Operating systems and platforms terms

Word size refers to the number of bits processed, stored, or transmitted simultaneously by a computer's processor or memory.

Windows service refers to a type of software application that runs in the background of a Windows operating system without user intervention.

Windows Remote Management (WinRM) is a protocol developed by Microsoft, enabling administrators to manage and control Windows-based systems remotely.

Windows Registry is a hierarchical database in Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Windows Deployment Services is a server technology for remotely installing Windows operating systems network wide.

A warm boot, often called a soft reboot, occurs when the operating system restarts while the hardware remains powered on.

VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) used in embedded systems that require high performance, determinism, and reliability.

Volatile data is information that's temporarily stored in a computer's RAM while the system is running.

Void pointer refers to a special type of pointer that programmers can point to any type of variable.

vMem (virtual memory) is a memory management technique used by operating systems (OS) to extend the available physical memory of a computer by using a portion of the hard disk or solid-state drive.

A virtual file system is an abstraction layer in an operating structure that provides a uniform interface to access diverse types of file storage frameworks.

A virtual device driver is a special type of software device driver designed for Microsoft Windows/386 2.x — the 386 enhanced mode of Windows 3.x and Windows 9x Windows 9x (95, 98, and Me) operating systems (OS).

A virtual address is a memory address that is generated by the operating system and presented to a program as if it were the actual physical address in the computer's main memory (RAM).

User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature by Microsoft in Windows operating systems.

USB debugging, also known as Android Debug Bridge (ADB) mode, is a development tool in the Android operating system that allows a device to communicate with a computer for advanced operations.

Unix box is an informal term often used to describe a computer running a Unix-based operating system.

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a modern replacement for the old BIOS bootloader in computers.

A Turing-complete system (such as a computer or a programming language) is one that can simulate a Turing machine.

Top-down design is the process of the decomposition of a system down to its smaller tasks/parts to understand how they function together.

Tool kit (or Tk) is an open-source, cross-platform programming tool for building user interfaces and developing apps.

Time-sharing is a computing technique that lets several users or processes share one computer's resources, such as the CPU and memory, at the same time.

A thin client is a lightweight computer that is designed to connect to a server-based system.

A thick client is a type of software that runs on a user’s computer or device.

System software is software that manages, controls, and operates the computer’s hardware.

System integrity protection refers to a macOS security feature, designed to protect critical system files and directories from modification, even by processes running with administrative privileges (root user).

System files are critical documents required by an operating system (OS) or device driver to function properly.

Sysinternals is a set of advanced system utilities and tools developed by Microsoft.

Symbian is a discontinued mobile operating system (OS) designed for handheld devices, which was popular in the early 2000s.

svchost.exe is a system process hosting one or more Windows services formally introduced with Windows 2000.

A superuser, also called a root user or administrator, is a special user account used for system administration.

Subtyping is a concept in object-oriented programming that refers to the relationship between two classes, where one class is considered a subtype of another.

Structured systems analysis and design method (SSAADM) refers to a methodology to control and guide the process of system development in the information systems industry.

Sticky bit refers to a permission bit that can be set on a file or directory in a Unix-based operating system, such as Linux or macOS.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) represent a multidisciplinary educational approach that concentrates on cultivating proficiency and expertise in these four areas.

In software development, static linking is the practice of including all of the program’s libraries required into a single, standalone executable file.

State is the current configuration or condition of a system, program, or device at a given time.

A Standard Operating Environment is a predefined setup of an organization's computers' operating system and software applications.

Standard generalized markup language (SGML) refers to a standardized metalanguage used for defining the structure and type of documents.

A stack frame, often just called a 'frame,' is a section of the stack dedicated to a particular function call.

Spooling is the practice of holding data in temporary storage for execution by another device or program.

Source code is a set of instructions written by a programmer in one or more programming languages.

A software package is a bundled collection of computer programs, files, documentation, and all other components that are necessary for it to work.

Software library refers to a collection of pre-written code, procedures, or scripts a programmer can use instead of coding everything from scratch.

A software interrupt is a signal to the processor initiated by software, indicating an event that needs immediate attention.

A showstopper bug is a critical defect that stops an application or operating system in its tracks.

A service pack is a collection of software product updates, bug fixes, and patches.

Service control manager (SCM) is a component that facilitates Windows operating systems with launching and stopping various system services, some of which are closely related to security.

A segmentation fault is a computing error that occurs when a program tries to access a memory location it is not allowed to — for example, by attempting to access memory that has been deallocated.

Secure boot is a security feature implemented in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) that ensures the integrity of a computer's boot process.

A scripting language is a programming language designed for automating routine tasks, manipulating data, and integrating systems and applications.

Screen lock serves as a protective measure, commonly integrated within both operating systems and applications, necessitating users to confirm their identity before accessing a device or application.

Sandbox gaming is a type of video game that allows the player to have a high degree of freedom to explore and interact with the game world in a nonlinear fashion.

Safe mode is a diagnostic operating mode in devices and software designed to help users troubleshoot and resolve issues by running only the essential system components.

A runtime system is an essential part of software that keeps computer programs running smoothly when you use them.

RPG stands for role-playing game, a type of game where a player assumes the role of a character in a fictional world.

Root user refers to a special user account that has the highest level of privileges and authority within the system, granting unrestricted access to all files, directories, commands, and system resources.

A root node is the top node in a tree data structure.

Root access is the highest access level given by a computer system or mobile device to users.

A remote computer is any computer that is in a different location than the user and allows that user to access and control the system.

The Red Screen of Death refers to a full-screen error message that mostly appears on certain versions of Microsoft Vista, PlayStation, and ATI graphics cards.

Recovery mode is a term that signifies a boot-enabled partition equipped with a recovery console.

Real-time computing refers to a computing system category that processes information and reacts to input within a particular time constraint, frequently measured in milliseconds.

A race condition arises when the functioning of a system is contingent on the relative sequence of events, such as the execution order of threads or processes.

Quantum error correction is a method used in quantum computing to protect information from errors caused by noise and disturbances.

PvE is a type of gameplay where the player competes against computer-controlled opponents or predesigned challenges rather than against other players.

Public domain software refers to any software not owned by a person or company, thus it is not subject to copyright laws.

PsExec is a free command-line utility for Windows that allows running programs on remote computers without having to install any client software.

Pseudocode is a method used by programmers and developers to represent algorithms in a human-friendly, informal language that doesn't necessarily adhere to specific programming syntax.

Proprietary software is any software that is copyrighted and has limits set for its use, distribution, and modification.

A privileged account is a user account with elevated permissions granting access to critical systems, data, and resources within an organization's network.

A primary storage device is a type of data storage that is actively used or processed by the computer's central processing unit (CPU).

In coding, a preprocessor directive is a special instruction that must be executed before the code is compiled.

Preemption refers to briefly pausing a task without asking for its consent to resume it later.

PowerShell is an object-based automation engine and command-line shell for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Portable operating system interface (POSIX) refers to a set of standardized programming tools that enable compatibility between different Unix-like operating systems.

A portable computer is a computer that can be moved from one place to another.

Platform agnostic refers to software, applications, or services designed to operate across various operating systems, device types, web browsers, or other foundational technologies.

A pathname is a string that specifies the precise location of an object (such as a file or directory) in a file system.

A patch refers to a software update designed to fix a specific bug or improve security.

A parser is a software component used in parsing, where the source code is fractionalized into smaller parts so that software programs can understand it better.

Parallel processing is a computing technique that involves running two or more processors to handle separate parts of one task.

An open system is an open-source operating system that consists of components from several sources and doesn’t rely on proprietary elements.

Object-oriented programming is a programming paradigm that prioritizes objects over functions and logic.

A nano kernel is an operating system architecture that provides the bare minimum services required for the system to work.

Mutual exclusion is a program object that blocks multiple users from accessing the same shared variable or data at the same time.

The most significant bit (MSB) is the bit in a multiple-bit binary number representing the highest power of two in the number.

In computer science, monoculture refers to a large portion of computer systems or software relying on the same technology, platform, or vendor.

Microbrowser refers to a web browser designed specifically for use on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

A memory dump is taking all the information in your device’s working memory (RAM) and creating a copy of it in your computer's hard drive.

Memory-driven computing is a type of computer architecture that uses large memory pools connected to multiple processing units.

In cybersecurity, “The memory data register” (MDR) is part of a computer’s central processing unit, also known as (CPU).

Memory compression is a computer technique that reduces the amount of space that data occupies in a computer's memory (RAM) — but without losing any information.

Memory allocation is the process of reserving virtual or physical computer space for a specific purpose (e.g., for computer programs and services to run).

Master Boot Record (MBR) refers to a specialized region on a storage device that holds essential information required to initiate a computer's boot sequence.

Massively parallel processing is a method of computer processing that uses many separate processors to perform a set of coordinated computations simultaneously.

Machine cycle refers to a sequence of steps that a computer's central processing unit (CPU) goes through in order to execute a single machine language instruction.

Loadable kernel modules are software components that can be dynamically loaded and unloaded into the kernel of an operating system without requiring a system reboot.

A legacy system is an outdated hardware or software that limits an organization’s progress and growth.

The least significant bit is the least weighted bit in a binary number.

KLOC is a metric that measures the size of a software project.

A keyboard buffer is a temporary storage area in a computer's memory that holds the keystrokes you type on your keyboard until the computer is ready to process them.

A kernel is a program that lets users interface with their device’s hardware.

Just enough operating system is a minimalist version of an operating system that’s tailored and optimized for the needs of a particular application.

Jank is flaws or poor-quality processes that cause slow reaction times for software or that obstruct user activities.

The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is an interface used to remotely control and monitor computer systems.

An INI file is a configuration file that computer programs use to store settings in plain text.

Information processing refers to the process of acquiring, organizing, storing, retrieving, or modifying information.

Hybrid computer is a computer intended to provide functions and features in both analog and digital computers.

A human-machine interface is an interface that connects a user to a system by visually representing an equipment's control and monitoring functions.

Host security is a term that includes a range of security tools that individuals and organizations implement and deploy at the host level of their computers.

A host operating system (or a host OS) is the primary operating system on your computer (e.g., Windows, macOS, or Linux).

A home server is a computer that functions in a home network.

A headless system is a computer or device that operates without a traditional user interface, such as a monitor, keyboard, or mouse.

A hard reset is the process of removing all data from a device and restoring its initial factory settings.

A hard reboot is the process of restarting your device after its power has been completely switched off.

A hard link is a directory entry that associates a file name with a file in an operating system, allowing multiple file names to refer to the same file.

A Hackintosh is a home-built version of an Apple Macintosh computer with the Mackintosh operating system (macOS or MacOS X) configured and modified to run on regular PC hardware.

A hackathon is a time-limited event where individuals or groups compete to produce software or hardware based on the event’s criteria.

Group Policy refers to a Microsoft Windows feature, allowing administrators to manage the configuration settings of multiple computers within a network.

A graphical user interface is computer software that allows users to interact with devices by manipulating graphical elements like windows, icons, scroll bars, and mouse pointers.

Granularity is a computer science term that refers to the computation-to-communication ratio (the C/C ratio) — or the breaking down of larger tasks into smaller ones.

Globbing is using wildcard characters (asterisks and question marks) to request or evaluate sets of files with the same partial sets of characters.

FPS is the number of individual images (frames) displayed per second in a video or animation.

FOSS (also known as FLOSS) describes free and open-source software.

Forward compatibility is the ability of a system or software to work with future versions or upgrades of the same system or software without requiring any changes or modifications.

File management system refers to a type of software that manages and organizes files on a computer or a storage device.

File descriptor refers to a numeric number identifier used in operating systems, meaning it’s a special number that a computer uses to track files and devices it is using.

FCFS is a scheduling algorithm that helps operating systems and networks efficiently and automatically carry out tasks, processes, and requests in the order in which they are added to the queue.

A fatal exception is an error in a computer program or system that prevents it from continuing to operate correctly.

A fatal error is a severe software malfunction that immediately halts program execution.

A factory reset is a data-deletion method that people can use to erase all the data from their devices.

Extensibility is the capacity of a system to have new features or functions added to it without modifying the underlying foundations.

An exokernel is an operating system architecture that gives applications direct access to hardware resources.

An executable file is a computer file that contains a software application in a form that can be run (“executed”) by the host device’s operating system.

Exception handling is a critical programming concept that deals with managing errors or unexpected events that happen when a program is executed.

An even parity refers to an error detection method where an extra bit, or a parity bit, is added to each data unit.

An enterprise application is a large-scale, integrated software platform that addresses the needs and operations of an organization.

Emoticon is a small icon that represents a wide range of concepts, including feelings and symbols within a text message.

An embedded operating system is a specialized type of operating system designed to manage embedded systems (computer systems combining hardware and software to perform specific functions only).

Early launch anti-malware (ELAM) is a security feature that protects computers during the boot-up process before most other software starts.

A dynamic library is a concept in programming in which shared libraries containing special functions are initiated only during the course of a program's execution.

Donationware falls under the category of freeware.

A domain-specific language is a computer language specialized to a particular application domain.

A domain admin (DA) is an automatically created security group in the Active Directory domain that has full control over it.

DLL Hell refers to the complications that arise when working with Dynamic-link library (DLL) on Windows.

Disk cache is a temporary computer memory that stores frequently used data.

A dirty bit represents a solitary binary digit employed by computing systems to monitor whether a distinct data unit, like a cache line or a memory page, has undergone modifications since its most recent save.

A device driver is software that allows your computer’s operating system to communicate with a hardware device (such as a printer or a keyboard).

Desktop management interface (DMI) is a way to access information about a computer’s or system’s configuration.

Dead code is programming that will never be executed during a program's runtime and thus serves no purpose in the program's functionality.

A data flow model is a diagrammatic representation of how data moves and is used within a system.

Data execution prevention is a Windows security feature.

Data binding is a way to connect an app's user interface (UI) with its data.

A daemon is a computer program that is always running in the background of a multitasking operating system.

Cross-platform is a computer product or system compatible with several operating systems.

Control structure refers to a programming language feature that allows a programmer to control the flow of execution of a program.

A configuration file is a file that contains the parameters and initial settings for user applications, server processes, and operating systems (OS).

A computer system represents a cohesive combination of hardware, software, and networking elements configured to execute specific functions or a collection of tasks.

A computer cluster, also known as a host cluster, is a set of computers connected to work as a single system.

Computer architecture refers to the design and organization of a computer's fundamental operational structures.

Compute security combines measures, practices, and technologies you use to protect computer systems.

Compute platforms are the essential hardware and software systems that let us run programs and complete tasks.

A compiler is a software tool that translates human-readable programming code (usually written in high-level programming languages like Java or Python) into code that machines can read and execute.

Compatibility is the ability of different devices, software programs, or systems to work together without issues.

Common Language Runtime is a component that powers the .

A command-line interface is an interface where users interact with the software by typing text commands into a console or terminal window via their keyboard and receiving text outputs.

A cold boot is a method where the computer is powered off first or is given a command that causes it to restart.

Code management is the procedure of overseeing, coordinating, and monitoring modifications to the source code in software development endeavors.

Code bloat is when programmers add too much code in the app development stage, which may make it slower and less efficient.

A clean install is a new installation is where the previous version of the application or operating system is eradicated and then replaced by the latest version.

A clean boot is a troubleshooting technique used in computing to start a system with minimal drivers and startup programs.

A character set is a collection of characters used to represent text in a computer system.

Char is a computer science term referring to a single display unit of information equivalent to one alphabetic symbol, digit, or letter.

In computer science, a call stack is an important mechanism that helps computers manage their tasks while running a program.

A cache miss happens when the data that a system or application requests to retrieve cannot be found in the cache memory.

A byte order mark (BOM) is a special character or sequence of bytes placed at the beginning of a text file to indicate its encoding and byte order.

Bus mastering is a feature where a device connected to the bus is able to access system memory directly without the continuous involvement of the CPU.

A bootloader, also known as a boot manager or bootstrap loader, is a specialized program or software component that initializes the operating system (OS) loading when a computer system is switched on.

Boolean logic is a mathematical logic system working with true and false values, symbolized by 1 and 0, respectively.

The blue screen of death (BSOD) is a blue error screen displayed on Windows operating systems, it appears when critical system errors occur and the whole system crashes, thus it becomes unresponsive.

Batch processing is a technique of executing a series of non-interactive jobs all at once.

A batch file is a type of script file in Windows that contains a sequence of commands for a computer's command line interface.

A base address is the starting memory address or location of a block of memory or data in a system’s memory.

A bare metal environment is a computer setup where an operating system or applications run directly on the hardware.

Backwards compatibility refers to the ability of a newer version of a software or system to function correctly with data and programs created by or for an older version of the same software or system.

Backporting is the practice of applying specific changes or improvements from newer versions of software to older versions.

Autonomic computing is a way of designing computer systems to mimic the self-regulation found in the human body's autonomic nervous system.

An assembler is a type of program that converts assembly language (a low-level programming language) into machine code (binary) so that it can be executed on a computer.

Address space layout randomization (ASLR) is a security technique that randomly arranges key data area positions in a process's address space.

ASCII (short for “American Standard Code for Information Interchange”) is a character encoding standard developed in the early 1960s.

An application program is a software program designed to perform specific tasks or functions for users.

Application management is the process of managing software applications throughout their lifecycle, from initial deployment to retirement.

Application deployment refers to all the processes involved in making software available for use.

An application base provides the framework for various software programs to run and interact.

An Android package kit is a file format that Android users can utilize to distribute, sell, and install apps and middleware on Android-based devices.

An analog computer is a type of computer that is used to process analog data.

Administrative privileges is a higher level of access than standard users enjoy.