Questions tagged [terminology]
Questions regarding computer-specific terms and jargon. Make sure you show research effort and that your question can be objectively answered.
176
questions
27
votes
5
answers
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What does it mean for software to run natively?
I've been wondering what it means for software to run natively. What exactly is such software and how is it different from software that does not run natively? How can I tell if a given peice of ...
4
votes
2
answers
29k
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What is ecosystem in IT world? [closed]
I am an IT engineer and I've been asked a few days ago a question on which I was unable to answer. I've started looking on the Internet for it, and unfortunately I didn't find anything.
The friend of ...
29
votes
4
answers
37k
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What exactly is VGA, and what is the difference between it and a video card?
Operating system development tutorials pinpoint reaching screen data by writing directly to VGA or EGA or Super VGA, but what I do not get is what is the real difference between writing to a fixed ...
19
votes
8
answers
2k
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What's the meaning of "foo"? [closed]
I've been here around 4 months and several times I saw that people use foo but I don't know what it means. I would like others to explain me about this variable...
Why is it important? How do I use ...
18
votes
3
answers
1k
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Is there a name for the text that shows up at the front of each command in a CLI?
For example, in Ubuntu when I start up a terminal, it says:
username@computer:~$
And in Windows:
C:\Users\Username>
Is there a formal way to refer to that text?
1
vote
3
answers
79
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What's the correct term for this network connection? [closed]
What is the correct general term for the network connection on mobile devices that can connect to networks via telecoms links?
Question asked "my device is not connecting to my local web server here"....
6
votes
2
answers
15k
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What are 'Toasts' or 'Toast Notifications' in Windows 8?
I have seen the term 'Toast' used in the Windows 8 context. I have also seen them referred to as 'Toast Notifications'.
What exactly are 'Toasts' in Windows 8?
6
votes
1
answer
6k
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What is the difference between "load" and "fetch"?
I often encounter the words load and fetch in contexts where data are being read from some source, and they seem to have slightly different meanings. What's the difference?
I've done some research ...
9
votes
1
answer
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How does uploading a file actually work?
Uploading is described as transferring a file(s) like photo, audio file etc. to a server on the web. I wonder a couple of things how uploading occurs as network/communication means. For example, when ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
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Terminology used for CPU/Processors
Suppose a system has 4 Intel Xeon processors
each having 10 physical cores
with HyperThreading enabled which makes a total of 80 cores
Now it is completely confusing when in documentation they start ...
77
votes
7
answers
80k
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What is the correct term for the mouse pointer/nipple/joystick thingy in the middle of a laptop's keyboard?
I want to call it a "mouse nipple" or maybe a "joystick", although I know these are not correct.
It's different from the touchpad, which is below the keyboard and has dedicated click buttons. Instead,...
2
votes
2
answers
2k
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Is EM64T the same as VT-Enabled?
I have here a Dell Poweredge 850 which I got from my old work, I just install windows 7 to test and see if everything is ok, I want to set it up as a linux ubuntu server using Virtualbox, and or ...
0
votes
1
answer
356
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What is “Virtual Single-Channel”?
As seen below (Figure 1), I have two 512MB sticks in alternate slots (one channel) and a 1GB stick in one of the remaining slots (a different channel). This is on an Asus P4P800.
When I boot, it says ...
7
votes
2
answers
11k
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What is the difference between RTM, GA and GOLD versions?
I am absolutely puzzled here:
What is the difference between RTM, GA(Gerneral Availability) and final GOLD version?
For example for Windows 8:
RTM - Microsoft sends this version to ASUS, Acer, DELL,...
3
votes
3
answers
4k
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File system "extents" and "clusters"
I'm trying to learn about HFS+ and it keeps referring to "extents."
Wikipedia
Fork Data Attribute records contain references to a maximum of eight
extents that can hold larger attributes. ...
1
vote
1
answer
67
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How is it called when audio streaming "freezes" or "stucks"?
How is it called when streaming (e.g. FireWire streaming) of video or audio stucks (or freezes) after about 10 minutes and I need to reset the streaming process (or reset the FireWire bus) to make it ...
4
votes
2
answers
2k
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When referring to filesystems and disks, are "disk sectors", "disk blocks", "chunk size", and "disk records" the same thing?
I'm pretty sure that a sector is basically a block, but I was moreso confused about chunk sizes and especially records. Some system calls require that your area in memory that buffers data from disk ...
1
vote
2
answers
194
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What is a CFM-based application?
When reading up about Mac OS X Kerberos Extras while trying to get Kerberos working, I came across the phrase 'CFM-based application'. What does this mean?
0
votes
1
answer
4k
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What's the difference between a console, terminal and command-line? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between shell, console, and terminal?
My non-tech-savvy friends unanimously agree that console refers to hardware and terminal refers to software.
A ...
0
votes
2
answers
103
views
Linux terms a newbie should know about [closed]
I'm new to Linux, particularly the distributions I'm using - Ubuntu and openSUSE.
I've looked on the Internet for how to install software on these operating systems, but I can't seem to understand ...
8
votes
3
answers
9k
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What do we mean by mounting a filesystem?
I am new to filesystems and trying to understand mounting.
Is it something like adding a node in tree?
5
votes
4
answers
90k
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Is there a way to stream wirelessly from a laptop to a TV?
I heard of such a thing like a box or a media player such thing that can connect wirelessly to stream movies from my laptop?
Is there such a thing that can do it? How is the latency on it? I have ...
41
votes
4
answers
85k
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What is meant by the terms CPU, Core, Die and Package?
Now this might sound like too many previous questions, but I am really confused about these terms. I was trying to understand how "dual core" is different from "Core 2 Duo", and I came across some ...
1
vote
1
answer
225
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What's a dual core? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can someone clear up the terms Core Duo CPU, Quad Core, Dual CPU, etc.?
Does "core" mean CPU or memory or both?
I'm thinking of buying a new computer. But what's a ...
7
votes
3
answers
8k
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What is a dongle used for?
I saw the word "dongle" while reading, but what does it do? Why would you want to have one on your system?
23
votes
5
answers
29k
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What are the differences between firmware and software/OS?
I was wondering what differences are
between firmware and software?
What differences are
between firmware and OS?
Are boot-loaders firmware? Bios is.
How about GNU grub? Is grub software or firmware?
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Bits of CPU, architecture and OS
I was wondering if the bits of OS, of
instruction set, of CPU registers,
of data bus from CPU to memory, and of
address bus from CPU to memory must
be consistent in some sense and how?
When we cay ...
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Term used for a motherboard without integrated audio or video
I'm trying to look for motherboards without any bells and whistles (audio and video) in order to build an Audio Production workstation.
Is there any special keyword I can use in my research that would ...
8
votes
4
answers
7k
views
What is a router? What is a switch? and What is a hub?
I always mess up with the basic concepts in networking. This are the very basic questions.
What is a router, its functions and what is meant by routing?
What is a switch, its functions? Many time I ...
1
vote
1
answer
137
views
RFC 2068 statement about HTTP
In RFC 2068, it states, "[HTTP] is a generic, stateless, object-oriented protocol which can be used for many tasks, such as name servers and distributed object management systems, through extension of ...
5
votes
2
answers
18k
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What Exactly is a Threaded Web Server?
I would like to know what a threaded web server is?
I have performed many searches but am unable to find anything that gives a clear explanation or definition; perhaps somebody can enlighten me.
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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When the term 'x86' is used, does it always refer to 32-bit?
When the term 'x86' is used, does it always refer to 32-bit? And is it only about Intel processors?
9
votes
4
answers
3k
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What does COM object mean?
What is it? As I understood it's a kind of Microsoft special technology for some objects. But what exactly?
1
vote
6
answers
9k
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"Stable" operating system - what does it mean exactly?
I've been using Linux for more than 2 years now, and I'm a satisfied user. I started with Ubuntu, then switched to Fedora and now I'm fond of Linux Mint.
Linux is often described as "stable". I have ...
5
votes
3
answers
13k
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What is the meaning of dual core vs. dual cpus?
What is the difference between multiple CPU processors (ie: Pentium D) and multicore processors (ie: Core 2 duo)?
12
votes
7
answers
9k
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How to name/describe the Windows 7 Start Button?
When troubleshooting trivial problems via phone, I'm often in this situation:
Me: Click on the Start Button
Other: What button?
Me: sigh The blue circle on the lower left with the windows logo on it
...
66
votes
2
answers
149k
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What does "LFF SATA" mean?
I've heard of SATA, but "LFF SATA" as listed on HP's specs page (archive) is a new one for me.
What does the "LFF" bit mean?
6
votes
3
answers
3k
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What kind of device receives wireless signal and provides wired output?
My wife uses an old computer which doesn't really like having an Internet connection via a USB wireless adapter. I've tried several, and none have been satisfactory. The connection gets dropped ...
1
vote
2
answers
217
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Harddrive 9 in 1 capacity? What does that mean?
I have to define some stuff for my operating systems class based on a computer ad, and it says the hard disk capacity is "9-in-1." What does that mean?
7
votes
6
answers
7k
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What does etc stand for/mean?
In most (all?) *nix systems there's a directory named /etc, what does etc stand for?
2
votes
2
answers
171
views
What is the name of this component?
I was wondering what the name of the 5th component was.
Dell 1747 Studio 17
8
votes
3
answers
27k
views
What is the difference between CPU and Microprocessor?
What is the difference between CPU and Microprocessor?
1
vote
5
answers
986
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What happened to the term motherboard? [closed]
I'm on Dell Support and they seem to constantly refer to the motherboard as a mainboard or a logicboard. Seems like a strange shift in usage to me.
What happened?
18
votes
5
answers
15k
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What does it mean to "align" partitions?
I am familiar with what partitions are, but I saw a question about aligned partitions on Ask Ubuntu, and realised I didn't know what "aligned partitions" are.
So what does it mean to "align" ...
2
votes
1
answer
6k
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"bus speed", "rated bus speed", "stock bus speed"
I was wondering what are differences between "bus speed", "rated bus speed", "stock bus speed"?
I saw in Speccy running on my laptop:
Bus Speed 200.0 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 800.1 MHz
Stock Core ...
0
votes
1
answer
79
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When using 'bash' or 'ksh', is there any alternative name for '\' when connecting lines?
Two lines can be linked together as a unit using '\' (which is a somewhat arbitrarily chosen character). Accordingly both are parsed together. What do you call the linking character. I know that '#!...
43
votes
5
answers
47k
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What is the difference between a directory and a folder? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Directory vs. Folder
Most people use the terms "folder" and "directory" interchangeably. Is there a difference, and if so, what is it?
2
votes
2
answers
2k
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Is TRIM an acronym?
I'm investigating the use of SSDs for a program that does some very sustained sequential reads. I have seen "TRIM" in capitals in various online references and explanations, but no reference to what ...
2
votes
3
answers
2k
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What is a network segment?
Can anyone explain exactly what a network segment is?
For example, is my PC a network segment? And my modem or router?
7
votes
2
answers
933
views
Why some standards are called Request For Comments? [closed]
Is it just historic name or it has some real ground?
Should I use the term "request for comments, RFC" when putting some document just to receive comments, not to establish a standard?