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