Hi, my name is Pierre Browndon and I study computer science. I am still learning and discovering many new things about computers every day. Computer science is about understanding how computers work, how programs are created, and how technology helps people in their daily lives.
In this field, there are many difficult words that can be hard to understand at first. Sometimes it is also hard to pronounce them or remember their meaning. That is why I created this glossary. It is made for students like me who are starting in computer science and want to improve their vocabulary.
I hope this glossary will help you better understand technical words and feel more confident when studying computer science.
algorithm
noun
A data-tracking system in which an individual's internet search history and browsing habits are used to present them with similar or related material on social media or other platforms.
Example: To generate key, the cipher makes use of a secret internal state which consists of two parts: A permutation of all 256 possible bytes Two 8-bit index-pointers The permutation is initialised with a variable length key, using the key-scheduling ALGORITHM (KSA). Once this has been completed, the stream of bits is generated using the pseudo-random generation ALGORITHM (PRGA).
fr: Algorithme
artificial Intelligence
noun
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that enables machines to simulate human intelligence, including learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Example: The science of creating machines which can solve problems and reason like humans is usually referred to as ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
fr: intelligence artificielle
authentication
noun
Authentication is the security process of verifying the identity of a user, device, or system before granting access to resources.
Example: Using biological characteristics are the most secure method of ensuring AUTHENTICATION as certain parts of the human body are unique. For example, fingerprints can be read via a scanner which is attached to a PC through the USB interface which would almost guarantee AUTHENTICATION, except moulds of fingerprints can be made to get around this system.
fr: authentification
bandwidth
noun
The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection in a given amount of time.
Example: So this usually includes modulation of a carrier signal by the information signal, coding of the signal to help correct for transmission errors, filtering of the message or modulated signal to constrain the occupied BANDWIDTH, and power amplification to overcome channel losses.
fr: Bande passante
cloud Computing
noun
Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources—such as servers, storage, databases, and software—over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.
Example: Since we moved our infrastructure to cloud computing, we’ve been able to store large amounts of data online, access our applications from anywhere, and scale our resources more easily without having to invest in expensive physical servers.
fr: informatique en nuage
cybersecurity
noun
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting internet-connected systems—including hardware, software, and data—from malicious digital attacks, unauthorized access, or disruption.
Example: Since our company invested more in cybersecurity, we’ve implemented stronger authentication methods, encrypted sensitive data, and trained employees to recognize phishing attacks, which has significantly reduced the risk of security breaches.
fr: cybersécurité
data Breach
noun
An instance or situation in which confidential information is exposed, either accidentally or as the result of a cyberattack.
Example: After the company experienced a major data breach, they had to notify their customers, reset thousands of passwords, and completely review their security policies to prevent sensitive information from being exposed again in the future.
fr: Violation de données
database
noun
An organized collection of data stored and accessed electronically.
Example: Procedure Add an Item First of all, in order to keep track of the number of products in the DATABASE, a counter will need to be used. So, when an item is added to the DATABASE, the counter increases of 1.
fr: base de données
encryption
noun
The process of converting information or data into a code, especially to prevent unauthorized access.
Example: ENCRYPTION used in Firewalls Most firewalls support one or more levels of ENCRYPTION. Many firewalls that support ENCRYPTION will protect outgoing data by automatically encrypting it before sending to the Internet. Likewise, ENCRYPTION-enabled firewalls will receive encrypted data from Internet and decrypt the data before it reaches the LAN. Using firewall ENCRYPTION one can connect geographically-dispersed networks through the Internet, as well as support remote user access through the Internet, without worrying about someone casually intercepting and reading your data.
fr: Cryptage
firewall
noun
A firewall is a critical network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules.
Example: After we installed a new firewall in our office network, we noticed that it was blocking suspicious traffic and protecting our systems from potential cyberattacks, which made everyone feel much more secure about our data.
fr: Pare-feu
malware
noun
Malicious software designed to damage or disrupt systems.
Example: Protecting your Email from Viruses and Other MALWARE.
fr: logiciels malveillants
operating System
noun
An operating system (OS) is the foundational system software that manages a computer's hardware, memory, and software resources, acting as an intermediary between the user, application programs, and the hardware.
Example: Here are some examples of chance cards: If you have completed all optional tasks so far, Manager is pleased with current progress and grants extra funds to project If developing an OPERATING SYSTEM: New version of competing system released - management steps up funding.
fr: système opérateur
protocol
noun
A set of rules that control how data is transmitted over a network.
Example: Followed by commands ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange DC Direct current I O Input Output Tx Rx Transmitter Receiver TCP IP Transmission Control PROTOCOL Internet PROTOCOL 1.
fr: protocole
source Code
noun
Source code is the fundamental, human-readable set of instructions written by programmers in languages like Python, Java, or C++ to define how software, applications, or websites function.
Example: Stallman wanted to see software produced that was 'free' from restrictive licences agreements and protected from modification of its SOURCE CODE - not necessarily free from cost.
fr: Code source
virtualization
noun
Virtualization is a technology that uses software to simulate hardware functionality, creating virtual versions of servers, storage, networks, and applications from a single physical machine.
Example: Since we implemented virtualization in our company, we’ve been able to run multiple operating systems and test different environments on a single physical server, which not only reduced our hardware costs but also made our IT infrastructure much more flexible and efficient.
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