IT Glossary - ITU Online IT Training
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IT Glossary

Showing terms starting with P (179 terms)

Permutation

The arrangement of all or part of a set of objects, with regard to the order of the arrangement. It’s a concept used in various computing fields, including cryptography and algorithms.

Commonly used in Algorithms, Cryptography

Persistence

The ability of data to remain stored and accessible even after the application or system is shut down.

Commonly used in General IT, Data Storage

Persistent Storage

Storage that retains data even when power is turned off, such as hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs).

Commonly used in Data Storage, General IT

Personal Area Network (PAN)

A network connecting devices in close proximity, typically within the range of an individual person, such as Bluetooth devices.

Commonly used in Networking, General IT

Personal Identification Number (PIN)

A numeric or alphanumeric password used in the process of authenticating a user accessing a secure system or device.

Commonly used in Security, General IT

Personalization

Tailoring products, services, or content to individual user preferences or characteristics.

Commonly used in AI, Web Development

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)

A data encryption and decryption program used for secure communication and data storage.

Commonly used in Security, Cryptography

Phablet

A mobile device that combines the features of a phone and a tablet.

Commonly used in General IT, Mobile Devices

Phantom Power

A method of transmitting electrical power through microphone cables to operate microphones that contain active electronic circuitry. It is also used in various computing and audio devices.

Commonly used in Electronics, Audio Tech

Phase-Shift Keying (PSK)

A digital modulation process which conveys data by changing (modulating) the phase of a reference signal (the carrier wave). It’s widely used in wireless communications.

Commonly used in Telecommunications

Phishing

A cyberattack where perpetrators attempt to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or financial data.

Commonly used in Cybersecurity

Phishing Email

A fraudulent email that attempts to deceive recipients into revealing sensitive information or taking malicious actions, often by impersonating trusted entities.

Commonly used in Cybersecurity, Security

Photonic Computing

The use of photons (light particles) for computing, rather than traditional electrons. It promises much faster data processing speeds and lower energy consumption than electronic computing.

Commonly used in Computing, Research

PHP

A server-side scripting language commonly used for web development.

Commonly used in General IT, Programming

Physical Layer

The first and lowest layer in the OSI model of computer networking. It is concerned with the transmission and reception of the unstructured raw bit stream over a physical medium.

Commonly used in Networking

Physical Security

Measures taken to protect physical assets, premises, and resources from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.

Commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity

PID Controller

A control loop feedback mechanism widely used in industrial control systems. A PID Controller calculates an error value as the difference between a desired setpoint and a measured process variable and corrects it based on proportional, integral, and derivative terms.

Commonly used in Automation, Control Systems

Piggybacking

The unauthorized access of a wireless LAN. In a broader sense, it can refer to using someone else’s resources for your own purposes without permission.

Commonly used in Security, Networking

PII (Personally Identifiable Information)

Information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context.

Commonly used in Security, Privacy

Ping

A utility used to test the reachability of a host on a network.

Commonly used in Networking

Ping of Death

A type of cyber attack that exploits vulnerabilities in the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

Commonly used in Cybersecurity, Networking

Ping Sweep

A technique used to discover active hosts within a specific range of IP addresses.

Commonly used in Networking, Security

Pixel

The smallest unit of a digital image or graphic that can be displayed and edited on a computer screen. Composed of one or more bits of data, pixels are the building blocks of digital images.

Commonly used in Graphics, Web Design

PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)

Already included as “Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)”

Commonly used in

Placeholder

Text or graphics used in a document or web form to indicate where user input or content should be placed. It provides hints about what information is needed or how it should be entered.

Commonly used in Web Development, UI Design

Plaintext

Unencrypted text or data that is readable without the need for decryption. It is the original message or data that is input into an encryption algorithm.

Commonly used in Cryptography

Platform

A hardware or software environment where programs run.

Commonly used in General IT

Platform Agnostic

A term used to describe software or applications that are compatible with multiple operating systems or platforms without requiring modification.

Commonly used in General IT, Software Development

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

A cloud computing model where providers offer a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with infrastructure.

Commonly used in Cloud Computing, Software Development

Platform Integration

The process of enabling various software and hardware platforms to work together, often involving the integration of applications, systems, and services within an enterprise or between enterprises.

Commonly used in Software Development

Plug and Play

The ability of a computer system to automatically detect and configure hardware peripherals.

Commonly used in General IT

Plug-In

A software component that adds specific features or functionality to an existing application.

Commonly used in Software Development, General IT

Plug-In Hybrid

A vehicle with both a conventional internal combustion engine and a rechargeable battery.

Commonly used in Automotive Technology, Green Technology

PMP (Project Management Professional)

Recognized globally for project management, focusing on leading projects and teams.

Commonly used in Project Management

Pop-Up

A small window that appears on top of a webpage or application to display additional information or prompt user interaction.

Commonly used in Web Development, General IT

Port

A communication endpoint in a computer system used for transferring data between different processes or devices.

Commonly used in Networking

Port Forwarding

Redirecting network traffic from one port to another.

Commonly used in Networking, Security

Portability

The ease with which software or hardware can be transferred from one environment to another.

Commonly used in General IT

PostgreSQL

An open-source relational database management system known for its reliability and robust feature set.

Commonly used in General IT, Database

Power Efficiency

The ratio of useful power output to total power input in a system or device.

Commonly used in Green Technology, Hardware

Power Management

Controlling and optimizing the power usage of devices.

Commonly used in General IT, Networking

Power Supply

A device that provides electrical energy to an electrical load.

Commonly used in Hardware, General IT

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

A device that converts electrical power from an outlet into usable power for computer components, providing stable voltages and currents.

Commonly used in Hardware, General IT

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is the use of data, statistical algorithms, and machine learning techniques to forecast future trends, behaviors, or outcomes based on historical data patterns, enabling proactive decision-making and planning.

Commonly used in Data Analytics, AI

Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is a maintenance strategy that uses data analysis, machine learning, and condition monitoring to predict equipment failures and schedule maintenance activities before breakdowns occur.

Commonly used in AI, Maintenance, Manufacturing

Predictive Modeling

Using statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to predict future outcomes based on historical data.

Commonly used in AI, Data Analytics

Primary Key

A unique identifier for each record in a database table.

Commonly used in Database Management, General IT

Printer

A device that produces a physical copy of text or graphics on paper.

Commonly used in Hardware, General IT

Privacy

The protection of sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity

Privacy Concerns

Issues related to the protection of personal information and the right to privacy in digital environments.

Commonly used in Security, Cybersecurity