IT glossary
Technical terms explained briefly, with sources and the date of the last check.
11 pages
CPU / processor
The central processing unit executes machine instructions; cores, clock rate, architecture and power limits describe different properties.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026Memory / RAM
RAM keeps active data available at low latency and normally loses its contents without power.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026TCP
The Transmission Control Protocol provides applications with a reliable, ordered byte stream between endpoints.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026DNS / name resolution
The Domain Name System is a distributed, hierarchical database for names and other resource records.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026Watts, kWh, TDP and PSU ratings
Watts describe power and kilowatt-hours describe energy; neither TDP nor a PSU wattage label is a wall-power measurement.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026Linux: kernel and distribution
Linux technically names the kernel; a distribution combines it with user-space tools, package management and policies.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026Containers and OCI
Containers isolate processes at the operating-system level; OCI specifications standardize images, runtime and distribution.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026UPS – uninterruptible power supply
A UPS bridges power cuts for minutes so servers and NAS can shut down cleanly; it replaces neither a backup nor long-term operation.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026ECC memory
ECC memory detects and corrects single-bit errors and reports uncorrectable ones; it pays off mostly on servers holding important data, but needs processor, board and module to agree.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026Zero trust
Zero trust is an architectural approach that grants no implicit trust solely because of network location or ownership.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026Large language model / LLM
An LLM generates text from statistically learned patterns; fluent language is not evidence of correctness or current sourcing.
Last checked: 18 Oct 2026