💻 Information Technology · Vocabulary for Specific Fields · 150 words

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algorithm n	a set of steps a computer follows to solve a problem The team designed a faster sorting algorithm for the search service.
software n	programs and instructions that run on a computer Our company develops accounting software for small businesses.
hardware n	the physical parts of a computer system The hardware upgrade doubled the speed of our database servers.
database n	an organized collection of data stored on a computer All customer orders are stored in a central database.
server n	a computer that provides data or services to other computers The web server crashed during the product launch.
network n	a group of connected computers that share data The office network was down for two hours this morning.
source code n	the original instructions written by programmers Developers must review the source code before each release.
programming language n	a formal language used to write computer programs Python is the main programming language used by our data team.
compile v	to convert source code into a program a computer can run The project takes about five minutes to compile on a laptop.
compiler n	a program that converts source code into machine code The compiler reported three errors in the payment module.
debug v	to find and remove errors in a program She spent all afternoon debugging the login page.
bug n	a mistake in a program that makes it work incorrectly Testers found a serious bug in the checkout process.
variable n	a named place in a program that stores a value Give each variable a clear name so the code is easy to read.
function n	a named block of code that performs a specific task This function calculates the total price including tax.
loop n	code that repeats until a condition is met An infinite loop caused the application to freeze.
array n	a list of values stored under one name The function returns an array of user IDs.
string n	a sequence of characters such as text The input field accepts a string of up to fifty characters.
integer n	a whole number without a fractional part The age field must contain a positive integer.
boolean n	a data type with only two values: true or false The flag is stored as a boolean in the settings table.
data type n	a category that defines what kind of value data holds Choose the correct data type for each column in the table.
object-oriented programming n	a style of programming based on objects and classes Object-oriented programming makes large codebases easier to maintain.
class n	a template that defines the data and behavior of objects Each class in the project lives in its own file.
inheritance n	when a class receives properties from a parent class Inheritance lets the Manager class reuse code from the Employee class.
framework n	a ready-made structure of code for building applications We built the web portal with a popular JavaScript framework.
library n	a collection of reusable code that programs can use The team added a charting library to display sales data.
application programming interface n	a set of rules that lets programs communicate The bank offers an application programming interface for payment partners.
API n	short for application programming interface The mobile app gets weather data through a public API.
endpoint n	a specific URL where an API receives requests Each endpoint of the service must require authentication.
user interface n	the screens and controls people use to operate software The new user interface is much simpler for older customers.
user experience n	how easy and pleasant a product is to use Slow loading times hurt the user experience on mobile.
front end n	the part of an application users see and interact with She works on the front end of the booking website.
back end n	the server side of an application that handles data and logic The back end processes thousands of orders every minute.
full-stack developer n	a developer who works on both front end and back end We are hiring a full-stack developer for the e-commerce team.
operating system n	the main software that manages a computer and its programs The laptops will be updated to the latest operating system next week.
application n	a program designed for a particular task The application lets staff submit leave requests online.
web browser n	a program used to view websites Test the site in every major web browser before launch.
domain name n	the address people type to reach a website The company registered a new domain name for its online store.
IP address n	a number that identifies a device on a network The firewall blocked requests from a suspicious IP address.
bandwidth n	the amount of data a connection can carry at once Video calls use a lot of bandwidth during peak hours.
latency n	the delay before data starts to transfer Moving the servers closer to users reduced latency by half.
router n	a device that sends data between networks The router in the meeting room needs to be replaced.
firewall n	a system that blocks unauthorized network traffic The firewall rules were updated after the security audit.
protocol n	a set of rules for how data is sent between devices HTTPS is a secure protocol for transferring web pages.
wireless adj	working without connecting cables Guests can use the wireless network in the lobby.
cloud computing n	using remote servers on the internet to store and process data Cloud computing helped the startup avoid buying expensive servers.
virtual machine n	a software version of a computer running on another computer Each tester gets a virtual machine with a clean environment.
virtualization n	creating virtual versions of computers, storage or networks Virtualization allowed us to run twenty servers on one machine.
container n	a lightweight package that holds an application and its dependencies Every microservice in our platform runs inside its own container in the cloud.
microservice n	a small independent service that is part of a larger system The payment microservice can be updated without stopping the whole system.
scalability n	the ability of a system to handle growing demand Scalability was the main concern when choosing the database.
deploy v	to release software so that it runs in a live environment We deploy new features to production every Thursday.
deployment n	the process of releasing software to users The deployment was delayed because of a failed test.
version control n	a system that tracks changes to code over time All projects must use version control from the first day.
repository n	a storage location for code and its history Clone the repository before you start working on the task.
commit v	to save a set of code changes to version control Remember to commit your changes with a clear message.
branch n	a separate line of development in a repository Create a new branch for each feature you build.
merge v	to combine changes from different branches The lead developer will merge the branch after code review.
code review n	checking another developer’s code for errors and quality Code review helps junior developers learn good practices.
open source adj	with source code that anyone can view and modify The company released its testing tool as open source software.
software development life cycle n	the stages of planning, building, testing and maintaining software Security should be considered at every stage of the software development life cycle.
requirement n	a function or condition a system must meet The client changed the requirements twice during the project.
specification n	a detailed description of how something must work Developers followed the technical specification closely when building the payment module.
agile adj	using short cycles and frequent feedback to build software Our team switched to agile development last year.
sprint n	a short fixed period for completing planned work in agile The team plans its work at the start of each two-week sprint.
backlog n	a prioritized list of work still to be done The product owner reorders the backlog every Monday.
unit test n	a test that checks one small part of the code Every new function must come with a unit test.
integration testing n	testing how different parts of a system work together Integration testing revealed a problem between the app and the payment service.
quality assurance n	activities that make sure a product meets quality standards The quality assurance team approved the release candidate.
regression n	a bug that appears in a feature that used to work The update caused a regression in the reporting module.
continuous integration n	automatically building and testing code each time it changes Continuous integration catches errors within minutes of a commit.
automation n	using technology to perform tasks without human effort Test automation saved the team twenty hours each week.
script n	a short program that automates a task He wrote a script to back up the files every night.
command line n	a text interface where users type commands Most server tasks are done from the command line.
syntax n	the rules for writing code correctly in a language A missing bracket caused a syntax error in the build script.
runtime n	the period or environment in which a program runs The error only appears at runtime, not during compilation.
exception n	an error event that interrupts the normal flow of a program The code catches the exception and shows a friendly message.
memory leak n	when a program fails to release memory it no longer needs A memory leak made the server slow down after a few days.
cache n	temporary storage that makes data faster to access Clearing the browser cache fixed the display problem on the dashboard.
storage n	space or devices for keeping digital data We need more storage for the security camera recordings.
processor n	the chip that performs calculations in a computer The new processor handles video editing much faster.
RAM n	short-term memory a computer uses while running programs Developers need at least sixteen gigabytes of RAM.
peripheral n	a device such as a printer or mouse connected to a computer Each workstation has a keyboard, mouse and other peripherals.
driver n	software that lets a computer control a hardware device Install the latest printer driver before printing the monthly reports.
firmware n	permanent software built into a hardware device The camera stopped working after a firmware update failed.
upgrade v	to replace with a newer or better version We will upgrade all office laptops next quarter.
backup n	a copy of data kept in case the original is lost The nightly backup is stored in a separate data center.
data recovery n	getting back data that was lost or damaged The data recovery took two days after the disk failure.
cybersecurity n	protecting computers and networks from digital attacks The bank invests heavily in cybersecurity training for all its employees.
encryption n	converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access All customer data is protected with strong encryption.
authentication n	checking that a user is who they claim to be The portal uses two-factor authentication for all staff.
authorization n	deciding what a user is allowed to access Authorization rules prevent interns from editing payroll data.
password n	a secret word or phrase used to log in Staff must change their password every ninety days.
malware n	software designed to damage or gain access to a computer The antivirus program removed malware from two laptops.
virus n	a harmful program that spreads by copying itself A virus in the email attachment infected the shared drive.
ransomware n	malware that locks files until a payment is made The hospital was hit by ransomware last month.
phishing n	tricking people into giving personal data through fake messages Employees completed a training course on recognizing phishing emails.
vulnerability n	a weakness that attackers can use to harm a system The security team patched the vulnerability within a day.
patch n	a software update that fixes a problem Install the security patch as soon as possible.
data breach n	an incident where private data is accessed without permission The data breach exposed the emails of two million users.
access control n	methods that limit who can use a system or data Strict access control protects the financial records from unauthorized staff.
penetration testing n	simulated attacks used to find security weaknesses An outside firm carries out penetration testing every year.
big data n	extremely large data sets analyzed to find patterns The retailer uses big data to predict buying trends.
data analytics n	examining data to find useful information Data analytics showed that most sales happen on weekends.
data mining n	discovering patterns in large data sets Data mining helped the bank detect unusual transactions.
data warehouse n	a central system that stores data for reporting and analysis Sales figures from all branches flow into the data warehouse.
query n	a request for specific data from a database This query returns all orders placed last month.
table n	a set of data arranged in rows and columns in a database Customer addresses are stored in a separate table.
primary key n	a column that uniquely identifies each row in a table The employee ID is the primary key of the staff table.
dataset n	a collection of related data used for analysis The model was trained on a dataset of ten thousand images.
artificial intelligence n	computer systems that perform tasks needing human intelligence The clinic uses artificial intelligence to read X-ray images.
machine learning n	a type of AI where computers learn from data Machine learning helps the app recommend products to users.
deep learning n	machine learning using neural networks with many layers Deep learning has greatly improved the accuracy of speech recognition software.
neural network n	a computer model inspired by the human brain The neural network can identify faces in crowded photos.
training data n	data used to teach a machine learning model Poor training data led to inaccurate predictions from the sales model.
natural language processing n	technology that helps computers understand human language Natural language processing powers the customer service chatbot.
computer vision n	technology that lets computers understand images and video Computer vision checks products for defects on the assembly line.
chatbot n	a program that talks with users through text or voice The chatbot answers simple questions about delivery times.
Internet of Things n	everyday devices connected to the internet to share data The factory uses the Internet of Things to monitor machines.
blockchain n	a shared digital record of transactions that cannot be changed easily The shipping firm tested blockchain to track containers.
digital transformation n	using digital technology to change how an organization works The ministry launched a five-year digital transformation plan.
information system n	a system that collects, stores and processes information The hospital information system stores all patient records.
enterprise resource planning n	software that manages a company’s main business processes The new enterprise resource planning system links finance and inventory.
software as a service n	software that users access online by subscription Most of our tools are now software as a service.
user account n	a personal profile that allows access to a system IT will create your user account on your first day.
administrator n	a person who manages a computer system or network Ask the system administrator to reset your access rights.
help desk n	a team that helps users with technical problems Call the help desk if your email stops working.
troubleshoot v	to find and solve problems in a system The technician troubleshot the printer and replaced a cable.
downtime n	time when a system is not working or available The upgrade caused thirty minutes of planned downtime.
uptime n	time when a system is running and available The hosting provider guarantees 99.9 percent uptime in its service agreement.
data center n	a building that houses many servers and network equipment The company opened a new data center in Ho Chi Minh City.
load balancer n	a system that spreads traffic across several servers The load balancer sends users to the least busy server.
upload v	to send files from your device to a server Please upload the signed contract to the shared folder.
download v	to copy files from the internet to your device Download the latest version of the app from our website.
interface n	a point where two systems or a user and a system interact The interface between the two systems needs better documentation.
configuration n	the way a system or its settings are arranged A wrong configuration file stopped the service from starting.
documentation n	written information explaining how software works or is used Good documentation reduces the number of questions from new developers on the team.
technical debt n	extra future work caused by choosing quick solutions now Rushed releases created a lot of technical debt.
refactor v	to improve code structure without changing its behavior We refactored the billing module to make it easier to test.
legacy system n	an old system still in use, often hard to replace The bank still runs its core accounts on a legacy system.
migration n	moving data or software from one system to another The data migration to the new platform took three weekends.
integration n	connecting different systems so they work together Integration with the accounting software is planned for March.
responsive design n	web design that adapts to different screen sizes Responsive design makes our website easy to use on phones.
search engine optimization n	improving a website so it ranks higher in search results Search engine optimization brought more visitors to the online store.
bit n	the smallest unit of data, a 0 or 1 Each pixel is stored using twenty-four bits of color data.
binary adj	using only the digits 0 and 1 Computers store all information, including images and text, in binary form.
pixel n	a tiny dot that forms part of an image on a screen The logo looks blurry because it has too few pixels.
resolution n	the number of pixels on a screen or in an image Use a high resolution image for the printed brochure.
encryption key n	a secret value used to encrypt and decrypt data The encryption key is stored in a secure vault.
spam n	unwanted messages sent to many people The filter moves most spam to a separate folder.
hacker n	a person who gains unauthorized access to computer systems Hackers stole customer data from the online shop.