Tech glossary A–Z

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery or Deployment: practices that automatically build, test, and release code changes. Cloud & DevOps

Central Processing Unit: the main processor in a computer that executes program instructions and coordinates other components. Hardware & Industry 4.0

A small, fast storage layer that keeps copies of frequently used data so future requests can be served more quickly. Software Development

A deployment approach that sends a new software version to a small share of users first, then expands it if no problems appear. Cloud & DevOps

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a person, product, organization, or activity, usually measured in CO2 equivalent. Green Tech

A digital form of a country's official currency, known as a CBDC, issued and backed directly by its central bank. Web3 & Blockchain

A prompting technique that asks a language model to work through a problem step by step before giving its final answer. Artificial Intelligence

A reversal of a card payment initiated by the cardholder's bank, usually after the customer disputes a charge. FinTech

A software program that holds a conversation with people through text or voice, answering questions or helping complete simple tasks. Artificial Intelligence

The percentage of customers or subscribers who stop using a product or cancel a subscription during a given period. Business & Retail Tech

Copying data from computers, servers, or applications to storage run by a cloud provider so it can be restored if the original is lost. Cloud & DevOps

Delivering computing resources such as servers, storage, databases, and software over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. Cloud & DevOps

The process of moving applications, data, and workloads from on-premises servers or one cloud to a cloud environment. Cloud & DevOps

The practice of having other developers examine code changes before they are merged, to catch bugs and keep quality consistent. Software Development

An intensive, short-term training program that teaches practical programming or tech skills, typically over a few weeks to several months. Tech Careers

A field of AI that enables computers to interpret and understand images and video. Artificial Intelligence

Paying by tapping or holding a card, phone, or wearable near a payment terminal, using short-range wireless technology. FinTech

A lightweight, portable package that bundles an application with its dependencies so it runs the same way across different environments. Cloud & DevOps

A geographically distributed network of servers that delivers web content from locations close to each user to improve speed. Cloud & DevOps

Software, known as a CMS, that lets people create, edit, organize, and publish website content without writing code. Software Development

The maximum amount of text, measured in tokens, that a language model can consider at one time, including the prompt and its reply. Artificial Intelligence

The process of improving a website or app so a higher percentage of visitors complete a desired action, such as buying or booking. Business & Retail Tech

A set of Google metrics that measure real-world page experience: loading speed, responsiveness to input, and visual stability. Business & Retail Tech

An attack that uses usernames and passwords stolen from one breach to try logging in to many other websites automatically. Cybersecurity

A digital currency secured by cryptography and typically recorded on a decentralized blockchain rather than issued by a central bank. Web3 & Blockchain

The average amount a business spends on sales and marketing to win one new customer, known as CAC. Business & Retail Tech

Software, known as a CDP, that combines customer data from many sources into unified profiles that marketing and other tools can use. Data & Analytics

Software and practices, known as CRM, for managing a business's interactions with customers and prospects in one shared system. Business & Retail Tech

An insurance policy that helps cover financial losses from cyber incidents such as data breaches, ransomware, and online fraud. Cybersecurity

The practice of protecting computers, networks, software, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, and damage. Cybersecurity