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
FPSFrames per second
CCCarbon copy
CGComputer Graphics
ulUpload
FTFaceTime
HTTPHyperText Transfer Protocol
ITInformation Technology
BCCBlind carbon copy
CSSCascading Style Sheet
tbTerabyte
ROMEmulator game
GIFGraphics Interchange Format
CrappleApple
RTFMRead the flippin' manual
404Page not found
HTTPSHyperText Transfer Protocol Secure
URLUniform Resource Locator
HDDHard Disk Drive
TechlexiaInability to use technology
LOCLines of code
CruftRedundant software or hardware
Kill screenA screen that prevents progress by a user
BYODBring your own device
HDTVHigh Definition TV
URNUniform Resource Name
OTPOne-time password
SSDSolid State Drive
WWWWorld Wide Web
CSOMClient side object model
CTACall-to-action
HackintoshA computer running an unauthorized version of macOS
Social engineeringTricking people into sharing information
FLEDGEFirst Locally Executed Decisions over Groups Experiment
Apple sheepBlindly loyal Apple fans
CGPTChatGPT
pwPassword
MOTUMark of the Unicorn
EOLEnd of life
vfxVisual effects
UIUser Interface
TechlexicUnable to comprehend technology
ANRApplication Not Responding
2FATwo-factor authentication
5GFifth-generation cellular data technologies
BIMBuilding Information Modeling
HackbookA laptop running an unauthorized version of macOS
Link rotWhen web links go dead
KSKill screen
RRoDRed ring of death
YLoDYellow Light of Death
AVAudio/Video
C.AICharacter.AI
FTPFile transfer protocol
MSMicrosoft
SSLSecure Sockets Layer
HTMLHyper-Text Markup Language
GUIGraphical User Interface
4GFourth generation cellular data technologies
3GThird generation cellular data technologies
mbpsMegabits per second
gbGigabyte
URIUniform Resource Identifier
MDMMobile device management
MIMEMultipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
Core Web VitalsMetrics that measure the user experience of a website
GrokIntuitively understand
CLSCumulative Layout Shift
CentaurA human aided by artificial intelligence
ICSIce Cream Sandwich
MBAMacBook Air
SoDSleep of death
JBJailbreak
IPTVInternet protocol television
jsJavaScript
Spear phishingTargeted phishing attack
ADBAndroid Debug Bridge
BBRBroken beyond repair
PRPull request
MTKMediaTek
QCOMQualcomm
AdrodAndroid
avAntivirus
BrickedRendered unusable
JASEJust another system error
OOOpenOffice
ISPInternet Service Provider
PnPPlug and Play
brBlu-ray
BDBlu-ray
SOTAState of the art
compComputer
MBPMacBook Pro
sysadminSystem administrator
NetiquetteInternet ettiquette
LEDLight-Emitting Diode
DBADoing business as
Voice sniffingEavesdropping by a voice assistant
VMVirtual machine
FreemiumFree with optional purchases
ARFAbuse Reporting Format
FIDFirst Input Delay
u/lUpload
fwFreeware
s/wSoftware
DRMDigital Rights Management
LCDLiquid Crystal Display
mbMegabyte
kbKilobyte
WinblowsWindows
DNSDomain Name System
SAPSystems, Applications, and Products
FBLFeedback loop
DKIMDomainKeys Identified Mail
d/lDownload
CRTCathode Ray Tube
LCPLargest Contentful Paint
TBRTo be released
MAUMonthly active users
LinsuxLinux
msftMicrosoft
EOLEnd of line
txTransmit
rxReceive