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The CompTIA glossary

Clear definitions for the 1,807 terms, acronyms, and concepts you'll meet on the CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ exams — every one with a detailed explanation.

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Cloud Computing54

Cloud Computing, Database1

Database56

General2

Hardware997

+5VSB10,000 RPM100BASE-TX10BASE-T12V12VHPWR15,000 RPM16x2.5-inch20+4 pin connector220-120124-pin24-pin main board connector24x256-QAM2G3-pin3.3V32-bit4-pin4/8-pin 12 V connector5,400 RPM5G5V5V logic6-pin PCIe64-bit7,200 RPM75-ohm terminators8-pin PCIe80 PLUS Bronze80 PLUS Gold80 PLUS Platinum80 PLUS Silver80 PLUS Titanium9-pinA-GPSACAC adapterAC powerAC signalsaccelerometersaccess pointAccessory connectionactive stylusADFAdvanced RISC MachineAFCAGPairflowAirPrintAlt Modealternating currentAlternative AAlternative BAM4AM5AMD-Vanalog television signalanalog voice signalsanalog-to-digital converterAngle of ArrivalAngled Physical Contactantenna performanceAPC connectorApple PayARMAsymmetric DSLatomic clockattenuationATXATX connectorATX12V 2.0audio jackbacklightbackplanebackward compatibilitybandingbare-metal hypervisorBarracuda Email Security Gatewaybase stationbattery backup unitBattery Efficiencybattery-backed cacheBBUBD-RBD-REbeep codesBiometric VerificationBIOSBIOS updateBIOS/UEFIblack mark sensorBLEblower fansBlu-rayblue screensBluetoothBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 5.2Bluetooth codecsBluetooth LE AudioBluetooth Low EnergyBluetooth profilesBluetooth TetheringBNCbonded displayBPSKbridged tapsbroadcast televisionbufferburn-inBYODC ratingcable modemcable nodescable strippercable televisioncable testercacheCAM tablecapacitive sensorcapacitive styluscapacitive touchcapacitive touch screencapacitive touchscreencapture cardscapture devicescarriageCAS latencyCat5eCat6Category 5eCategory 6Category 6aCategory 7Category 7aCategory 8CCDCCFLCCFL backlightCDCD-RCD-RWCDMACECcell sitecell towerCell Tower TriangulationCellular Datacellular internetcellular radioscentrifugal fanschannel bondingchannel configurationschannel widthCharge Cyclecharge-coupled deviceChargingchip revisionchipsetchkdskCisco Meraki MXCMGCMOS batteryCMOS jumperCMPCMRCMTSCOcoaxcoaxial cablecolor gamutCOM portcommunication infrastructurecommunity antenna televisionCompTIA A+console connectionsconsole portContactless Paymentscontroller cacheCOPEcopper line pathcopper telephone linescopper-based cablingcoulomb countingCPECPUCPU architectureCPU power connectorcrimperCUPScustomer premises equipmentcutter areaDACdaisy-chainingdata bus widthdata rateData transferdaughterboardDB25DB9DCDC powerDC voltageDDRDDR generationsDDR2DDR3DDR4DDR5degraded arrayDemarcdemarcation pointdesktop computerdevice driversDevice Managerdial-up modemdigital datadigital signalsDigital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexerdigital televisiondigitizerDIMMdirect currentdirect thermal printingdirect-litDiscoverable Modedish antennaDisk Managementdisplay burn-inDisplayPortDisplayPort MSTdistributed file systemsdockingdocking stationDOCSISDOCSIS 3.0dot matrix printerDP Alt ModeDPIdraft modedriverdriver controldriver issuesdriver signingdriversdrop lineDSLDSL FiltersDSL modemDSL signalDSL splitterDSL SplittersDSLAMDSSSDual In-line Memory Moduledual SIMDual-Channeldual-channel memorydual-linkdual-slotduplexduplex scanningduplexerDVDDVD-RDVD-RWDVD+RDVD+RWDVIDVI-ADVI-DDVI-IeARCECCECC vs. non-ECC RAMedge-litEDIDEIRPelectromagnetic fieldelectromagnetic interferenceelectromagnetic resonance (EMR) sensorelectromagnetic resonance stylusElectronic Industries Allianceembedded MultiMediaCardembedded systemsemergency callsEMIeMMCEphemeris DataEPSEPS connectorEPS12Verror correction codingeSATAESDESD precautionseSIMEthernetEthernet cableEthernet jackEthernet surge protectorEthernet switcheUICCexFATexternal 2.5-inch hard drivesF-connectorsF-typeF-type connectorfailoverfan curvefault toleranceFC connectorfeed assemblyfeed rollersfeederFerrule ConnectorFHSSfiberfiber cableFiber to the HomeFiber to the Nodefiber-opticfiber-optic cablesfiber-optic technologyfield devicesfield-replaceable unit (FRU)FireWirefirmwareflash managementflash memoryFlex Cableform factorFortinet FortiGatefrequency-division multiplexingFresnel zonefriction feedfront-panel audio headerFTTHfull backupfull-arrayfully modular power supplygap sensingGB/sGbpsGDI printergeneral-purpose servergeostationary earth orbitGigabit Ethernetgigabits per secondgigabytes per secondGPSGPTGPUgrayscaleground stationground support equipmentGSMHard Disk Drives (HDDs)hard driveHardware Security ModuleHBAHBA modeHDCPHDDHDMIHDRHEADHealthcare IoThigh-refreshhigh-voltage contactsHMIhot sparehot-swapHSMHSPA+Human Interface Devices (HID)human-machine interfaceHyper-ThreadinghypervisorI/OICICCIDIDCIEEEIEEE 802.3afIEEE 802.3atiGPUimaging drumimpact printerIMSIin-plane switchinginductive chargingindustrial control systemsIndustrial IoT (IIoT)infrared depth mappingink cartridgeinkjetInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineersinsulation displacement connectorsIntel VT-dIntel VT-xinternet applianceinternet connection typeinverterIOMMUIOPSIoTIP phoneIPP (Internet Printing Protocol)IPS glowIR emitterITXJ-mountJPGka-bandKensington security slotku-bandKVM switchlarge data transferslatencyLCLC connectorLCDLEDLED backlightLED indicatorsLED-backlit LCDlegacy devicelegacy systemslegacy USB supportleoLGALGA 1200LGA 1700light pulsesline inline of sightline outline qualityliquid coolingliquid crystal displayliquid crystalsLithium-ionLithium-Ion (Li-ion) BatteriesLithium-Ion Polymer (Li-Po) BatteriesLNB (Low-Noise Block Downconverter)load balancerLocal loopLogic Boardlogical volumeloopback plugloose terminationsLoRaWANlow earth orbitLPDDRLPDDR2LPDDR3LPDDR4LPDDR5Lucent ConnectorM.2M.2 driveMACMAC addressMagnetic FieldmAhmainframe computersmanaged switchmanagement interfacemaster terminal unitMax theoretical speedmegabits per secondmemorymemory channelmemory controllermemory effectMFDMFPMHF connectorMHzMICmic inmicro-Bmicro-SIMMicro-USBmicroATXmicrochipmicrofiltermicrophone arraymicrophone modulemicroprocessorsmicroSDMicrosolderingmidspan injectorsmilliampere-hourMIMOMini DisplayPort connectorMini PCIemini PCsmini-ITXMini-LEDMini-USBmirroringmmWaveMobile HotspotMoCA filterMode AMode Bmodemmodem-routermodular keyboardsmodular power supplymodulated signalMolex connectorMolex-to-SATA powermonochromeMopriamotherboardmSATAMT/sMU-MIMOmulti-feedmulti-gigabit speedsmultifunction devicemultifunction printermultimode fibermultipart paperMultipath Errorsmultipoint connectivityN+1 redundancyNANDNAND flash memorynano-SIMNASnative drivernative resolutionNear Field Communicationneighborhood cabinetsNestnetwork cablingnetwork devicenetwork interfaceNetwork Interface Cardnetwork interface cardsNetwork Interface Devicenetwork printernetwork printingnetwork switchnetwork tapnetworking devicesNFCNICNickel-Cadmium (NiCd) BatteriesNickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) BatteriesNICsNIDnitsnocnoise cancellationnon-modular power supplynon-removable (internal) batteriesNon-Removable (Internal) Batterynon-volatile memoryNRNVMeNVMe SSDobjective 2.7OFDMoil and gasOLEDONTOperating SystemOptical Clear Adhesive (OCA)optical equipmentoptical light signalsOptical Network Terminaloptical resolutionoptical sensoroptical signalsorganic light-emitting diodeOTG (On-The-Go)outdoor-rated Ethernetoutput railsPackage-on-Packagepalm rejectionpanel antennapaper gap adjustmentparitypartial array self-refreshpartitionPasskeypatch cablepatch panelPC connectorPCBPCIPCI ExpressPCIePCIe auxiliary power connectorsPCIe slotPCIEX1PCIEX16PCLPCL 5PCL 6PCL XLPCsPDPDLPDUPeer-to-Peer Modeperformance bottleneckPeripheral Component InterconnectPeripheral Component Interconnect ExpressPGAPhased-array antennaphone linepickup rollerspigment-based inkpinoutpixel densityplatenplaten rollerPLCsplug-and-playPoEPoE injectorPoE PlusPoE switchPoE+point-of-salepoor-quality cordsPoPport 9100port replicatorportable SSDsPOSPOSTPostScript Printer Descriptionpower cyclingpower efficiencyPower Goodpower gridpower levelPower over Ethernetpower sourcing equipmentpower supplypower supply unitpowered devicespredictive maintenancepressure sensitivityprint driverprint jobprint layerprint pathprint portprint processorprint queueprint serverprint settingsPrinter Control Language (PCL)printer driverprinter memoryprinter poolingprinter share nameprinter web pageprintheadprivacy shutterPRLprogrammable logic controllersprovider facilitiesprox cardPS_ONPS/2PSEPSUPSU connectorsPUKpunch-down blockspunchdown blockpunchdown toolPWMPWR_OKqamQPSKQR codequad-channelquadrature amplitude modulationradio communicationradio frequenciesradio frequencyradio linksradio wavesRadio-Frequency IdentificationRAIDRAID 0RAID 1RAID 10RAID 5RAID 6RAID controllerrain fadeRAMRandom Access MemoryRAW printingRDIMMRead & Executeread/write headReader/Writer Modereallocated sectorsrear I/Orecovery time objectiveReduced Instruction Set ComputerredundancyRedundant Array of Independent Disksredundant power supplyrefresh rateregion coderegion codingremote terminal unitsRemovable Batteryresistive touchresistive touch screenRFRFIDRG-59RG-6RG6RGBRISCRJ-45RJ11RJ45routerRPMRS-232RSSIRTUsS.M.A.R.T.S/PDIFSANSASSATASATA dataSATA data cableSATA IIISATA powerSatellitesatellite dishSatellite Geometrysatellite linkssatellite modemSCSC connectorSCADASCADA serverscalingscreen resolutionSDSDHCSDHC-only deviceSDXCsector radiosSecure BootSecure ElementSecure Enclavesemi-modular power supplySensor Fusionsensor gridseparation padsSerial (RS-232)Serial cablesserial signalingserverSFPSFXshared printingshared-bussignal barsSIMSIM cardsimultaneous multithreadingsingle point of failuresingle-channelsingle-linksingle-mode fibersingle-pass duplex ADFsingle-slotSiPSmall Outline DIMMSmall Outline Dual Inline Memory ModuleSMARTsmart cardSMTSNRSO-DIMMSoCSODIMMsoftware RAIDsoldered memorysolid state driveSolid State Drives (SSDs)sound cardsSpeed Classspindle speedspudgersSquare ConnectorSSDSSPSTST connectorstandoffsstatic pressurestatus feedbackstorageStratum 0Stratum 1Stratum 15Stratum 16Stratum 2Stratum 3stripingsubpixelsSubscriber ConnectorSubscriber Identity Modulesuperscopesurge protectionsustained read/writeSVM Modeswitchswollen batterySystem-in-Packagesystem-on-a-chipsystem-on-chipT1T2T568AT568BTachometerTDRtear barTelecommunications Industry Associationtelecommunications roomtelephone company facilitiestelevision signalstest jackthermal coatingthermal padsthermal pastethermal printerthermal runawaythermal throttlingthermal transfer printingthin clientthroughputThunderboltThunderbolt 1Thunderbolt 2Thunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 4TIA/EIA-568TIFFtilt detectionTime to First Fixtime-domain reflectometryTiming AdvanceTNTN glowtonertoner cartridgetoner probeTOSLINKtouch layerTower DensityTPMTPM 2.0tractor-feedtraffic signalstransfer rollertransparency modeTrilaterationTRIMTRRSTrusted Platform ModuleTV tunertwisted nematictwisted pairtwisted-pair copper cablesType 4 (v4)Type-AType-BU.2U.FL connectorUDIMMUEFIUEFI updateUHS ratingsUltra Physical ContactUNIIUNII-1UNII-2AUNII-2CUNII-3UNII-5UNII-6UNII-7UNII-8Universal Flash StorageUniversal Print Driversunmanaged switchUPC connectorUPSuptimeUS Naval ObservatoryUSBUSB 2.0USB 2.0-grade cableUSB 3.0USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1)USB 3.1 Gen 2USB 3.2USB 3.2 (2x2)USB 3.xUSB pass-throughUSB portsUSB standardUSB TetheringUSB-AUSB-CUSB-C Alt ModeUSB-C connectorUSB-C OTG adapterUSB-C Power DeliveryUSB-to-EthernetUSB-to-serial adapterUSB4UTMUTPVAVA glowVDSLvery small aperture terminalVGAvideo capturevideo cardsviewing anglevirtual CPUvirtual diskvirtual machinesvirtualizationvirtualization hostvirtualization supportVMVM sprawlvoice assistant integrationvoice devicevoltage regulatorvoltage regulator modulesVolts ACVPN ConcentratorVRMVRMsvsatVT-xwall jackwall platesWatchGuard Fireboxwatt-hourwattage ratingWear Leveling CountWhwhole-house splitterWi-Fi analyzerWi-Fi Directwireless access pointwiring closetWLAN moduleworkstationwrite-back cachewrite-protect switchwrite-through modeWWAN cardx1x16x4x64x8x86Yagi antennaZ-Wavezero clientZIFZIF (Zero Insertion Force) connectorZIF connectorZigbee

Network1

Networking355

.app110 block3G4G4G LTE66 block802.11802.11ac802.11ax802.11nA recordAAAA recordACKACMAADSLADSL2+AFPalways-on VPNAPC (Angled Physical Contact)APIAPIPAAPNAssisted GPS (A-GPS)authoritative name serverauto-discoverAuto-MDI-Xauto-negotiationAutomatic Private IP Addressingbackhaulband steeringbandwidthbandwidth usagebeamformingbridged networkingbroadband internetbroadband servicebroadcast domainbroadcast trafficbufferbloatCalDAVcaptive portalCardDAVCDMA2000Cell IDcellular networkCentral OfficeCIFScisco iosclient requestclient-server modelCNAME recordcomputer networksCRC errorscrossover cableData capdata capsdata packetsdatagramdefault gatewaydestination portdestination unreachabledhclientDHCPDHCP relayDHCP relay agentDHCP reservationDHCP serverDHCP starvationDHCPACKDHCPDISCOVERDHCPNAKDHCPOFFERDHCPREQUESTdial-updigDigital Subscriber LineDNSDNS cacheDNS hierarchyDNS over HTTPSDNS over TLSDNS propagationDNS resolutionDNS serverDOCSIS 3.1Domain Name Systemdownstreamdownstream communicationDSL filterdual standbyduplex mismatchDynamic Host Configuration ProtocolDynamic IP Addressingegressemail trafficEthernet frameETSIExternal vSwitchFast EthernetFCCfiber internetFiber to the BuildingFiber-optic cablefile transfer protocolfive-tuplefixed wirelessFTPFTTBFTTB (Fiber-to-the-Building)FTTC (Fiber-to-the-Curb)FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home)FTTNFTTN (Fiber-to-the-Node)FTTP (Fiber-to-the-Premises)FTTx (Fiber-to-the-x)gatewayGEO (Geostationary Orbit)GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network)handoffhandoverhost-only networkinghotspotHSPAHTTPHTTP status codeshybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC)ICMPIEEE 802.11IMAPIMEIingressInternal vSwitchInternet Protocolinternet protocol networksInternet Protocol version 4Internet Protocol version 6Internet Service ProviderIPip addressIP configurationIP headerIP helperIP-based virtual hostingipconfigipconfig /releaseIPv4IPv6ISPjitterkeystone jackLANLayer 2LC connector (Lucent Connector)lease timeleased lineslegacy networksLEO (Low Earth Orbit)load balancing algorithmlocal area networkLTELTE dataLTE-AdvancedMAC address tableMAC filteringMAC learningMANMbpsMedia Access Controlmesh networkingmetered connectionMetered Wi-FiMetro Ethernetmillimeter waveMPLSMSTMTUmulticastMX recordNATneighborhood congestionNetBIOSNetBTnetshnetwork address translationnetwork analyzernetwork discoverynetwork layernetwork operations centernetwork outagenetwork pathNetwork Policiesnetwork profileNetwork TechnologyNetwork Time Protocolnext hopNFSNFSv4nslookupNTPNTP Pool ProjectOFDMAOLT (Optical Line Terminal)ONT (Optical Network Terminal)OSI modelPACpacket datapacket filteringpacket lossPANPAN ProfilePassive optical splitterpeer-to-peerPersonal Area Networkpingpoint-to-multipointpoint-to-pointPoint-to-Point Protocol over EthernetPON (Passive Optical Network)POP3port configurationport flappingport forwardingport mappingport mirroringport numberport securityPOTSPPPPPPoEprivate IP addressPrivate vSwitchprotocol analyzerprovider's data networkproxyProxy Auto-Configproxy serverPTR recordpublic IP addresspublic networkQoSQuality of Serviceradio access networkRADIUSrecursive DNS resolverRemote Desktop Protocolremote display protocolroamingrogue DHCP serverroot DNS serverroot zoneroutingrouting protocolsrouting tablerural broadband installssatellite internetSC connector (Subscriber Connector)SC/APCSDSLSecond-Level DomainsServer Message Blockshare nameSimple Network Time ProtocolsimplexSMBSMB 3.0SMTPSNMPSNTPsource portSPANSPF recordSSIDST connector (Straight Tip)STARTTLSStatic IP AddressingSTPstraight-through cablesub-6 GHzSubdomainssubnetsubnet maskSymmetric DSLSYNSYN-ACKsyslog serverTCPTCP headerTCP port 1433TCP/IPtelnetTetheringTFTPthree-way handshaketime.apple.comtime.google.comtime.windows.comTLD serverTLDstone generatorTop-Level Domainstraceroutetracerttraffic managementtraffic management systemstraffic segmentationtransmission control protocoltransport layerTTLtwisted-pair copperTXT recordUDPUDP headerUDP port 123UMTSUNCUNC pathUnlicensed National Information InfrastructureUPC (Ultra Physical Contact)upstreamupstream communicationuser datagram protocolVDSL2Very-high-bit-rate DSLVirtual LANVirtual Machinevirtual network interface cardvirtual private networkvirtual switchVLANvNICVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)VoIPVoLTEvSwitchwake-on-LANWANWeb Proxy Auto-Discovery protocolWi-FiWi-Fi 4Wi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6EWi-Fi callingWi-Fi Hotspotwide area networkWiMAXWINSWireless Internet Service Providerswireless wide area networkWISPWLANWPADWWANXGS-PONzone file

Networking, Security1

Operating Systems68

Programming19

Security151

2FA3D facial recognition802.1X802.1X authenticationAAAABACaccess control listadmin permissionsadvanced encryption standardaesanti-malwareantivirusapp passwordapplication controlat-rest encryptionattachment scanningaudit logsAuthenticationAuthorizationBiometric AuthenticationBitLockerblacklistbrute force attacksCACCPACertificate AuthorityCertificate-Based AuthenticationCISCisco Email Securitycompliance checksConditional accesscybersecuritydata exfiltrationdata loss preventionDDoSDDoS attacksdefense in depthdenial of servicedevice posturedirectory traversaldistributed denial-of-serviceDKIMDKIM recordDLPDMARCDMARC recordDNS cache poisoningDNS hijackingDNS spoofingDNS tunnelingDNSSECDoHDoTEAP-TLSEncryption Policiesfederated identityfile hashingFirewallfull wipeGDPRHMAC-based One-Time PasswordsHOTPHTTPSIdentity synchronizationIDS/IPSin-transit encryptionintrusion detection and preventionIPSjailbreak detectionKDCKerberosmalwareman-in-the-middle attackmantrapsMDMMDM (mobile device management)MFAMFA (multi-factor authentication)Microsoft Defender for Office 365Microsoft Entra IDMimecastMobile Device Management (MDM)monlist commandmulti-factor authenticationnetwork securitynext-generation firewallNISTNTP amplification attacksOAuthOTPPass-through authenticationPassword hash synchronizationPassword-Based AuthenticationPatch TuesdaypermissionsPGPphishingProofpointpublic-key cryptographyransomwareRBACreputation filteringrogue access pointroot detectionrule baseS/MIMEsandboxingsecurity information and event managementselective wipesender authenticationSender Policy FrameworkSFTPSharing permissionsshoulder surfingsiemsignature databasessingle sign-onSonicWallSophos UTMspamspam gatewaySPFspoofingSQL injectionSSHSSLSSL/TLS certificateSSOstateful inspectionstateful packet inspectionTACACS+TGTtime-based attack vectorsTime-based One-Time PasswordsTLSTLS/SSLToken-Based AuthenticationTOTPtwo-factor authenticationunified threat managementuser permissionsUser principal namevirtual TPMVM escapevulnerabilitiesvulnerabilityWindows FirewallWPA2WPA2/WPA3-EnterpriseWPA3XSS

Software100

Storage and I/O1

Tools1