Computer Terms and Definitions

Computer and Internet Glossary

Computer and Internet terms beginning with the letter C.

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C/C++C is a high-level programming language that was developed in the mid-1970s. It was...
Cable ModemA cable modem is used for connecting to the Internet and is much faster than a...
CacheThis term is pronounced like "cash" -- not "catch," and definitely not "cash...
CADStands for "Computer-Aided Design." Also known by engineers and architects as the...
Camera RAWMost digital cameras process and compress the pictures you take immediately after...
Caps LockCaps lock is a feature nearly all keyboards have that, when active, capitalizes...
CaptchaA captcha is a challenge-response test that determines whether a user is human or...
Card Reader"Card reader" is the generic term for an input device that reads flash memory...
CcStands for "Carbon Copy." The term comes from carbon copying, in which a piece of...
CCDStands for "Charged Coupled Device." CCDs are sensors used in digital cameras and...
CDStands for "Compact Disc." CDs are circular discs that are 4.75 in (12 cm) in...
CD-RStands for "Compact Disc Recordable." CD-R discs are blank CDs that can record...
CD-ROMStands for "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory." A CD-ROM is a CD that can be read by a...
CD-RWStands for "Compact Disc Re-Writable." A CD-RW is a blank CD that can be written...
CDMAStands for "Code Division Multiple Access." CDMA is a wireless transmission...
CellA cell is a location in a spreadsheet defined by the intersection of a row and...
CertificateAn SSL certificate, or secure certificate, is a file installed on a secure Web...
CGIStands for "Common Gateway Interface." CGI is a set of rules for running scripts...
CharacterA character is any letter, number, space, punctuation mark, or symbol that can be...
ChecksumA checksum is a calculated sum used to check the integrity of a file. It can be...
ChipTechnically speaking, a computer chip is a piece of silicon with an electonic...
ChipsetA chipset describes the architecture of an integrated circuit. This includes the...
CISCStands for "Complex Instruction Set Computing." This is a type of microprocessor...
Clean RoomA simple definition of this would be "the opposite of my bedroom." But technically...
ClientIn the real world, businesses have clients. In the computer world, servers have...
Clip ArtClip art is a collection of pictures or images that can be imported into a document...
ClipboardThe clipboard is a section of RAM where your computer stores copied data. This can...
CLOBCLOB is short for "Character Large Object." It is a data type used to store large...
Clock SpeedClock speed is the rate at which a processor can complete a processing cycle. It...
CloneWhat do sheep, droids, and computers all have in common? They can all be cloned...
Cloud ComputingCloud computing is a general term used to describe Internet services. These...
ClusterIn the computer world, a cluster can refer to two different things: 1) A group...
CMOSStands for "Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor." This technology is typically...
CMYKStands for "Cyan Magenta Yellow Black." These are the four basic colors used for...
CodecNo, this is not just a cheap rip-off of Kodak. The name "codec" is short for...
Command PromptA command prompt is used in a text-based or "command-line" interface, such as a...
Commercial SoftwareComputer software comes in three different flavors: freeware, shareware, and...
Compact FlashOften abbreviated as simply "CF," Compact Flash is a type of flash memory. Compact...
CompileWhen programmers create software programs, they first write the program in source...
CompilerA compiler is a software program that compiles program source code files into an...
ComponentComputers are made up of many different parts, such as a motherboard, CPU, RAM, and...
ComputerTechnically, a computer is a programmable machine. This means it can execute a...
Computer EthicsEthics is a set of moral principles that govern the behavior of a group or...
ConfigurationIn the computing world, when people talk about their computer configuration, they...
Contextual MenuA contextual menu is a pop-up menu that appears when you right-click on a certain...
Control PanelThe Control Panel is a feature of the Windows operating system that allows the user...
Controller CardThe controller card, or simply "controller," is a piece of hardware that acts as...
CookieIt seems like everyone who tries to explain what a cookie is just has to make a...
CopyMany software programs allow you to copy data, such as text in Microsoft Word or an...
CopyrightCopyright protects an author's original work from being copied and republished by...
CPAStands for "Cost Per Action," and is used in online advertising. CPA defines how...
CPCStands for "Cost Per Click," and is used in online advertising. CPC defines how...
CPLStands for "Cost Per Lead," and is used in online advertising. CPL defines how...
CPMStands for "Cost Per 1,000 Impressions," and is used in online advertising. CPM...
CPSStands for "Classroom Performance System." CPS refers to a technology system that...
CPUStands for "Central Processing Unit." This is the pretty much the brain of your...
CRMStands for "Customer Relationship Management." This is a business term that...
CronAlso known as a "cron job," a cron is a process or task that runs periodically on a...
CropWhen you crop an image or photo, you remove part of the image. This may involve...
Cross-BrowserCross-browser means that a website is compatible with multiple Web browsers. This...
CrossplatformSoftware that can run on multiple types of computer systems. For example, the...
CRTStands for "Cathode Ray Tube." CRT is the technology used in traditional computer...
CSSStands for "Cascading Style Sheet." Cascading style sheets are used to format the...
CTPStands for "Composite Theoretical Performance." CTP is used to measure the...
CTRStands for "Click-Through Rate," and is used in online advertising. Web publishers...
CursorThe cursor on your screen can indicate two things: 1) where your mouse pointer is...
CutThe Cut command removes a selected object and copies it to the clipboard. It...
CyberbullyingCyberbullying involves harassing, embarrassing, or threatening a young person via...
CybercrimeCybercrime is criminal activity done using computers and the Internet. This...
CyberspaceUnlike most computer terms, "cyberspace" does not have a standard, objective...

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