(FORTUNE Magazine) – The world of digital technology is famous for its rapid pace of innovation, and the language that describes it changes just as quickly. Because the computer industry is constantly spinning out new acronyms and indecipherable terminology, even the most dedicated techie will occasionally run across some unfamiliar jargon. And if you're new to shopping for a notebook computer, comparing cellular phones, or exploring the World Wide Web, there's certain to be a term or two in this guide you haven't seen before. Not to worry. We've put together a list of words, phrases, and acronyms you'll need to know and defined them below.

A

ACTIVE MATRIX SCREEN A computer display, found in notebook computers, that uses a liquid crystal display. Each dot, or pixel, on the screen is represented by a separate transistor, resulting in a sharper, brighter image.

ADDRESS A label that enables machines on a computer network or the Internet to identify each other uniquely. An E-mail address usually takes the form of an individual name, a group name, and a domain name separated by the @ sign and periods, such as fortune-letters@pathfinder.com.

AGENT A program that performs tasks independently, such as sorting E-mail messages or searching the Web, according to pre-set preferences.

APPLICATION Computer software that enables users to perform specific tasks, such as word processing or desktop publishing.

ASPECT RATIO Ratio of width to height of a computer display or TV screen.

B BACKUP Extra copies of files and applications created in case the originals are damaged or destroyed.

BANDWIDTH The transmission capacity of a computer connection. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second.

BIT The smallest unit of information a computer can hold. An abbreviation of binary digit.

BPS Bits per second. Describes the transmission speed of a modem or other communications device.

BROWSER Software, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, that enables a computer user to search for, display, and download the multimedia information that appears on the World Wide Web.

BYTE The basic unit of memory. Represents the amount of memory (eight bits) needed to specify one letter, number, or symbol.

C

CABLE MODEM A special modem that uses the cable TV network as a gateway for sending and receiving information.

CACHE A portion of RAM set aside as a temporary storage area, or buffer, to speed up communications between the microprocessor and the hard drive or other components.

CD-ROM Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. A disk, similar to a CD, that stores large quantities of information, such as an encyclopedia or a software application. Though most are read-only, some, called CD-R, can be written to once for archival purposes.

CDMA Code Division Multiple Access. A specification for dividing up digital cellular phone frequencies by assigning each user a unique code.

CHAT A form of interactive communication that enables computer users in separate locations to have real-time conversations. Usually takes place at Websites called chat rooms.

CLIENT/SERVER Computing systems in which the workload is split between desktop PCs ("the client") and one or more larger computers ("the server") that are connected via a network.

COOKIE A string of numbers a Website uses to identify visitors. The cookie can contain information about subscriptions and memberships to online services and other information.

CPU Central Processing Unit. Refers to the microprocessor around which a personal computer is built (such as the Pentium Pro or PowerPC chip).

CYBERSPACE A term used to describe the world set up by global networks, especially the Internet. Originally coined by author William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer.

D

DATABASE A set of data that is structured and organized for quick access to specific information.

DESKTOP A metaphor for the on-screen computing environment. It includes the screen background and the windows, icons, documents, and tools that appear on it.

DIAL-UP Connection to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) host computer over standard telephone lines. The most common type of Internet account for home users.

DISK DRIVE The device that reads from and writes to a floppy disk. It is typically built into a PC, though external drives can be connected.

DOWNLOAD To transfer data or software code from one disk, one computer, or one network to another.

DPI Dots Per Inch. Refers to the number of pixels or dots of ink in one square inch. It is a measurement of the resolution or sharpness of text and graphics that a printer can print or a monitor can display.

DSL Digital Subscriber Loop. A high-speed modem technology that operates at 768 kilobytes per second or faster. Telephone companies are expected to begin offering the technology in 1998 for home and business use.

DUAL-SCAN DISPLAY A variant of a passive matrix display in which the top and bottom half of the screen are refreshed simultaneously, yielding better display quality.

DVD A disk, similar to a CD, that can hold a two-hour movie. Originally an acronym for Digital Video Disk.

DVD-ROM A high-capacity, read-only disk with up to 2.6 gigabytes of storage capacity.

E

E-MAIL Electronic mail. A method of sending messages, usually text but also graphics and document attachments, via a computer network.

ENCRYPTION A technology for making data being transmitted across a network unreadable to anyone except the recipient.

ETHERNET A widely used, local area network technology for connecting computers, printers, server, and other devices in the same building or campus.

EXTRANET A network built on Internet protocols and operated over the public Internet for private business-to-business communication.

F

FIREWALL Software that protects a private network from intrusion via the public Internet.

FLASH MEMORY A solid-state memory product that can take the place of a hard disk drive or other storage device.

FLOPPY DISK A portable, 3.5-inch disk used to store information magnetically.

G

GIF Graphics Interchange Format. A digital format for displaying and compressing/decompressing images.

GIGABYTE Abbreviated GB. A unit of memory equal to 1,000 megabytes.

GROUPWARE Programs that permit simultaneous work on a file by more than one networked user. Users can see changes made by any other person as they occur.

H

HARD DISK DRIVE The main form of storage for computers and notebooks.

HARDWARE The keyboard, monitor, circuitry, and other non-software components that make up a computer.

HOME PAGE The primary site on the Web for an organization or individual. Usually contains links to other related pages.

HTML Hypertext Markup Language. The authoring software language used to create and link pages on the World Wide Web.

HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The standard protocol used for sharing information on the Internet. It is the basis for the World Wide Web.

HYPERLINK A highlighted area on a Website that calls up another Web page when clicked. Hyperlinks are created using HTML.

I

INKJET PRINTER A printer that works by spraying ink through a nozzle onto the paper.

INTERNET A worldwide collection of interconnected networks that enables users to share information electronically and provides digital access to a wide variety of services.

INTRANET A private network, set up within a corporation or organization, which operates over the Internet and may be used to link geographically remote sites.

ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network. An internationally standardized digital telephone technology. Provides very high data-transfer rates, often used for fast connections to the Internet and for video-conferencing.

ISP Internet Service Provider. A company that provides access to the Internet, usually via the public telephone network.

J

JAVA A scripting language for writing computer applications that can be run on any operating system. Developed by Sun Microsystems.

JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group. One of two digital formats for displaying and compressing/decompressing photographs and other still images. The other is the Graphics Interchange Format or GIF.

K

KEYWORD A word used to focus an online search.

KILOBYTE Abbreviated K or KB. A unit of memory equal to 1,024 bytes (or about 1,000 bytes, hence kilobyte).

L

LAN Local Area Network. A group of personal computers linked together in a building or campus to share programs, data, E-mail, peripherals, and other resources.

LASER PRINTER A printer that uses laser-beam scanning to produce very-high-resolution output.

LCD Liquid Crystal Display. A portable-computer-screen technology that uses a liquid crystal compound sealed between two polarized filter sheets.

LED Light Emitting Diode. Small red, green, or amber lights found on computer equipment. Most LED displays have been replaced by LCDs.

M

MEGABYTE Abbreviated as MB. A unit of memory equal to one million bytes.

MEGAHERTZ Abbreviated MHz. The unit of measure that describes the rate at which computers operate. A rough guide to computer performance but not the only benchmark for comparing dissimilar computers.

MEMORY A data storage area for information and applications. RAM and ROM are types of computer memory.

MIME Multipart Internet Mail Extension. A standard for transmitting non-text media with E-mail over the Internet.

MMX A built-in enhancement on some Intel microprocessors that enables them to deliver better performance in multimedia and communications applications.

MODEM A communications device that enables computers to communicate over telephone lines.

MPEG Moving Pictures Experts Group. A digital format for compressing/decompressing moving-picture files. MPEG-2 is the latest version of this format.

N

NC Network COMPUTER. A desktop terminal with limited local storage capability that is designed primarily to execute programs delivered over a network.

NET PC A desktop computer designed for easier centralized management over networks than traditional PCs.

NETWORK A group of computers linked together to share resources. Common types are LANs, WANs, and intranets.

NEWSGROUP A forum on the Internet where users can debate topics by posting and replying to messages. Unlike chat, newsgroup discussions do not take place in real time.

O

ONLINE SERVICE A commercial service that gives computer users access to a variety of online offerings, such as shopping, games, and chat rooms, as well as access to the Internet.

OPERATING SYSTEM Abbreviated OS. The master software that controls a computer's fundamental operations. PCs generally run a version of Windows; Macintoshes run a version of Mac OS.

P

PACKET SWITCHING A data transmission technology that breaks down a stream of data into smaller units, called packets, and routes them separately over a network.

PARALLEL INTERFACE An interface, or port, between a computer and a peripheral in which the computer sends multiple bits of information to the printer simultaneously.

PASSIVE MATRIX DISPLAY A type of liquid crystal display for portable computers in which the pixels are activated by intersecting horizontal and vertical wires. See Active Matrix Screen.

PC Personal Computer. When abbreviated, formerly referred to the microcomputer brought out by IBM in the early 1980s. But now more widely used as a generic term for any microprocessor-based computer controlled by one person at a time.

PC CARD Also known as PCMCIA card. A standard hardware expansion circuit card, used mainly in notebook and handheld computers.

PENTIUM A family of microprocessors manufactured by Intel. Advanced models include the Pentium Pro and Pentium II.

PERIPHERAL An accessory such as a printer, monitor, or disk drive that can be attached to a computer.

PIXEL A graphics term for the smallest picture element that can be displayed on a screen.

PLUG-AND-PLAY Used to describe peripherals and other devices that only need to be plugged in to a computer to function.

PORT A plug on the back of a computer used to connect peripherals or network connectors.

POWERPC A family of microprocessors used in Macintosh and other computers. Developed by Motorola, IBM, and Apple.

PROTOCOL A set of standards that define communications between computers.

R

RAM Random Access Memory. A form of computer memory used by applications. Information stored in RAM can be altered by the user and is lost when the computer is shut off.

ROM Read Only Memory. The memory that contains the basic instructions for the computer's microprocessor. Users cannot change this information, and it remains intact when the computer is shut off.

S

SCANNER A peripheral used to produce digitized images of documents and photographs, which can be stored as files and edited on a computer.

SCSI Small Computer System Interface. A high-speed port used to connect computers with printers and other peripherals.

SEARCH ENGINE A server-based application used to search large databases for selected words or phrases. Common search engines use keywords to search for information on the World Wide Web.

SERIAL INTERFACE An interface, or port, between a computer and a printer in which the computer sends single bits of information to the device, one after the other.

SERVER See Client/server.

SSL Secure Socket Layer. Encryption protocol that enables information to be sent over networks securely.

SVGA Super Video Graphics Array. Graphics specifications for video output on PCs that surpass the older VGA standards.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE See Operating System.

T

TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A system of network standards that enables computers with different architectures and operating systems to communicate over the Internet.

TDMA Time Division Multiple Access. A technology for dividing up airtime frequencies for digital cellular phone service by interweaving simultaneous phone calls from many users.

U

UNIX A computer operating system developed by AT&T that is commonly used on workstations. It is designed to be used by many people simultaneously and enables them to use several programs at once.

UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply. A backup unit that provides continuous electrical power when the normal power supply is interrupted.

URL Uniform Resource Locator. The standard format for the address of any computer or resource on the World Wide Web. It contains information about the server to be contacted and the method and path of access, e.g. http://www.patriots.com.

USB Universal Serial Bus. An external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 megabytes per second.

V

VGA Video Graphics Array. The eight-bit graphics standards for video output on PCs, which feature 640 x 480 resolution and 256 colors.

VIDEOCONFERENCE A communications system that enables people in separate locations to meet using live video pictures and sound.

VIRUS A destructive software program that "infects" a computer through a disk or downloaded program.

W

WAN Wide Area Network. A network that covers a large geographic area, such as a state or country.

WEB See World Wide Web.

WINDOW A rectangular area on the screen, showing a section of a program or document.

WINDOWS The operating system written by Microsoft. Windows 95 is intended for individual PCs, while Windows NT is designed to provide networking services.

WIZARD Part of a software program that guides the user through a complex process like signing up with an ISP or posting a Web page to the server.

WORLD WIDE WEB Abbreviated WWW. A section of the Internet that offers easy access to text, graphics, sound, and other multimedia resources.