Computer hardware terms

Updated: 03/10/2024 by Computer Hope

Hardware terms with full definitions and information on each term. Explore this list of over 1,000 terms like keyboard, motherboard, input device, and mouse. Navigate quickly through the list by clicking one of the letters below; for example, click 'R' to find terms like 'router' in the 'R' section.

Battery terms - CD terms - Floppy drive definitions - Hard drive terms - Keyboard terms - Memory terms - Modem terms - Motherboard terms - Mouse terms - Network terms - CPU terms - Scanner terms - Sound terms - Tape drive terms - Video terms
Top 10 hardware terms
Computer processor

Keyboard
Motherboard
Function key
Storage device
Input device
Hard drive
Computer
CPU
Hardware
Mouse

Number

2-in-1 laptop
3D Printer
4K
4K resolution
5ESS switch
8K
8K resolution
16-bit
32-bit
64-bit
701
702

A
Computer inkjet printer

A20
A-B Box
ABC
Accelerator
Accessories
Accessory
Access point
Access time
Accounting machine
Acoustic coupler
Adapter
Adapter card
ADC
Add-on
Address
Address space
ADSI
AGP
Alarm
Alligator clip
All-in-One computer
Altair
AM
Amazon Echo
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Amiga
AMOLED
Analog signal
Analytical engine
Antikythera mechanism
Antistatic mat
Antistatic spray
APIC
APM
Apple earbuds
Apple silicon
Apple TV
Apple watch
Architecture
Arc Mouse
Arduino
Arduino Duemilanove
Arduino shield
AS/400
ASIC
ASPI
AT
Atanasoff-Berry Computer
Atari ST
ATX
Augmented reality
AUI
Auxiliary connector
Auxiliary device
Axis

B
Bluetooth ExpressCard

Back
Backbone
Backlight
Backplane
Back-side bus
Backward compatible
Bank
Barcode
Barebone
Bare metal
Base
Base station
Bay
BeagleBoard
Bernoulli drive
Bezel
Big iron
Biological computing
BIOS
BIOS shadow
BJ
Blackberry Playbook
Black box
Black screen
Blank slot cover
Blink
Block diagram
Bluetooth ExpressCard
Booklet
Bootable disk
Boot device
Boot menu
Boot sequence
Braille display
Braille reader
BRI
Bridge
Brown box
Build
Builtin
Bump
Bunny suit
Burn
Burn-in
Bus
BYOD

C
Heat sink computer component

Cable
Cable box
Cable management
Cable ties
Cabling
Cache
Caddy
Calibration
Card
CardBus
Card punch
Card reader
Case
Case badge
Case fan
Cassette
CATV
CCD
CD-ROM
CDSL
CDTV
Centaur Technology
Centrino
Centronics mode
CF
Characteristic
Chassis
Chip
Chipset
Chromebit
Chromebook
Chromebox
ChromeOS
CIM
CISC
Classification
Clean room
Clone
Closed architecture
Cluster
CMOS
CNR
Coaxial Cable
Cold boot
Cold swap
Color-coded
Colossus
Commodore
Communication device
Communications port
CompactFlash
Compatible
Component
Computed axial lithography
Computer
Computer art
Computer case
Computer family
Computer fan
Computer form factor
Computer laws
Computer mouse
Computometer
Concept mapping
Condensation
Configuration
Connection
Connectivity
Connector
Console
Control
Cooler pad
CPU
CRC
Crippleware
CRT
CrystalMark
CSIRAC
CUDA
Custom-built PC
Custom silicon
Cyber clean
Cycle

D
Recycle bin with recyclables

D2D
DAC
DASD
Dash cam
Data carrier
Data channel
Data flow
Datasheet
Data signal
Data sink
Data stream
DDR
Dead
Dead halt
Decode
Dedicated
Default drive
Degauss
Degausser
Depress
Desiccant
Desktop computer
Device
Device dependent
Device driver
Device name
Dhrystone
Diagnostic program
Diagnostics
Difference engine
Digital
Digital camera
Digital line
Digital wallet
Digitizer
DIMM
Diode
Dip switch
Direct connection
Disable
Disassembly
Discard
Disk drive
DisplayPort
Dispose
Distortion
Divx
DLNA
DMA
DMI
DOA
Dock
Docking station
Dongle
Dot pitch
Downsizing
DRAM
Drive
Drive bay
Drive letter
Driver
Drivers CD
Drobo
Drone
Drop in
Drop out
DRQ
Dry run
DSL filter
DSS
DTE
Dual channel controller
DualShock
Dumb
Duration
Dust
DUT
DVD
DVI
DVR
Dynabook

E
End of life, or EOL

ECC
Echoplex
ECU
Edge connector
EDI
EDP
EDSAC
EDVAC
Efika
eGPU
EHCI
EIDE
E ink
Eject
Electron gun
Electronic whiteboard
Embedded
Emulator
Encoder
End of life
ENIAC
Enigma
Enigma machine
Enquiry character
Enumerator
EOL
EOM
E-reader
Ergonomics
Error control
eSATA
ESD
Essential Home
Ethernet
ETX
E-waste
Exclusive game
Expansion
Expansion card
Expansion slot cover
ExpressCard
External
External cache
External graphics card
Eye tracker

F

Fabless
Facebook Portal
Failover
Fail-safe system
Fail-soft system
Failure
Fan
Faraday bag
Faraday cage
Faraday shield
Fast SCSI
Fault
Fax
Fax machine
Fax modem
FCC ID
Feeder cable
Female connector
Fencing
Fetch
FHD
Fi
Fiber-optic cable
FIFO
Filament
File allocation unit
Firewall
Firewire
Firmware
Flagship
Flash BIOS
Flash drive
Flash memory
Floppy disk
Footprint
Form factor
Forward compatibility
Forward compatible
FPGA
FPU
Frankenmac
Front panel
FRU
FSB
Full duplex
Full-duplex transmission
Function keys

G

Gadget
Galaxy Tab
Galaxy Z Fold
Game control adapter
Gateway
Gear
Gearhead
Gender
Gender changer
General-purpose computer
Generation
Gimbal
Google Cardboard
Google Chromebook
Google Daydream View
Google Glass
Google Home
Google Nest
Google silicon
Google Tensor
GPS
GPU
Graffiti
Graphics tablet
Grosch's law
Group 3 protocol
Group 4 protocol
Gyroscope

H
HDMI cable

HACMP
Half duplex
Half-duplex transmission
Hamming code
Handheld
Hands-free
Handwriting recognition
Hard card
Hard drive
Hard error
Hard reset
Hardware
Hardware acceleration
Hardware conflict
Hardware key
Hardware monitor
Hardwired
HCI
HDD
HDMI
HDTV
Headphones
Heat gun
Heat sink
HFC
HID
High dynamic range
Home computer
Host adapter
Hot docking
Hot plugging
Hot-swappable
Hot swapping
Housing
HP 200A
HSF
HTC Vive
HTPC
Hub
Hwmonitor
Hybrid
Hybrid computer
Hypervisor

I
Integrated Circuit or IC

IBM 5100
IBM compatible
IC
IDE
IGP
Immediate access
Indicator
Infotainment system
Infrared
Infrared thermometer
Initialization
Initiator
Input
Input device
Input/output channel
Input/output device
Input/output port
Input/output processor
Insert
Instruction
Insulation
INTA
Integrated
Integrated circuit
IntelliMouse
Interactive
Interface
Interference
Internal
Interrupt
Intertec Superbrain
I/O address
IOPS
iPad
IPB
iPhone
iPod
IPOS
IPS display
IrDA
IRQ
ISA

J
Logitech Freedom Joystick

Jack
Jacquard Loom
Java Card
JavaStation
Jaz drive
Joint Test Action Group
Joystick
JTAG
Jump
Jumper

K

Keyboard
Killer poke
Kindle
Kinect
KVM switch

L
Computer LCD monitor

L2 cache
L3 cache
Landscape mode
Laptop
Laptop bag
Laptop stand
Laser
Lazy write
LCD
Leapfrog test
LED
LED monitor
Legacy
LIFO
Light
Light guide
Light gun
Lightning
Light pen
Lightwave system
LILO
Line
Line analyzer
Line driver
Line frequency
Line level
Link time
Linux Terminal Server Project
Liquid cooling
Logical
Logical partition
Logic circuit
Long-haul
Long-haul communications
Loopback
Loop configuration
LPAR
LRC
LTSP
Luggable computer

M
Sony Memory Sticks

M.2
Mac
MAC address
Machine
Machine error
Machine-readable
magicJack
Magic Link
Magnetic
Magnetic card
Magnetic card reader
MagSafe
Mainframe
Male connector
Manchester Baby
Manchester Mark 1
Mark parity
Matrix code
Matte
MCA
Mechanical
Media
Meltdown and Spectre
Memory
Memory module
Memory stick
Mickey
Microarchitecture
Microcomputer
Microcontroller
Microphone
Microsoft Signature Edition PC
Microsoft Surface
Minicomputer
MiniDisc
Mixed reality
MMU
Mode
Model number
Modem
Modern
Modularity
Module
Molex
Molex connector
Monitor
Moore's law
Motherboard
Motor
Moto Z
Mount
Mouse
MP3 player
MSC
MSN TV
MSX
MTBF
Multiphase cooling
Multipoint

N
Lenovo 110s Netbook

Nanocomputer
Nanotechnology
NAS
NDAS
Negation
Nest Doorbell
Nest Thermostat
Nest x Yale Lock
Netbook
Nettop
Network Direct Attached Storage
NEWCARD
NIC
Nintendo DS
Nintendo Switch
NMI
Node
No life
Non-interactive
Non-volatile memory
Nook
No-parity
Nor
Northbridge
Notebook computer
NUC
Null cycle
Nvidia shield
NVMe
NVRAM

O

Object computer
Oculus Rift
Off
Off-the-shelf
OHCI
OLED
OLPC
OMR
On
On and off
Online
Online state
Open
Open architecture
Open system
Optane memory
Optical
Optical communications
Optical drive
Optimize
OSD
OTG
OTG adapter
OTP
Output
Output device
Output stream
Overclock
Overheat

P
Keyboard - peripheral device

P1
PaaS
Paddle
PalmPilot
Palmtop computer
Panic
Parallel
Parallel access
Parallel computer
Parallel execution
Parallel interface
Parallel port
Parallel transmission
Parity bit
Partition
Part number
Pascaline
Passive-matrix display
PC
P-Cable
PCB
PC Card
PC Card slot
PCI
PCI Express
PCMCIA
PCPartPicker
PDA
PDP
Pen computer
Pen drive
Peopleware
Peripheral
Phablet
Phantom
Phases
Phone
Photocopier
Photosensor
Physical
PID
Pin
Pin-compatible
Ping pong buffer
Pixelbook
Platform
PlayStation
Playstation 2
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
PlayStation Portable
PLCC
PLED
Plug
Plug and play
Plug-compatible
PN
PnP
Polling
Polling cycle
Port 80 display
Portable computer
Port bar
Port expander
POST
Postprocessor
Power bank
Power cycle
Power supply
PPGA
PRAM
Prebuilt computer
Preprocessor
Printer
ProBook
Processing device
Processor
Programmable ROM
Programmable ROM programmer
Project Ara
PROM
Propagation delay
Prototype
PS/2
PS3
PS4
PSP
Punch card
Punch tape
Push-button
PXI

Q

QAM
Q-Cable
QHD
Qi
QLED
QPI Frequency
QR Code
QSXGA
Quad-core
Quadro plex
Quantum algorithm
QXGA

R
Raspberry Pi

Radiation
RAM
Random-access file
Raspberry Pi
RDRAM
Read
Reader
Read error
Reboot
Receptacle
Recovery time
Redundancy
Register capacity
Relay
Reliability
Remote
Remote communication
Remote terminal
Render farm
Repeater
Reseat
Reset
Reset button
Resource
Restore button
Rev
Reverse engineering
Rewrite
RFID
RF shielding
RG-6
Rig
Right to repair
Ring
RISC
Riser board
Robot
Robustness
Rocker switch
RoHS
Roku
ROM
ROM cartridge
RO Terminal
Router
RRD
RS-232
RS-422
RS-423
RS-449
RS-485
Rugged PC
Runs on
RXD

S
Single Point of Failure


Samsung Family Hub
Samsung Gear
SAN
SAS
SATA
Satellite computer
SB
SBus
Scalable architecture
Scanner
SCC
Screw
Scroll wheel
SCSI
SCSI bus
SCSI cable
SCSI chain
SCSI device
SCSI port
SD
SDRAM
Seated
Sector
Segment
Semacode
Sensor
Serial
Serial communications
Serial console
Serial device
Serial number
Serial port
Server
Service Tag
Set-top box
SFF
Shuffle
Shutterstock
SHV connector
SIGINT
Silicon chip
SIM card
Simplex transmission
Single Point of Failure
Skin
Slate PC
Slimline model
Small-Scale Experimental Machine
Smart cable
Smart card
Smart dust
Smart glasses
Smart home
Smartphone
Smart TV
Smartwatch
Solid-state device
Sound card
Southbridge
Speaker
Specialized computer
Special-purpose computer
Specification
SPGA
Splash screen
SSD
SSD mounting bracket
SSEM
Stabilizer
Standalone
Standby
Standing desk
Starlink
Static
Stick computer
Storage device
Stress test
Stylus
Subnotebook computer
Supercomputer
SuperDisk
Superscalar
Surface Book
Surface Duo
Surface Pen
Surface Studio
Surge protector
Switch
Sync
Synchronization
Synchronous transmission
SYS 64738
System diskette
System failure
System requirements
System unit

T
Temperature gun monitoring computer CPU

Tablet
Tape drive
TDP
Telephone
Television
Temperature
Temperature gun
Terminate
Tesla Dojo
Thermal sensors
Thumbscrew
Thunderbolt
Tile
TiVo
Tools
Touch
Touchpad
Touch screen
Tower
TPM
Trackball
Transcoding
Transfer time
Transistor
Transmission
Tuner card
Turbo button
Turnkey system
TV
TV tuner card
Tweak
Typeball
Type Cover
Typewriter

U

UART
UART overrun
UDMA
UHCI
UHD
ULSI
Ultrabook
Ultra-light computer
Ultra SCSI
Ultraviolet
UMS
Unbundled
Uncanny valley
Undock
Unibus
UNIVAC
Universal machine
Universal Media Disc
Unknown device
UPC
Upcycle
Upgrade
UPnP
UPS
Uptime
Upward compatible
USB
USB drive

V

V.28
Vacuum tube
Vanilla
VCR
VDU
Vega
Vendor
Vendor ID
Vertical mouse
VGA
VHF
VHS
VIA
Video card
Videodisk
Video memory
Viiv
Virtual device
Virtualization
Vitesse Bus
VL Bus
Voice-grade channel
Volatile memory
Volume
VR
VRAM
VSAM
VT-100

W

Ware
Warm swap
Water block
Waymo
WDM
Wearable
Webcam
Wetware
WFM
Wheel of reincarnation
White box
WHQL
Wibree
Wii
Windows Mixed Reality
Windows Touch
Wing
Wintel
Wireless charging
Workaround
Workstation
WQHD
WQXGA
Write
Write mode

X

X86
Xbox
Xbox 360
XJACK
XPS
XT

Y

Yoke

Z

Z1
Z3
Zap
ZIF socket
Zip drive
Zoomed video
ZX81

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