By Flurin Witschi - March 9th, 2017

This is a glossary of common computer terms that you may or may not know. This list will be updated semi-frequently, so feel free to post questions or comments, or requests for terms.

Hardware

The physical electronic components inside of your computer. eg Hard drive, graphics card, network adapter, DVD drive, power supply.

Software

A compilation of written code that performs certain specific tasks on a computer. eg Microsoft Word, Mozilla Firefox, Avast Anti-Virus

Related terms: applications, programs, apps

Operating System

A piece of software that acts as an intermediary between the hardware and software of a computer. eg Microsoft Windows 10, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, GNU/Linux

Word Processor

Software that allows you to compose documents such as letters, papers, essays, or short stories. Word processors are new age typewriters.

eg Microsoft Word, Libre Office Writer, Google Docs

Spreadsheets

An interactive sheet with rows and columns, mostly used to manipulate numbers. Can be used to make personal budgets or keep track of funds, or to create simple databases. eg Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets