Tech glossary A–Z
Jargon, decoded. Short definitions first, the full explanation one click away.
The future cost of rework caused by choosing a quick or easy software solution now instead of a better long-term approach. Software Development
Delivering healthcare services remotely using video calls, phone, messaging, and digital tools instead of in-person visits. HealthTech
A setting that controls how random or predictable a language model's output is, with lower values giving more consistent answers. Artificial Intelligence
A non-binding document that outlines the key terms and conditions of a proposed investment in a startup. Business & Retail Tech
A widely used infrastructure as code tool that lets teams define cloud resources in configuration files and create them automatically. Cloud & DevOps
Technology that turns written text into spoken audio, often using AI to produce natural-sounding voices. Artificial Intelligence
Evidence-based information about cyber threats, attackers, and their methods, used to anticipate and defend against attacks. Cybersecurity
The actual amount of data or work a system successfully processes in a given period of time. Cloud & DevOps
The basic unit of text a language model reads and writes, usually a word, part of a word, or punctuation mark. Artificial Intelligence
Replacing sensitive data with non-sensitive substitutes called tokens, or breaking text into tokens that AI models can process. FinTech
A neural network architecture, introduced in 2017, that uses attention mechanisms and underpins most modern large language models. Artificial Intelligence
The cryptographic protocol that encrypts and authenticates data sent over networks, securing HTTPS, email, and many other services. Cybersecurity
A programming language developed by Microsoft that adds static types to JavaScript and compiles to plain JavaScript. Software Development