We’ve compiled a full list of commonly encountered IT terminology that will help you better understand the industry and how it works. By familiarizing yourself with basic computer terms and definitions, you’ll allow yourself to understand manuals, descriptions, and everyday jargon necessary to fully grasp IT products and services.
You’ll find our tech glossary is conveniently laid out below in alphabetical order with an easy navigation interface so you can quickly reference words related to technology.
In addition to our tech terms, you can also find other resources to help you learn more about the role of technology in modern industry, including blogs, whitepapers, and case studies. Though our list of IT terms to know is expansive, if you have any further questions regarding things to know about technology, please contact us.
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) is an open-standard communication protocol based on XML for message-oriented middleware. It enables real-time exchange of structured data between any two or more network entities. XMPP is widely used for instant messaging, presence information, multi-party chat, voice and video calls, collaboration, and lightweight middleware for the Internet of Things (IoT). Its decentralized and extensible nature makes it robust and flexible for various communication needs.
Anything as a Service (XaaS) is a collective term that refers to the delivery of various services and applications over the internet on a subscription basis. This model extends beyond traditional services like Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) to include a wide range of services such as Storage as a Service, Network as a Service, and more. XaaS provides businesses with flexibility, scalability, and cost savings by enabling them to consume resources as needed without significant upfront investments.
Exclusive OR (XOR) is a logical operation that outputs true only when the inputs differ (one is true, the other is false). In computing and digital electronics, XOR gates are fundamental components used in arithmetic circuits, error detection and correction algorithms, and cryptography. XOR operations are employed in various encryption techniques due to their reversible nature, playing a critical role in data security and integrity.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a type of security vulnerability typically found in web applications. It allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. By exploiting XSS vulnerabilities, attackers can bypass access controls, steal user sessions, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites. XSS attacks are mitigated by validating and sanitizing user input, implementing content security policies, and using secure coding practices to prevent the injection of unauthorized scripts.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a flexible text format used to create structured documents by encoding data in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. XML allows developers to define custom tags, facilitating the sharing of structured data across different information systems, particularly via the internet. It is widely used in web services, configuration files, data exchange between applications, and more. XML provides a platform-independent way of representing data, making it essential for interoperability in diverse computing environments.
