F key

On the extended keyboard the keys on the top of the keyboard 
that has the F followed by a number.

Factor

A quantity by which another quantity is multiplied or divided

Failure directed testing

Software testing which uses knowledge of the types of errors made by the system in the past and that are likely to re-occur.

FAQ

A list of questions and answers related to a newsgroup, software,
Web site, or whatever. FAQ lists prevent newsgroup discussions 
from being overrun by common user questions.  

Fat Binary

When you see a download or another program labeled "fat binary,"
it means that the program is a little larger than a regular application.
This is because a fat binary program can take full advantage of two
hardware platforms. 

Fat Client

In a client/server environment, a client that does most or all of the processing leaving little or none that must be done by the server

Fat Server

In a client/server environment, a server that does most or all of the processing leaving little or none that must be done by the client

Fatal Error

A problem that caused the program or computer to halt or crash
completely

FAT32

File Allocation Table 32.An improvement on the file allocation table
(FAT) in Windows 95, the release of Windows 95 known as OSR2,
and Windows 98.FAT32 raises the number of bits used to address
clusters and makes each cluster smaller.FAT32 supports hard disks 
of up to 2 terabytes (2,048GB), which is a thousand times greater
than Windows 95's previous 2GB limit.FAT32 also greatly increases
the number of clusters on a logical drive, providing greater storage
efficiency   Submitted by:  Jeff grphx dude

Fault

An accidental condition, or a manifestation of a programming mistake, that may cause a system or component not to perform as required

Fault Tolerance

The ability of a system to keep working in the event of hardware or
software faults.  Fault tolerance is usually achieved by duplicating 
key components of the system

FAX

Stands for Facsimile. A fax machine is a printer and a scanner all
in one. What it does is send and receive text and images over the
phone lines, printing the pages sent on the other fax machine.

FAX/Modem

A modem that has a fax machine built in, excluding the paper trays
and the scanner.

FCC

Stands for Federal Communications Commission. It is a government
run organization that checks electronic devices so they don't have a
harmful radio signal.

FEC

Forward Error Correction.

A method of catching errors in a transmission by sending extra bits which are used on the receiving end to check the accuracy of the transmission and correct any errors.

Fetch

A Macintosh program that uses FTP (file transfer protocol) to 
transfer files from your computer onto a server, or vice versa.

Fiber Optics 

A method of transmitting light beams along optical fibers. A light
beam, such as that produced by a laser, can be modulated to 
carry information.  

Field

A blank place where you type something. Fields are used in 
databases a lot.

Field Name

The name for a field in a database record; for example, Name, Telephone Number, Address or whatever else you may be keeping track of.

Field Separator

A character used to separate the fields in a database record. And example would be a tab.

File

The word for a chunk of information like an application, document
and so on.

File Allocation Table

FAT
A special file located in sector 0 on a disk, which contains information about the sizes of files stored on the disk and which clusters contain which files.

File Compression

The smashing (or squishing) of a file into something smaller so that
it takes up less disk space (or takes less time to transmit).

File Conversion

Changing one file format (that is, file structure) into another one.

File Extension 

The group of letters after a period or "dot" in a file name, is called the
file extension. This extension refers to the type of file it is, for example,
if the filename is readme.txt, the extension txt denotes this is a text file
and can be viewed using a text editor such as notepad or simple text.
Operating systems such as MAC OS or Windows 95 will refer to a file's
extension when choosing which application to launch when a user
clicks on a particular file name.

File Format

The way a file stores information

File Recovery Program

A program that restores files that have been damaged or unintentionally deleted. 

File Server

A computer that stores files for access by other computers

File Sharing

A control panel that allows other people on a network to get files 
on your computer.

File Transfer

Transferring a copy of a file from one computer to another

Filter

A software routine that alters an image by examining it's underlying
data and then applying calculations to it.

Finder

The application that brings all the menus, and the feel of the Mac
to you.

Finger 

A piece of software that lets you find out more information about
an Internet user like their real name and if they are logged in at
the present moment, usually if that user is on a UNIX or VAX
system.  Very popular on IRC.

FireWall 

A device that protects a private network from the public part.
A computer set up to monitor traffic between an Internet site
and the Internet. It's designed to keep unauthorized outsiders 
from tampering with a computer system therefore increasing a 
servers security.

Firmware 

Software (programs or data) that has been written onto
read-only memory (ROM). Firmware is a combination of
software and hardware. ROMs, PROMs and EPROMs
that have data or programs recorded on them are firmware.

Fixed Disk

A hard disk that is not removable during normal use

Fixed Length Field

A database field that has a fixed size. A zip code or a telephone number would normally have a fixed size field.

Fixed Point

A way of storing and calculating numbers that have a fixed decimal point like you would find in a money calculation.   

Flame

To send nasty or insulting messages, usually in response to 
someone's having broken the rules of  netiquette.

Flame War

When an online discussion degenerates into a series of personal
attacks against the debaters, rather than discussion of their positions.
A heated exchange.

Flash

A file format for delivering interactive vector graphics and animations over the World Wide Web  (Shockwave Flash)

Flash Memory

A small printed circuit board that holds large amounts of data in
memory. Flash memory is used in PDAs and laptops because it
is small and holds its data when the computer is turned off

Flat File Database

A database used to manage a simple collection of information;
for example, an address book. A flat file database is similar to a
relational database, but it only has one table.

FlatBedScanner

A photocopy machine that doesn't print, it puts the images or text
into your computer.

Flood

In Internet Relay Chat, to dump a large amount of text onto a 
channel, thus interrupting the discussion; this is considered rude
Submitted by: Aaron

Floppy Disk

A 3 1/2, 5 1/4, or an 8 inch disk that stores data. They are very
common for installing programs.

Floppy Disk Drive

A drive that reads floppy disks. I am not sure why they call the 
unfloppy disks still floppies, so if you are looking for that answer,
search elsewhere.

Flow Control

In control panel and terminal, the processes used to regulate the
rate at which information is transferred from one device to another.

Folder

An icon you can put things in. It is just like filing but you don't 
actually have to work with paper.

Font

Files that can make your type look different.

Font/DA Mover

A program used to load fonts and desk accessories in systems
below system 7.

Footer

Text (and sometimes graphics) that appear at the bottom of every
page in a document (when you put them there, of course).

Force Quit

A command that forces the computer to quit whatever program or operation it is running. The force quit is often used to escape from a condition in which an error has caused the computer to freeze .

Format

1. The way text is set up on a page. 2. To prepare a disk for
holding information. 3. The way information is structured in a file.

Formatted Text

Text which has control codes indicating the fonts, bold or italic type, margins, indents, columns, tabs, headers and footers, and other attributes

FPU

Stands for 'Floating Point Unit.' It is another processor that helps
the main processor with hard math problems that are found in 3D
rendering, image editing programs among other things.

Fragmentation

Files that are separated on a hard disk.

Frame Rate

The rate at which frames, the individual pictures that in sequence create the illusion of motion, are displayed in a film or video. 

Frames

A term used to describe a viewing and layout style of a World
Wide Web site, it refers to the simultaneous loading of 2 or
more Web pages at the same time within the same screen.
Originally developed by Netscape and implemented in their 
Navigator 2.0 browser, today many other popular Web browsers
support this feature. Some Web sites come in two versions; a
"frames" and "no frames" version. The frames version usually
takes a little longer to load and may contain other "enhanced" 
features such as Java and Animation.  Frustrating to many web
surfers as you can become trapped in a sites frames. 
Submitted by-  Collin S.

A type of linux that is 100% free! More information can be found at
www.freebsd.org (Suggested by: YTCC Guru)

Freeware

Computer programs given to the public from the programmer for free.

Freeze

A system error that makes your screen actually "freeze" without 
the temperature being at freezing level.

Frequency

The number of repetitions per unit time of a complete waveform, from peak to trough; for example, the rate of signal oscillation in sound waves or electric current. Frequencies are measured in cycles per second, or Hertz.

Front End

A small computer through which a user communicates with a larger
computer; or, a program that provides a user-friendly interface to
another, harder-to-use, program.

FrontPage Extension

Server-side extensions for web servers which allow the processing of Microsoft FrontPage scripting tags  Submitted By- Masterweb

Frozen

The condition of a computer that makes you want to throw it out the window sometimes. <g>  when the cursor wont move, and the computer does not respond to commands.  

FTP - File Transfer Protocol 

The common procedure used for downloading and uploading files
over the Internet. With FTP you can login to another Internet site
and transfer (meaning, send or receive) files. Some sites have public
file archives that you can access by using FTP with the account name
"anonymous" and your e-mail address as the password.  

FUBAR

Stands for 'Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition'. Viruses and 
formatters do this to your data in your hard drive.

Full Path Name

The name of a file plus the drive and directory where the file is
located. Examples are C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WIN.INI. D:\UTIL\ZIP\PKZIP.EXE

Function Keys

Special keys along the top or side of a keyboard there are
specifically designed for giving commands to the computer.

Fuzzy Concept

A part of artificial intelligence that instead of 0 or 1, on and off, yes
or no (I think you get the idea), it guesses yes, no, maybe, sometimes
and I forget. Does this sound like a reliable computer?