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 tech-savvy people are saying and may even help you build your own geek lexicon.

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