Jargon buster: technology words explained
Plain-English meanings for the words you'll see on phones, computers and websites. Words with a dotted line in our guides link straight here.
A
- AI assistant
- A program you can talk to in everyday language, by typing or speaking. It can explain things, draft letters and answer questions. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot are examples.
- Our AI guide
- Android
- The system that runs most phones that aren't iPhones, including Samsung, Google Pixel and Motorola.
- App
- Short for "application". A program on your phone, tablet or computer that does one job, such as WhatsApp for messages or the NHS App for prescriptions.
- Authenticator app
- An app that shows a fresh six-digit code every 30 seconds. You type the code in when signing in, as an extra check that it's really you.
B
- Backup
- A spare copy of your photos, messages or files, kept somewhere safe (often online), so nothing is lost if your phone breaks or goes missing.
- How to back up your photos
- Bluetooth
- A short-range wireless connection between two nearby devices, such as a phone and a hearing aid, headphones or a car.
- Broadband
- A fast internet connection into your home, usually through a phone line or fibre cable to a router.
- Browser
- The app you use to visit websites, such as Safari, Chrome or Edge.
C
- The cloud
- Storage on the internet rather than on your own device. iCloud and Google Photos are cloud services.
- Small files a website saves on your device to remember you. The pop-up asking you to "accept cookies" lets you choose which ones it keeps. Choosing "reject" or "necessary only" is fine.
D
- Digital Voice
- BT and EE's name for a home phone line that works through your broadband router instead of the old copper network.
- The landline switch-off
- Download
- To copy something from the internet onto your device, such as a photo, a document or an app.
E
- E-ticket
- A ticket kept on your phone, often as a barcode or QR code, instead of on paper.
- A message sent over the internet to an email address, such as name@example.co.uk.
F
- Face ID and fingerprint unlock
- Ways to unlock your phone by looking at it or touching a sensor, instead of typing a passcode.
L
- Link
- Words or a button that take you to another web page when you tap them. Scam messages often contain links, so be careful which ones you tap.
M
- Mobile data
- Internet on your phone that comes from your mobile network, used when you're away from Wi-Fi. It usually comes with a monthly allowance.
P
- Passcode or PIN
- The number you type to unlock your phone or card. Never tell anyone your PIN, including your bank.
- Passkey
- A newer way to sign in to websites using your face, fingerprint or phone PIN, instead of a password. Passkeys can't be stolen by fake websites.
- How to set up a passkey
- Phishing
- Fake emails, texts or websites designed to trick you into giving away passwords or bank details.
- Spot a scam
Q
- QR code
- A square pattern of black dots. Point your phone's camera at it and it opens a website or shows information. Only scan codes from places you trust.
R
- Router
- The box from your broadband provider, with blinking lights, that connects your home to the internet and creates your Wi-Fi.
S
- Screen sharing
- Letting someone on a video call see what's on your screen. Only share your screen with people you know, never with a stranger who calls you.
- Smishing
- Phishing by text message, such as a fake parcel delivery text.
- Software update
- A free improvement to your device from the company that made it. Updates fix security problems, so it's worth installing them.
- Keep your devices up to date
T
- Telecare
- Personal alarms, pendants and sensors that call for help in an emergency. Some need checking before the landline switch-off.
- Two-step verification
- An extra check when you sign in, such as a code sent to your phone. It means a stolen password alone isn't enough to get into your account.
- How to turn it on
U
- URL or web address
- The address of a website, such as www.my-guide.co.uk. Check it carefully, because scam sites often use addresses that are almost right.
V
- Video call
- A phone call where you can see each other, using apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime.
- VoIP
- Short for "Voice over Internet Protocol". Phone calls carried over an internet connection, which is how home phones will work after the landline switch-off.
W
- Wi-Fi
- A wireless internet connection in your home or in places like cafés and libraries, so devices can go online without cables.
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