IT Glossary
Key Terms To Know In The IT Industry
Packet
A unit of data transmitted over a network.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking
Packet Filtering
The process of controlling network access by analyzing incoming and outgoing packets and allowing or blocking them based on a set of rules.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Security
Packet Loss
The percentage of data packets lost during transmission over a network.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Security
Packet Sniffer
A software tool or device used to capture and analyze data packets as they pass through a network interface, often used for troubleshooting and security analysis.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Security
Packet Sniffing
The practice of intercepting and analyzing data packets transmitted over a network.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Security
Packet Switching
A method of transmitting data in which messages are divided into packets and routed independently.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, General IT
PageRank
An algorithm used by Google Search to rank websites in their search engine results. It measures the importance of website pages based on the number and quality of links to them.
You will find this term commonly used in Search Engine Optimization
Pagination
The process of dividing a document or list of items into discrete pages, often used in web development to improve user navigation and reduce loading times for large datasets.
You will find this term commonly used in Web Development
Pair Programming
A software development technique where two programmers work together at one workstation. One writes code while the other reviews each line of code as it is typed in. The roles switch frequently.
You will find this term commonly used in Software Development
Palindrome
A word, phrase, number, or other sequences of characters that reads the same forward and backward (ignoring spaces, punctuation, and capitalization). Used in computing for various logic and programming exercises.
You will find this term commonly used in Programming, Algorithms
Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate (PCCSA)
Demonstrates knowledge of modern cybersecurity threats and cyber defense strategies, focusing on Palo Alto Networks’ Security Operating Platform.
You will find this term commonly used in Cybersecurity
Parallel Computing
Performing multiple calculations or processes simultaneously.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, AI
Parallel Processing
Simultaneously executing multiple tasks or instructions to improve computational efficiency.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, AI
Parameter
A special kind of variable in programming and mathematics that is used to pass information between functions or procedures.
You will find this term commonly used in Programming
Parity Bit
A bit that is added to a set of binary data to ensure that the total number of 1-bits in the set is either even or odd. It is used for error detection in data transmission.
You will find this term commonly used in Data Communication
Partition
The division of a physical or logical storage unit into separate, independent sections. In computing, disk partitioning is the process of dividing a disk into one or more regions for better data management.
You will find this term commonly used in Storage, Operating Systems
Passive Attack
A cyber attack method that involves monitoring and eavesdropping on network communications without actively altering or disrupting them.
You will find this term commonly used in Cybersecurity, Security
Passive Cooling
Cooling techniques that do not require energy consumption, such as natural ventilation or heat sinks.
You will find this term commonly used in Green Technology, Hardware
Passive FTP
A type of FTP connection where the client initiates both data connections.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Security
Passive Income
Income generated from investments, business ventures, or assets with minimal active effort.
You will find this term commonly used in Business, Finance
Passive Optical Network (PON)
A telecommunications network that uses fiber-optic cables to distribute signals to multiple subscribers without the need for active components such as repeaters or amplifiers.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Telecommunications
Password
A secret word or phrase used to authenticate a user's identity and gain access to a computer system or online account.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
Password Manager
A software application designed to store and manage passwords securely.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
Password Reset
The process of recovering access to an account by resetting the password.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
Password Strength
The degree of complexity and randomness of a password, determining its resistance to hacking attempts.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
Patch
A software update designed to fix or improve a program's functionality, security, or performance.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
Patch Antenna
A type of radio antenna with a low profile, which can be mounted on a flat surface. It is widely used in telecommunications and computing for wireless networks.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking
Patch Cable
A short cable used to connect networking devices, typically with RJ45 connectors.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Hardware
Patch Management
The process of managing and applying patches to software or systems to improve security and functionality.
You will find this term commonly used in Cybersecurity, General IT
Patch Panel
A panel containing multiple network ports used to connect and manage the incoming and outgoing cables.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking
Patch Tuesday
The second Tuesday of each month when Microsoft releases security patches and updates for its software products.
You will find this term commonly used in Cybersecurity, General IT
Pathfinding
The computational problem of finding a good path or route from one point to another. It is widely used in AI for navigating maps or graphs, especially in video games and robotics.
You will find this term commonly used in AI, Robotics
Payload
The data transmitted within a packet, excluding header information.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Security
PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
A board used in electronics for mounting and electronically connecting electronic components. It features paths or tracks etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate.
You will find this term commonly used in Hardware, Electronics
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
A computer bus for attaching peripheral devices to a computer motherboard, designed to allow many types of devices to be added to a computer, enhancing its capabilities.
You will find this term commonly used in Hardware
PDF (Portable Document Format)
A file format developed by Adobe in the 1990s to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT
Peer Review
The process of evaluating and providing feedback on work by one's peers or colleagues.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Software Development
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
A decentralized network architecture where participants share resources directly without a central server.
You will find this term commonly used in Networking
Pen Input
Input method using a stylus or digital pen on touch-sensitive devices.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Mobile Devices
Penetration Rate
In cybersecurity, it refers to the percentage of successful attacks against a network or system. In marketing, it refers to the percentage of a market captured by a product.
You will find this term commonly used in Cybersecurity, Marketing
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, is the practice of assessing computer systems, networks, and applications for security vulnerabilities by simulating real-world cyber attacks to identify potential weaknesses.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
Perceptron
The simplest type of artificial neural network, essentially a linear classifier used for binary classification tasks.
You will find this term commonly used in AI, Machine Learning
Performance
The speed and efficiency with which a system, application, or device operates.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Software Development
Performance Counter
A tool or feature in computing that helps monitor the performance of various aspects of a system, such as CPU usage, memory usage, and network traffic.
You will find this term commonly used in System Monitoring
Performance Metrics
Quantifiable measures used to evaluate the performance of a system, application, or process.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Software Development
Performance Testing
Evaluating the responsiveness, speed, and stability of a system under various conditions.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Software Development
Performance Tuning
Optimizing system parameters and configurations to improve the performance of hardware or software.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Software Development
Peripheral
An external device connected to a computer, such as a keyboard, mouse, or printer.
You will find this term commonly used in Hardware, General IT
Perl
A high-level programming language known for its text processing capabilities.
You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Software Development
Permission
Authorization granted to a user, allowing access to specific resources or actions.
You will find this term commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity
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