IT Vocab Review

A type of code that has been converted from source code into a format that a virtual machine can read and execute, but that humans cannot easily read

When you compile a Java program, it is turned into bytecode that the Java Virtual Machine can run on any computer.

The delivery of computing services such as storage, software, and processing power over the internet instead of on a local computer

Instead of saving files on her laptop, she used cloud computing to store everything online and access it from any device.

The practice of protecting computers, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or attack

The company invested in cybersecurity to protect its customers' personal information.

A system that translates human-friendly website names like 'google.com' into the numerical IP addresses that computers use to find each other

When you type a website address into your browser, DNS finds the correct IP address so your computer can connect to it.

A piece of software or a method used by hackers to take advantage of a weakness or bug in a computer system

The hacker used an exploit to gain access to the company's database without a password.

A security system that monitors and controls the data coming into and going out of a computer network to block unauthorized access

The company's firewall blocked the suspicious traffic before it could reach any of the internal computers.

Software that creates and manages virtual machines by allowing multiple operating systems to run on one physical computer at the same time

The IT team installed a hypervisor on the server so they could run both Windows and Linux at the same time.

A software application that provides tools like a code editor, debugger, and compiler in one place to help programmers write and test code more easily

She used a popular IDE to write her Python program because it highlighted errors as she typed.

The ability of different computer systems or software to work together and share information easily

The new software was designed with interoperability in mind so it could work with other programs the company already used.

The process of becoming outdated or no longer useful because something newer and better has replaced it

The rapid obsolescence of smartphones means many people buy a new phone every two years.

The main software on a computer that manages hardware and allows other programs to run, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux

Before installing the new software, she checked that her operating system met the minimum requirements.

A small unit of data that is sent over a network; large pieces of information are broken into many packets and reassembled when they arrive

When you send an email, it is broken into many small packets that travel across the internet and are put back together when they reach the recipient.

A request made by a developer to have their code changes reviewed and added to the main codebase of a shared project

After finishing his new feature, the developer submitted a pull request so his teammates could review the changes.

The process of rewriting or reorganizing existing computer code to make it cleaner and more efficient without changing what it does

The development team spent a week refactoring the old code so it would be easier to update in the future.

A device that receives data from the internet and sends it to the correct devices on a local network, such as your phone or laptop

He restarted the router to fix the slow internet connection in his apartment.

A smaller network created by dividing a larger network into sections to improve performance and security

The IT administrator created a separate subnet for the office's guest Wi-Fi so visitors could not access the company's internal systems.

The set of rules that defines how code must be written correctly in a programming language

The program did not run because there was a syntax error — the developer had forgotten to close a bracket.

A small sequence of instructions that a program runs independently, allowing a computer to do multiple tasks at the same time

The video editing software uses multiple threads so it can export a video and let you keep working at the same time.

A technology that allows one physical computer to act as many separate virtual computers at the same time

Thanks to virtualization, the company was able to run ten different servers on just one physical machine.

A weakness in a computer system or software that could be used by attackers to cause harm or gain unauthorized access

The security team discovered a serious vulnerability in the app and released a patch to fix it immediately.