Technical Slang

The tech world is filled with acronyms and abbreviations. Whether you are discussing hardware, software, the Internet, or some other technology, there's a good chance technical acronyms will enter the conversation. The list below will help you understand more of what the nerds around you are saying and may even help you build your own geek lexicon.

Slang Term Meaning Votes
dlDownload
sfxSpecial effects
TOSTerms of service
CCCarbon copy
FPSFrames per second
ulUpload
CGComputer Graphics
HTTPHyperText Transfer Protocol
ITInformation Technology
FTFaceTime
C.AICharacter.AI
RTFMRead the flippin' manual
CSSCascading Style Sheet
tbTerabyte
404Page not found
ROMEmulator game
HTTPSHyperText Transfer Protocol Secure
GIFGraphics Interchange Format
CrappleApple
TechlexiaAn inability to use technology
pwPassword
BSoDBlue screen of death
SERPSearch engine results page
HDDHard Disk Drive
WWWWorld Wide Web
LOCLines of code
CruftRedundant software or hardware
CGPTChatGPT
SEOSearch engine optimization
BYODBring your own device
URLUniform Resource Locator
HDTVHigh Definition TV
URNUniform Resource Name
OTPOne-time password
Kill screenA screen that prevents progress by a user
Apple sheepBlindly loyal Apple fans
EOLEnd of life
vfxVisual effects
SSDSolid State Drive
TechlexicUnable to comprehend technology
CSOMClient side object model
CTACall-to-action
BIMBuilding Information Modeling
HackintoshA computer running an unauthorized version of macOS
Link rotWhen web links go dead
MBAMacBook Air
Social engineeringTricking people into sharing information
RRoDRed ring of death
FLEDGEFirst Locally Executed Decisions over Groups Experiment
BBRBroken beyond repair
AVAudio/Video
FTPFile transfer protocol
MOTUMark of the Unicorn
MSMicrosoft
WebpanyWeb company
MBPMacBook Pro
HTMLHyper-Text Markup Language
UIUser Interface
gbGigabyte
ANRApplication Not Responding
2FATwo-factor authentication
5GFifth-generation cellular data technologies
Core Web VitalsMetrics that measure the user experience of a website
CLSCumulative Layout Shift
HackbookA laptop running an unauthorized version of macOS
KSKill screen
JBJailbreak
YLoDYellow Light of Death
ADBAndroid Debug Bridge
PRPull request
MTKMediaTek
JASEJust another system error
OOOpenOffice
ISPInternet Service Provider
MRUMost recently used
LRULeast Recently Used
Pwn2OwnA hacking contest
SOTAState of the art
sysadminSystem administrator
SSLSecure Sockets Layer
GUIGraphical User Interface
4GFourth generation cellular data technologies
3GThird generation cellular data technologies
mbpsMegabits per second
URIUniform Resource Identifier
MDMMobile device management
GrokIntuitively understand
ICSIce Cream Sandwich
txTransmit
rxReceive
SoDSleep of death
IPTVInternet protocol television
Spear phishingTargeted phishing attack
QCOMQualcomm
avAntivirus
BrickedRendered unusable
TKLTenkeyless
fnFunction
PAPage authority
SlidewareSoftware that is announced but never released
emuEmulator
SplinternetA splintered internet
Spicy pillowSwollen lithium-ion battery
MIPSMillions of Instructions Per Second
OOTBOut of the box
JITJust in time
u/lUpload
PnPPlug and Play
brBlu-ray
BDBlu-ray
fwFreeware
compComputer
NetiquetteInternet ettiquette
LCDLiquid Crystal Display
LEDLight-Emitting Diode
kbKilobyte
DBADoing business as
Voice sniffingEavesdropping by a voice assistant
VMVirtual machine
FreemiumFree with optional purchases
ARFAbuse Reporting Format
MIMEMultipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
FIDFirst Input Delay
CentaurA human aided by artificial intelligence
jsJavaScript
AdrodAndroid
gpwGlobal Password
s/wSoftware
DRMDigital Rights Management
CRTCathode Ray Tube
mbMegabyte
WinblowsWindows
DNSDomain Name System
SAPSystems, Applications, and Products
FBLFeedback loop
DKIMDomainKeys Identified Mail
DADomain authority
d/lDownload
LCPLargest Contentful Paint
LibLibrary
TBRTo be released
MAUMonthly active users
msftMicrosoft
LinsuxLinux
EOLEnd of line