| A | B |
|---|
| Email (or e-mail) | (Electronic mail ; pr. "ee-mail") A way to send messages between computers, or more to the point their users, either over a network or the Internet. E-mail is usually just text |
| Emoticon | (EMOTion ICON) A group of symbols used to indicate emotions in email or newsgroups. The most popular is the smiley :-) or :) (look at it sideways), but there are lots of variations including the sad face :-( , the wink ;-) , and the astonished face :-0 . |
| Encrypt, encryption | Coding data so that it can't be read by hackers etc when transmitted over the internet. For example, any reputable website selling goods by credit card will encrypt your credit card number and personal details. |
| Ethernet | The most popular system used to connect a computer to a network, including most broadband internet connections. The computer needs to be fitted with a suitable expansion card, usually called an Ethernet card. |
| Excel | The most popular spreadsheet program for PCs, part of the Microsoft Office suite. |
| exe (or .exe) | (EXEcutable; pr. "exie", "dot exie" ) A file which is usually the main part of a program. A program may consist of just an exe file and nothing else, or there may be dozens of files, including more exes. |
| Expansion card (or board) | A circuitboard which can be inserted into an expansion slot on the PC's motherboard, to give the PC extra capabilities. Common examples are sound cards, graphics cards and network cards. |
| Expansion slot | A socket on a PC motherboard into which you can insert expansion cards to increase the PC's capabilities. Most PCs have several PCI slots, plus an AGP slot for a graphics card. |
| Extension | The part of a PC filename after the dot (.), often used to tell Windows what type of file it is. For example, files ending in .exe are programs, and files ending .jpg or .gif are pictures. Note that Windows is sometimes set up not to display the extension in Windows Explorer or My Computer, another helpful idea to confuse beginners from our friends at Microsoft. |
| FAQ | (Frequently Asked Questions). A document on a website or in a newsgroup which gives answers to common problems and questions. Look for an FAQ if you have a problem with something, before you email or phone support. |
| FAT | (File Allocation Table; pr. "fat") A sort of index of where data is stored on a hard disk, used by the operating system. |
| File | All information on a computer is stored in files, whether it is part of a program, a document created by a user, a picture, or anything else. Most software is made up of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of different files. |
| File server | A type of computer used on networks to provide files and other services to other computers. Often just called a server. |
| Flame | Internet slang for an email or newsgroup post insulting or telling someone off. They range from elegant rapier wit to obscene profanity |
| Floppy disk | Also known as a diskette. Originally called floppy disks because they were round and non-rigid, but modern floppies might as well be called rigid squares, as the actual floppy disk is enclosed inside a rigid, almost square protective casing. |
| Folder | An area on a disk for storing files in. Folders can also contain other folders, which in turn can contain more folders, and so on almost to infinity. |
| Forum | A public or semi-public area on a website or bulletin board where you can read and post messages on a particular topic, allowing public debate. |
