C++

C is a programming language designed by Dennis Ritchie at AT&T
Bell Labs ca. 1972 for systems programming on the PDP-11 and
immediately used to reimplement  UNIX.    Bjarne Stroustrup 
designing C++  

Cable Modem

A modem attached to a coaxial cable television system. Cable
modems can transmit data at 500 kilobytes a second, much 
faster than a typical computer modem that sends signals over
telephone lines.  Submitted by: AC 

Cache

The chip that holds the information before it is put in the RAM.
Pronounce it cash. 

Cache Memory

A high-speed buffer storage that is smaller than the main storage.
The cache memory temporarily stores instructions and data from 
the main storage that will likely be used next by the CPU. 

CAD

Computer Assisted Design. A CAD program is for architects and
people who want to make plans for a house, etc. 

Calendar Program

A calendar on the computer. Calendar programs usually have appointment book and a way for the user to enter reminders 

Call

A programming statement that temporarily transfers control of execution to a subprogram. When the subprogram ends, the main program resumes 

Cancel

A button in a dialog box that cancels any changes the user may
have clicked in the dialog box, and allows the user to exit 

Caps Lock

A key on the keyboard that when held down, makes everything in
upper case. 

Capture Buffer

An area of memory that stores incoming data until the computer can process it.  Kind of like the computers way of taking temporary notes <g> 

Card

A circuit board that can let your Mac do something new like fetch a
bone. 

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

A wrist disorder from repetitive motion like using a keyboard and a
mouse. 

Carrier (detect)

A signal used by a modem to detect the presence of another modem.

Cartridge Drive

A storage device that can remove the storage area (the cartridge) 
and then you can put in another cartridge. 

Cascade

A way of arranging windows on the desktop so that they overlap
each other, with the title bar of each window remaining visible.

Cascading Menu

A menu that opens from a command on another menu. A command
that opens a cascading menu has a right arrow next to it. 

Case Sensitive

A term used to describe whether letters are typed in uppercase or
lowercase. Some computer programs and    internet services are 
case sensitive: "XYZ" is considered different  data  than "xyz."  

CCIT

The abbreviation for Comite Consultatif International TelePhoneique
Et Telegraphique.. This is an International Organization that develops
standards for communicating with facsimile machine. 

CD Burner

A program for writing to a CD or CD-ROM 

CD-REWRITEABLE

a type of CD-ROM that is able to not only read CD's, but also write
onto them. It uses CD-R and CD-RW media, CD-R for permanent
storage of files, CD-RW for temporary storage. Submitted by:
Kitty3210

CD Ripper

A program that enables the user to digitally copy songs off a CD
into many different formats including WAV, AIFC, and more 

CD ROM

A storage device that does half of a storage devices' job. It can
only read information, not write it. 

CDEV

Means control Panel. Why don't they just call it control panel to
begin with? <g> 

Celeron

A brand of processors from Intel for the basic PC market. All
Celeron processors are based on the Intel 0.25 micron CMOS
process technology.  The processors are in the single edge
processor package (SEPP).  Submitted By:  Jay 

Cell

A box in a spreadsheet that can hold a numeric value, formula,
or boring old text. 

Cell Address

Exact designation of a  cells  location in a spreadsheet, indicated by a column letter and a row number.   The address F8 would be in column F, row 8.  .Also referred to as cell reference. 

Cell Reference

Exact designation of a  cells  location in a spreadsheet, indicated by a column letter and a row number.   The address F8 would be in column F, row 8.  .Also referred to as cell Address. 

Cell Relay

A packet-switching technology that divides a transmission into small fixed-length cells sends them over the network, then puts the complete message back together at the receiving end .In the X.25 and frame relay packet-switching methods, the packets vary in length; having small uniform-sized packets (cells) makes it possible to send information faster.  Asynchronous transfer mode makes use of cell relay technology.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Same thing as microprocessor: The chip that controls your computer.

CERT

Computer Emergency Response Team. An organization formed by DARPA in November 1988 after the Internet worm incident. CERT provides 24-hour technical assistance for computer security threats, and publishes related educational materials.

Certification Test

A test to establish that an application works the way it should. 

CGI

An acronym for "Common Gateway Interface". A popular language
used to program in PERL or  C/C++ for the internet.  (Suggested by:
PPerry9677) 

CGI BIN

A directory on a server that houses all the CGI programs. 

CGI Script

A program that is run on a Web server, in response to input from a browser. The CGI script is the link between the server and a program running on the system 

Channel 

A virtual area where internet relay chat users communicate in real 
time. There are thousands of channels located on the internet 

Channel Latency

The waiting time for a communications channel to be available to transmit data 

Channel Operator or Chanop

A user who has powers on an IRC channel. The channel op is usually the one responsible for monitoring the channel, and denying privileges to those who misuse it. 

Character Map

An interactive keyboard layout in Windows that shows for each typeface the characters available in uppercase, lowercase, and
with option keys 

Checksum

A value that accompanies data transferred from one place to another and helps to ensure that the data was transferred correctly. The checksum is computed by adding up the bytes or words of the data block. On the receiving end, the checksum is computed based on the data received and compared with the value that was sent with the data. If the two numbers match, the data is considered correct. 

Chief Information Officer

(CIO). The chief executive officer in charge of information processing

Chief Technology Officer

(CTO). The executive who directs an organization in matters pertaining to technology. 

Chip

A tightly packed electronic circuit that usually applies to RAM or ROM .

Chipset

A group of integrated circuits that are designed to work together for some specific function

Chooser

A desk accessory that is used to switch printers, fax modems, etc.

Chooser Exstention

The drivers that the chooser decides which to use.

CIR

Committed Information Rate.The minimum transmission speed between computers in a frame relay network

Circuit Board

The flat board in a computer that holds integrated circuits and
other electronic components

Class

In object-oriented programming, an object type; a group of objects that have the same properties, operations, and behavior 

Clean Boot

Click and Drag

To use a mouse to take an item on the computer screen and move it 
to another location. To click and drag, point to an item, click the pointer and hold the button down while dragging the item to the desired location; then release the button

Click

Pressing down on the mouse button.

Click Rate

The percentage of impressions that resulted in users clicking on a 
ad banner. 

Client

A remote computer connected to a host or server computer such as
your desktop computer. Client also refers to the software that makes
this  connection possible. 

Clip Art

Pieces of art that are already made can be put in a word processor
to make your document look better. 

ClipBoard

Something that holds things copied from an application. The
clipboard holds it, so it takes up RAM when you have something
in the clip board. 

Clock Rate

The computers' speed, usually measured in "megahertz" or "MHz".

Clone

A computer that imitates a brand name computer on the market, 
but is usually sold for a lower price  Submitted by: GrtOne

Close Box

The little square on the top left corner of a window. You click on it
and the window goes away (MAC). Little square top right corner 
with the x in it (PC). 

CMYK

The CMYK color model is based on the absorbing quality of ink
printed on paper. In other words, it is based on how well the ink is absorbed into the paper. CMYK is used mainly in Four-Color process printing. (see Four-Color Process Printing)

Coaxial Cable

A cable that consists  of a single conductor which is surrounded by insulation and a conductive shield. The shield normally is connected to an electrical ground which then prevents the cable from picking up or emitting electrical noise. 

Cobol

Common Business Oriented Language. A high-level programming
language for business data processing, designed by the CODASYL
Committee in 1960; the most widely used programming language for
business purposes..  Rapidly becoming outdated and obsolete. 

Code

The language that programmer applications use, like C++, or
Think Pascal languages. 

Cold Fusion

A Rapid Application Development (RAD) system that integrates
browser server and database technologies into Web  applications
created by the Allaire Corporation of Cambridge, Mass.

Collapse

To "hide" subdirectories below a selected directory in the file manager.

Color Graphics Adapter

Color graphics adapter, the original color graphics standard for IBM
and compatible computers. 

Color Picker

A circular box that displays colors that is usually used in a paint
program. 

Color Scheme

A predefined combination of colors that windows uses for its 
screen elements. You can choose a color scheme or create
your own by using control panel. 

Color Separation

A color printing process 

 COM

It's one of two things, it's either 1) A DOS command program,
having the file extension .com OR 2) Ending for a website like
http://www.youthtech.com    (Suggested by: YTCC CJM) 

COM Port

A serial communications port 

Command

Telling the computer to do something. For example, I command you
to open that document. 

Command Key

The key that has an open apple on it. 

Compact Mac

A computer that has the body of the computer attached to the
monitor. It's all in one Mac. 

Compatible

The ability to work with equipment or software designed by other manufacturers. Two hardware devices, such as a computer and printer, can be compatible.  Software must also be compatible with 
the hardware it is used with or other software on your computer.

Compiler

A program that translates instructions from a high-level language to
machine-executable code 

Compression

Is making a file smaller by making it simpler. For example, if there
are 20 A's in a document and you compress it, the compression
software turns it into A(20) instead of AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAA, using only 5 characters instead of 20, while still retaining all 
of the information.

Config.Sys

File A text file that contains configuration commands used when 
you start your computer. 

Configure

To prepare or customize hardware or software a certain way.  Any time you add a new piece of equipment or program to your computer, you have to configure it so that it will work properly.  

Confirmation Message

A message that appears after you specify certain actions prompting
you to confirm that you want to continue with the action or cancel it.

Context Sensitive Menu

A menu that appears when you click on the upper right button of
your mouse (PC’s), or when you click and hold down your mouse
button (Macintosh). 

Contrast

The brightness of your monitor. 

Control Key

A key that is usually used in a combination with another key to do
something special like open a document. 

Control Menu

A menu that contains commands you can use to manipulate the
window. 

Control Menu Box

The icon that opens the control menu for the window. It is always at
the left of the title bar.

Control Panel

It controls how your Mac works and how you can change the way
your Mac or PC works. 

Control-Alt-Delete

Three keys that appear on IBM compatible keyboards. Pressing
them in sequence (and simultaneously holding them down) will 
restart your computer. Any unsaved work will be lost. But it is your
only choice when your computer locks up. 

Conventional Memory

Up to the first 640K of memory in your computer. MS-Dos uses
this memory to run applications. 

Converter

A piece of software used for changing formats of things.  A big
thing that gets converted a lot are image file formats, like a PICT
file into a JPEG file. 

Cookies

Files placed on your hard drive by a website to keep track of you,
or retain information for future visits to that site. Some can invade
privacy but most don't.  (Suggested by: YTCC Guru) 

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.  Requires websites to get
parental permission for children under the age of 13 to participate 
in certain activities. For specifics see http://www.ftc.org 

Coprocessor

Same as a math coprocessor. 

Copy Protection

A way to prevent a computer from copying one or more files.

Corrupted File

A file that is damaged making  the computer  unable to read it.
A file could be corrupted by a virus, or by software or hardware failure.

Courseware

The programs and data used in computer-based training

CPC

Computer Program Component. 
A routine or module within a larger program.

CPP

It often stands for "C Plus Plus", or C++ which is a programming
language.  (Suggested by: YTCC CJM) 

CPU

Stands for "Central Processing Unit". You can call a CPU the
body of the computer without the monitor or keyboard, or the
CPU is known as the processor. 

Cracker

Someone who breaks security on a system. 

Crash

When your computer messes up and doesn't work. When it does
that, you need to restart it. Because of this, make sure you save
your work every 15 minutes. 

Crawler

A computer program that retrieves online documents and the references linked to them, and may perform indexing 

CRC

A method of error checking when downloading. Usually used 
with YMODEM protocol (see YModem Protocol) and YMODEM
-G protocol. 

CRT

Stands for "Cathode Ray Tube". It's a tube that is inside the 
monitor. It gives the monitor it's light. 

CSS

Cascading style Sheets

HTML code that gives web site developers more control over how
web pages are displayed. With CSS, designers can create style
sheets that define how things like font style and color, headers 
and links will appear. These style sheets can then be applied to 
any page on a particular web site. So in theory all the pages can 
be formatted the same way making it much easier.  The term
cascading derives from the fact that multiple style sheets can
be applied to the same Web Page.  Submitted by- lazy2day 

Current Directory

The directory that you are currently working in. In file manager, 
the current directory is selected (highlighted) in the directory tree. 

Cursor

The pointer. Either the bar that leads your letters in a word
processor or the arrow looking object controlled by your mouse.

Cut and Paste

Deleting a block of material (text or graphics, or both)  from one place, putting it on your clipboard and  moving it to another place.  Ctrl X --->  Ctrl V   in windows. 

Cybercast

Another word for webcast.  Using the World Wide Web to broadcast information or entertainment.   

Cybernetics

The study of communication and the control of complex systems, especially concerned with comparing automatic control systems such as computers and the human nervous system