ESRL logo
 
online community

Technology Terminologies

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

tape density

A measure of how much data, can fit on a magnetic tape.

task

A separately dispatchable function on a computer.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/INTERNET Protocol. The communication protocols on which the Internet is based.

telecommunication

Communicating with other people through the computer using communication software and modems.

telecomputing

Using computers for telecommunication; computer networking.

TELNET

A program that allows users on the Internet to log in to remote systems from their own host system.

terminal

A device connected to a computer network that acts as a point for entry or retrieval of information. Personal computers can be made to act as network terminals, by running terminal emulation (communication) programs.

terminal emulation

Most communications software packages will permit a personal computer or workstation to communicate with another computer or network as if it were a specific type of hardware terminal.

terminal server

A device that allows asynchronous devices such as terminals to select and then communicate with hosts or other devices over a network.

terabyte

1,099,551,627,776 bytes, often used to mean one trillion bytes (1,000,000,000,000).

text

A string of characters. A text file should contain only characters - as opposed to codes or commands.

time out

What happens when two computers are talking and one fails to respond within a certain time, for whatever reason.

toggle

Using one command or keystroke to change between one mode and its opposite.

token ring

A LAN and protocol in which nodes are connected together in a ring and communication is controlled by a special packet called a token that is passed from node to node around the ring. A node can send data only when it receives the token and the token is not in use. Data is sent by attaching it to the token. The receiving node removes the data from the token.

topic

In a conference, a message which is generally written to convey a new idea or a new piece of information, relevant to that conference.

transfer

To copy or move information from one computer to another.

tree

A way of organizing information with general categories at the top, subcategories below, and narrower subcategories on a further level.

[to the top]