Technical Glossary

A comprehensive collection of technical terms and definitions to help you understand the language of technology.

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A

API
Application Programming Interface - A set of protocols and tools for building software applications and enabling communication between different systems.
Agile
A project management and product development methodology that emphasizes iterative development, collaboration, and flexibility.
Algorithm
A step-by-step procedure or formula for solving a problem or completing a task in computing.
Async/Await
Programming keywords used to handle asynchronous operations in a synchronous-looking manner, making code easier to read and maintain.
Authentication
The process of verifying the identity of a user or system before granting access to resources.

B

Backend
The server-side part of a web application that handles data processing, business logic, and database operations.
Bandwidth
The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path, typically measured in bits per second (bps).
Blockchain
A decentralized, distributed ledger technology that records transactions across multiple computers securely.
Boolean
A data type with only two possible values: true or false, used in logical operations and conditional statements.
Bug
An error, flaw, or fault in software that causes it to produce incorrect or unexpected results.

C

Cache
A hardware or software component that stores data temporarily to reduce access time for frequently requested information.
CI/CD
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment - Automated practices for integrating code changes and deploying applications.
CLI
Command Line Interface - A text-based interface for interacting with software and operating systems.
Cloud Computing
The delivery of computing services over the internet, including servers, storage, databases, and software.
Compiler
A program that translates source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code.
Container
A lightweight, standalone package that includes everything needed to run a piece of software, including code, runtime, and dependencies.
CORS
Cross-Origin Resource Sharing - A security mechanism that allows web pages to make requests to different domains.
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets - A stylesheet language used to describe the presentation and design of HTML documents.

D

Database
An organized collection of structured data stored electronically and accessed via a database management system.
Debugging
The process of identifying, analyzing, and removing errors or bugs from software.
Deployment
The process of making software available for use in a production environment.
DevOps
A set of practices combining software development and IT operations to shorten development cycles and deliver high-quality software.
DNS
Domain Name System - The internet's system for converting human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
Docker
A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers.

E

Encryption
The process of converting data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access.
Endpoint
A specific URL or URI where an API can be accessed and operations performed.
Environment Variable
A dynamic named value that can affect the behavior of running processes on a computer.
Exception
An error or unexpected event that occurs during program execution, disrupting normal flow.

F

Firewall
A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules.
Framework
A platform providing a foundation and structure for developing software applications.
Frontend
The client-side part of a web application that users interact with directly, typically involving HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Function
A reusable block of code that performs a specific task and can be called from other parts of a program.

G

Git
A distributed version control system for tracking changes in source code during software development.
GitHub
A web-based platform for version control and collaboration using Git, popular for hosting open-source projects.
GraphQL
A query language for APIs that allows clients to request exactly the data they need.
GUI
Graphical User Interface - A visual way of interacting with computers using windows, icons, and menus.

H

HTML
HyperText Markup Language - The standard markup language for creating web pages and applications.
HTTP
HyperText Transfer Protocol - The foundation protocol for data communication on the World Wide Web.
HTTPS
HTTP Secure - An extension of HTTP using encryption to secure communication over a computer network.

I

IDE
Integrated Development Environment - Software providing comprehensive facilities for software development.
Interface
A shared boundary where different components of a system meet and interact.
IP Address
Internet Protocol Address - A numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network.
Iteration
The repetition of a process or set of instructions in computer programming, often using loops.

J

JavaScript
A high-level programming language primarily used for creating interactive web pages and web applications.
JSON
JavaScript Object Notation - A lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans and machines to process.
JWT
JSON Web Token - A compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties.

K

Kernel
The core component of an operating system that manages system resources and hardware communication.
Kubernetes
An open-source container orchestration platform for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.

L

Latency
The time delay between a request and the response in a system, often measured in milliseconds.
Library
A collection of pre-written code that developers can use to optimize tasks and avoid writing code from scratch.
Linux
An open-source Unix-like operating system kernel widely used in servers, embedded systems, and mobile devices.
Load Balancer
A device or software that distributes network traffic across multiple servers to optimize resource use.

M

Machine Learning
A subset of artificial intelligence that enables systems to learn and improve from experience without explicit programming.
Microservices
An architectural style where applications are composed of small, independent services that communicate over networks.
Middleware
Software that acts as a bridge between different applications, tools, or databases.
MongoDB
A popular NoSQL database program that uses JSON-like documents with optional schemas.

N

Node.js
A JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine that allows JavaScript to run on the server side.
NoSQL
A category of database management systems that don't use traditional relational database structures.
npm
Node Package Manager - The default package manager for Node.js, hosting thousands of reusable code packages.

O

Object-Oriented Programming
A programming paradigm based on objects containing data and code, emphasizing encapsulation and inheritance.
OAuth
An open standard for access delegation, commonly used for granting websites or applications access to user information.
Open Source
Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance, typically under permissive licenses.
Operating System
System software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides services for computer programs.

P

Package Manager
A tool that automates installing, updating, configuring, and removing software packages.
PostgreSQL
An open-source relational database management system emphasizing extensibility and SQL compliance.
Protocol
A set of rules governing data communication between devices or systems.
Python
A high-level, interpreted programming language known for its readability and versatility.

Q

Query
A request for data or information from a database, typically written in a query language like SQL.
Queue
A data structure that follows First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle, commonly used in task scheduling.

R

React
A JavaScript library for building user interfaces, particularly single-page applications, developed by Facebook.
Redis
An in-memory data structure store used as a database, cache, and message broker.
Refactoring
The process of restructuring existing code without changing its external behavior to improve readability and maintainability.
Repository
A central location where data, code, or files are stored and managed, often using version control systems.
REST
Representational State Transfer - An architectural style for designing networked applications using HTTP requests.

S

SaaS
Software as a Service - A software distribution model where applications are hosted and provided over the internet.
Scalability
The capability of a system to handle growing amounts of work by adding resources.
SDK
Software Development Kit - A collection of tools, libraries, and documentation for developing software applications.
Server
A computer or software system that provides functionality or resources to other programs or devices (clients).
SQL
Structured Query Language - A standardized language for managing and manipulating relational databases.
SSL/TLS
Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security - Cryptographic protocols for securing internet communications.

T

TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol - The fundamental communication protocols of the internet.
Testing
The process of evaluating software to find bugs and ensure it meets requirements and functions correctly.
Thread
The smallest sequence of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by a scheduler.
TypeScript
A strongly-typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript, adding static type definitions.

U

UI
User Interface - The visual elements through which users interact with a device or application.
Unix
A family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems derived from the original AT&T Unix.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator - A reference to a web resource specifying its location and how to retrieve it.
UX
User Experience - The overall experience a person has when interacting with a product or service.

V

Variable
A named storage location in memory that holds a value which can be changed during program execution.
Version Control
A system that records changes to files over time, allowing you to recall specific versions later.
Virtual Machine
An emulation of a computer system that provides the functionality of a physical computer.
Vue.js
A progressive JavaScript framework for building user interfaces and single-page applications.

W

Web Server
Software or hardware that serves web content to clients over the internet using HTTP protocol.
WebSocket
A communication protocol providing full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection.
Webhook
A method for apps to provide real-time information by sending automated HTTP callbacks when events occur.

X

XML
eXtensible Markup Language - A markup language that defines rules for encoding documents in a format readable by both humans and machines.
XSS
Cross-Site Scripting - A security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages.

Y

YAML
YAML Ain't Markup Language - A human-readable data serialization language commonly used for configuration files.

Z

Zero-Day
A software vulnerability unknown to those who should be interested in mitigating it, including the vendor.
Zsh
Z Shell - An extended Bourne shell with many improvements, including better tab completion and themes.