the destination.<br><br>Packet switching helps prevent any small information sent after larger information from having to wait until the larger information is sent. When information is broken into packets, packet size and speed of the line determines how long it takes packets to travel to their destination.

On a network, a switch is a hardware device that filters and forwards network packets, but is often not capable of more. A network switch is more advanced than a hub, but not as advanced as a router.

A router is hardware device designed to receive, analyze and move incoming packets to another network. It may also be used to convert the packets to another network interface, drop them, and perform other actions relating to a network.

Alternatively known as a base station and wireless router, an access point is a wireless receiver for connecting wirelessly to a network or the Internet. This term can refer to both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

A file server is a computer on a network that is used to provide users on a network with access to files.

Computer or collection of computers used to deliver web pages and other content to multiple users.<br><br>Below are examples of web server software:<br>- Apache Web Server: official Apache website.<br>- Nginx: official Nginx website.<br>- Boa Webserver: official Boa website.<br>- FoxServ Web Server: official FoxServ web site.<br>- Lighttpd: official lighttpd website.<br>- Microsoft's Web Server, IIS: official IIS website.<br>- Savant: official Savant website.<br>- Tomcat: official Tomcat website.

Computer or standalone device responsible for managing one or more printers on a network. Because of the load required for a print job, a print server does not need to be a fast computer.

A remote or central computer that holds electronic mail (e-mail) messages for clients on a network is called a mail server. A mail server is similar to the post office, where mail is stored and sorted before being sent to its final destination. When the user requests their e-mail, contact is established with the mail server, which then delivers all stored to the client's computer.

Short for File Transfer Protocol, FTP is the most common way of sending and receiving files between two computers. An example of FTP usage is by web developers who connect to their web server using an FTP client or FTP program (e.g., FileZilla) to send (upload) updated versions of a web page.

A proxy is a server or program that's part of the gateway or another computer that separates a local network from outside networks. You can think of it as an intermediary between your computer and the web pages you access on the Internet. Proxies are useful because they can protect your computer from malware and unwanted access from third-party users.

A database server is a computer system that provides other computers with services related to accessing and retrieving data from a database. Access to the database server may occur via a "front end" running locally a user's machine (e.g., phpMyAdmin), or "back end" running on the database server itself, accessed by remote shell. After the information in the database is retrieved, it is outputted to the user requesting the data.<br><br>Many companies utilize a database server for storage. Users can access the data by executing a query using a query language specific to the database. For example, SQL is a good example of a query language.

Alternatively called a databank or a datastore, and sometimes abbreviated as a DB, a database is a large quantity of indexed digital information. It can be searched, referenced, compared, changed or otherwise manipulated with optimal speed and minimal processing expense.<br><br>A database is built and maintained using a database programming language. The most common database language is SQL, but there are multiple "flavors" of SQL, depending on the type of database being used. Each flavor of SQL has differences in the SQL syntax and are designed to be used with a specific type of database.<br><br>For example, an Oracle database uses PL/SQL and Oracle SQL (Oracle's version of SQL). A Microsoft database uses T-SQL (Transact-SQL).

A database is made up of several main components.<br> - Schema - A database contains one or more schemas, a collection of one or more tables of data.<br> - Table - Each table contains multiple columns, which are similar to columns in a spreadsheet. A table can have as little as two columns and as many as 4,096, depending on the type of stored data.<br> - Column - Each column contains one of several types of data or values, like dates, numeric or integer values, and alphanumeric values (also known as varchar).<br> - Row - Data in a table is listed in rows, which are like rows of data in a spreadsheet. Often there are hundreds or thousands of rows of data in a table.

A data warehouse is a repository of integrated information, available for queries and analysis. Data and information are extracted from mixed sources as they are generated, making it easier and more efficient to run queries over data that originally came from different sources.

Short for Point-to-Point Protocol, PPP is a communication protocol that enables a dial-up connection (e.g., modem) to connect to other network protocols like TCP/IP and IPX. Unlike SLIP, which is another popular dial-up protocol, PPP offers features such as password protection and error-correction.

Alternatively called line topology, bus topology is a network setup where each computer and network device is connected to a single cable or backbone. Depending on the type of computer network card, a coaxial cable or an RJ-45 network cable is used to connect them together.

A ring topology is a network configuration where device connections create a circular data path. Each networked device is connected to two others, like points on a circle. Together, devices in a ring topology are called a ring network.<br><br>In a ring network, packets of data travel from one device to the next until they reach their destination. Most ring topologies allow packets to travel only in one direction, called a unidirectional ring network. Others permit data to move in either direction, called bidirectional.<br><br>The major disadvantage of a ring topology is that if any individual connection in the ring is broken, the entire network is affected.<br><br>Ring topologies may be used in either LANs (local area networks) or WANs (wide area networks). Depending on the network card used in each computer of the ring topology, a coaxial cable or an RJ-45 network cable is used to connect computers together.

A mesh topology is a network setup where each computer and network device is interconnected with one another. This topology setup allows for most transmissions to be distributed even if one of the connections goes down. It is a topology commonly used for wireless networks.

Redundancy is the duplication or mirroring of a device or data that helps prevent from becoming lost or a device from becoming unavailable. For example, a RAID setup may allow a computer to not fail or lose data if a hard drive was to become unavailable.<br><br>In general, redundant refers to anything that is duplicated.

Short for Domain Name System, a DNS is a service that receives a request containing a domain name hostname and responds with the corresponding IP address.

When referring to an Internet address or name, a domain or domain name is the location of a website. For example, the domain name "google.com" points to the IP address "216.58.216.164". Generally, it's easier to remember a name rather than a long string of numbers.

In the example of the "google.com" domain name, there are two parts of the domain name. First is "google," which is called the SLD (second-level domain) and ".com," which is the TLD (top-level domain).<br><br>Alternatively called a domain suffix, TLD is short for top-level domain and is the trailing portion of the domain. The original TLDs are: .com, .gov, .org, .net, .mil, .edu, and .int.

Also known as an internet address or web address, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a URI and standardized naming convention for addressing documents accessible over the Internet and Intranet. The URL makes it possible for a computer to locate and open a web page on a different computer on the Internet.

Also called a computer name, nodename, or sitename, a hostname is the name of a computer or device (host) on a network.

Alternatively known as cyber-crime, e-crime, electronic crime, or hi-tech crime. Computer crime is an act performed by a knowledgeable computer user, sometimes called a "hacker," that illegally browses or steals a company's or individual's private information. Sometimes, this person or group of individuals may be malicious and destroy or otherwise corrupt the computer or data files.

Hack is a hardware or software change not approved by the manufacturer or developer that makes it do something it wasn't intended to do. For example, with software updates and modifications, users can make their Xbox gaming console more of a media center. Because the developer does not support these modifications, hacks void your warranty and prevent you from getting manufacturer support.<br><br>To hack is to write computer code in a programming language. Someone who hacks is called a hacker.

Computer security refers to the protection of a computer's hardware and the data that it holds. Computer security can be implemented using passwords, encryption, and firewalls, and denying physical access to a computer's location.<br><br>While security measures do not guarantee that data won't be compromised, the extra steps can certainly help prevent unauthorized data access and acquisition.<br><br>A computer security risk is an event or action that could cause a loss of data or damage to hardware or software. It could result from unpatched software, misconfigured software or hardware, and bad habits (e.g., using "1234" as your password). Any illegal act involving a computer security risk is a considered a computer crime.

When referring to network or data security, integrity, also know as data integrity, is data that is intact. More specifically, data that may only be accessed, modified, or copied by those who are authorized to do so. Any data with lost integrity is said to be compromised.

Pronounced like fishing, phishing is a malicious individual or group who scam users. They do so by sending e-mails or creating web pages designed to collect an individual's online bank, credit card, or other login information. Because these e-mails and web pages look legitimate, users trust them and enter their personal information.

An SQL injection is an attack that passes commands through a vulnerability in an online application using an SQL database. SQL injections are commonly used by hackers to gain unauthorized access to a system, facilitating insertion and manipulation of data, or viewing secure database information. Secure information includes credit card numbers, passwords, etcetera.

Computer programs have specific memory allocated to them known as a buffer that allows for the temporarily store data. When the program exceeds the boundaries of the buffer, it starts to write data to adjacent memory. When this occurs, it is called buffer overflow. Essentially, the program's memory buffer has exceeded its limit.<br><br>Buffer overflows can cause incorrect program behavior and issues, or even result in memory access issues. On computers running Windows versions older than Vista, these errors may cause a blue screen error.

A packet sniffer is a utility that listens on a network for transferred data. Packet sniffing allows individuals to capture data as it is transmitted over a network. This technique is used by network professionals to diagnose network issues, and by malicious users to capture unencrypted data, like passwords and usernames. If this information is captured in transit, a user can access a system or network.

A computer virus is a malicious program, script, macro, or code designed to damage, steal personal information, modify data, send e-mail, display messages, or a combination of these actions.<br><br>When the virus is executed, it spreads by copying itself into or over data files, programs, the hard drive boot sector, or anything else writable. To help spread the virus, writers use knowledge of security vulnerabilities, zero-days, or social engineering to access a host's computer.

A worm is a destructive self-replicating program containing code capable of gaining access to computers or networks. Once in the computer or network, the worm causes harm by deleting, modifying, distributing, or otherwise manipulating data.

A trojan horse is a program appearing to be something safe, but is performing malicious tasks, such as giving access to your computer or sending personal information to other computers. Trojan horses are one of the most common methods a computer criminal uses to infect your computer and collect personal information from your computer.

Short for denial of service, a DoS attack attacks a networked computer by sending it an abnormally high number of requests, causing its network to slow down or fail. Since a single individual cannot generate enough traffic for a DoS attack, these attacks are usually run from multiple computers infected by worms or zombie computers for a DDoS.

A firewall is a software utility or hardware device that acts as a filter for data entering or leaving a network or computer. You could think of a firewall as a security guard that decides who enters or exits a building. A firewall works by blocking or restricting network ports. Firewalls are commonly used to help prevent unauthorized access to both company and home networks.

Also known as an antivirus software, AVS, antivirus, or AV. An antivirus program is a software utility designed to protect your computer or network against computer viruses. If a virus is detected, the computer displays a warning asking if the infection should be quarantined, removed, ignored, or moved to the vault.

An access control system, or ACS, is any system designed to restrict user access to a computer system according to predefined rules. For example, on most computer systems, users must enter a valid name and password to log in to the system. And, after they log in, those users are allowed to view, create, and modify only some files and directories in the file system.<br><br>Access control enables multiple users to access a single system, maintaining the privacy and security of each user's files. It also protects the critical system files from being altered or tampered with, reducing the likelihood that the operating system will malfunction.

Authentication, authenticating, and authorize describe the process of identifying a person and making sure they are who they say they are. For example, a password is a basic method of authorizing someone. There are different types of authentication, including biometrics, entering a PIN, 2FA, or a picture password.

The term encrypt describes making data unreadable to other humans or computers that should not be seeing the contents. Encrypted data is generated using an encryption program such as PGP, encryption machine, or a simple cipher key, and appears as garbage until it is decrypted. To read or use the data, it must be decrypted, and only those who have the correct password or decryption key can make the data readable again.<br><br>There are two basic types of encryption in use today. The first type is private-key encryption (symmetric-key encryption), where both people know the secret key to encrypt and decrypt the data. The second type is public-key encryption (asymmetric-key encryption), where the encryption software creates a public and private key.

Cloud computing describes services provided over a network by a collection of remote servers. This abstract "cloud" of computers provides massive, distributed storage and processing power that can be accessed by any Internet-connected device running a web browser. Schools, businesses, and everyone can benefit from cloud computing due to its ease of uploading and downloading information, making it simple to share information locally and globally.<br><br>Cloud computing is accessed through an application (e.g., Dropbox app) on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or another mobile device. It is also often possible to access cloud computing through a website using your browser. All current browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari, support cloud computing.<br><br>Once connected to cloud computing, data can be retrieved and sent to and from the cloud using the application or browser.

Alternatively called the net or web, the Internet (interconnected network) was initially developed to aid in the progress of computing technology by linking academic computer centers. The Internet we use today started being developed in the late 1960s with the start of ARPANET and transmitted its first message on Friday, October 29, 1969. In 1993, the Internet experienced one of its largest growths to date and today is accessible by people all over the world.<br><br>The Internet contains billions of web pages created by people and companies from around the world, making it a limitless place to locate information and entertainment. The Internet also has thousands of services that help make life more convenient. For example, many financial institutions offer online banking that enables a user to manage and view their account from different locations.

An intranet or internal website is a private network for a corporation or organization that only people with permission can access. A computer residing on an intranet is often using IP addresses in the reserved address space. That computer cannot be accessed outside of the local network unless given permission through the Internet.

Similar to a corporate Intranet, an extranet is a local network accessible to specific outside users or businesses, but still inaccessible to the general public. Although users can access an extranet, it only displays information that they are privileged to or specific sections of the extranet.

The term public domain in general refers to the free use of the work or object without any restrictions. A work may be in the public domain because it is not copyrighted, its Copyright has expired, or its license specifies allows its use by the public.<br><br>When referring to software, public domain is software that can be freely distributed and used. Public domain software may or may not carry a Copyright.

A Copyright is a protection for any published work that helps to prevent that work from being used without prior authorization. A Copyright may be indicated by the word "Copyright," or a C surrounded by a circle (©). The Copyright might also be followed by the published date and the author of the work. When work is Copyrighted, it may not be reproduced in any fashion unless the owner of the work grants proper rights.

A patent is a form of intellectual property that protects the right of an individual by restricting the duplication of their invention for several years. To get a patent, the owner of the invention must disclose the invention to the patent office and provide proof they came up with the original idea.

Abbreviated as TM, a trademark, trademark, or trademark is a word, phrase, logo, or symbol that distinguishes one company or brand from another. It is usually an image or word that is easily recognized. Well-known trademarks include Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Apple, and Computer Hope.<br><br>Trademarks are registered with the government, which prevents other entities from using them without the company's expressed consent. They are often denoted with a trademark symbol, which is the letter "R" in a circle or the letters "TM" in superscript.