| A | B |
|---|
| Cookie | A small data file stored on your computer by a website, in theory to allow it to "remember" your preferences, but in practise mostly used to track which adverts you have seen. |
| CPU | (Central Processing Unit) The nerve centre of the computer : everything flows through it. Often just called "the processor |
| Crash | When a computer program or operating system stops working completely or almost completely it (or the computer) is said to have "crashed". |
| Data | Any information created by a user, such as documents, pictures or sound recordings. |
| Database | A program used for organising any kind of information on a computer into a searchable form, anything from a list of contacts to a complex stock control system |
| Default | A default setting is one you haven't changed - what a program will do (or use) if you don’t tell it any different. "Accept the defaults" means leave any settings as they are. |
| Desktop | A computer designed to sit on a desk (as opposed to a laptop). In Windows, it also means the screen you see when you aren't running any programs, with "My Computer", the Recycle Bin and so on. |
| Digital | Literally "to do with numbers". Often used to describe a device using computer technology to replace older, traditional technologies. For example, a digital camera is one that stores images electronically rather than on chemical film. |
| DIMM | Dual In-line Memory Module; pr. "dim") A module of RAM (memory) for a PC, replacing the older SIMM specification |
| Directory | An area on a disk for storing files, particularly in DOS. Usually called a folder in Windows. |
| Disk | Generic term for a type of storage device, such as a hard disk or a floppy disk (diskette). So called because the important part, where the information is actually stored, is circular, although you can't see it because it is hidden away inside a protective shell. |
| Diskette | Also known as a floppy disk. Called a diskette because it was smaller than the original huge floppy disks, now long obsolete. |
| Domain | An internet address owned by a company, organisation or individual, such as jonstorm.com, nasa.gov or bbc.co.uk. See also TLD, How web addresses work |
| DOS | (Disk Operating System; pr. "doss") DOS was the standard operating system for PCs until Windows 95 came out. Will run on any PC. Controlled by typing in text commands and has several serious limitations, but requires a much less powerful computer than Windows 95 and there is a huge library of software available for it. |
| DoS | (Denial of Service) A form of attack on (usually) an internet service, which aims to prevent the service from operating properly, often by bombarding it with more information than it can process |
| Download | To transfer information (files) from a network (such as the Internet) onto a user PC |
| dpi | Dots Per Inch) A measure of picture quality, often used to measure printer capabilities. The higher the number, the better the quality. |
| Driver | A small program used by the operating system to control hardware such as a sound or video card. Often downloading the latest driver for a device from the manufacturer's website will improve its functionality. |
| Duron | A PC processor - AMD's budget chip, cheaper than the Athlon but also less powerful |
| DVD | (Digital Versatile Disk) A more advanced version of the standard CD which can hold far more information, now standard on most new PCs. Widely used for high-quality digital movies. DVD drives can usually also read ordinary CDs. |
| DVD RW, DVD Writer | Digital Versatile Disk ReWriter) A DVD drive that can create ("write") rewriteable DVDs. There are several competing formats at the moment, largely incompatible with each other, though some drives support more than one format. It is likely that one of these formats will become standard in time, but at the moment it is not clear which |
