Jargon Buster

Tab

Dialogue boxes often combine settings for different associated functions. Each 'page' of settings is separated by a tab, as though it were sheets of paper filed away and separated by tabbed dividers.

Tab stops

Preset points along a line of text, where the cursor will stop when the tab key is pressed.

Tablet PC

A type of notebook PC with a touchsensitive screen that can be written on, like a writing pad.

Tag

In Hyper Text Transport Protocol terms, a 'tag' is used for marking-up text in various ways so that it is formatted in a Web document. They are sometimes called 'Mark-up Tags'

Taskbar

The bar that runs along the bottom of the screen in versions of Windows from 95 onwards. It includes the Start button and System Tray, and contains icons for programs that are running.

TCO

Total Cost of Ownership, a mechanism used when deciding the computing platform to use in an organisation. The calculation oncludes not just the cost of acquiring the hardware and software, but any number of additional factors such as the cost of ongoing upgrades, maintenance charges and training required to enable staff to use the system.

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol the two fundamental protocols which form the basis of the Internet

Template

A web page design, document or a spreadsheet that contains all the required formatting for a particular style or type of document. This 'master' can then be used over and over and again, merely filling in the newly changed information or text each time.

Text and picture boxes

Empty frames designed to hold either words or pictures. They are used in many page layout and graphics programs, and some word processors, to exactly position text or graphic elements on a page.

Text box

In desktop publishing, a piece of text set apart from the main story on a page.

Text messaging

Most mobile phones can send and text messages of up to 160 characters to other mobile phones, generally regardless of network or model of phone.

Text tool

Often represented by the letter T and an arrow in image-editing and drawing programs, this tool allows you to add text to the picture or image you are working on.

Thumbnail

A small (usually postage stamp-size) image used to give a quick preview of a much larger image.

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format. A standard file format used to store graphic images. It can handle monochrome, grey-scale, 8-bit or 24-bit colour images. TIFF images can be compressed without any loss of detail.

Timing out

Your browser sets a time limit on how long it will try to download a web page before determining that it cannot access the appropriate server. If web access is very slow, you are likely to be 'timed out'.

Toolbar

A strip of icons that runs across the top of most Windows applications. Used to provide quick access to certain important features, such as saving and printing.

Toolbox

The software equivalent of a mechanic's toolkit. An program's toolbox should contain everything necessary to complete the task in hand. In an image-editing application, the toolbox will have a selection of drawing, colouring and editing tools.

Top-level domain

The suffix after the final '.' in a website (or 'domain') name. The most common top level domain is '. com' for 'commercial'. Other examples include '. co. uk' for a UK company and '. org' for a non-profit organisation.

Touchpad

A small, touch-sensitive pad, usually a couple of inches square, which acts as an alternative to a mouse on some notebook/palmtop computers. It works by sensing fingertip pressure.

Traffic

The amount of information being carried by a communication device (usually the internet) at any one time

Transport bar

A set of graphic buttons that mimic the stop, start, play, fast forward, rewind, and record buttons that you see on any audio cassette recorder.

Trapezoid

Setting controlling the width of the top and bottom edges of a monitor's display.

Trigger event

Event that causes a virus to activate itself and unleash its payload. This can be a particular date i.e. April Fool's Day, Michelangelo's birthday or perhaps a counter, incremented each time the computer boots, reaching a certain value.

Trojan Horse

is a destructive program that unlike viruses does not replicate, but they can be just as destructive. One of the most insidious types of Trojan horse is a program that claims to rid your computer of viruses but instead introduces viruses onto your computer

TrueType

An outline font technology developed jointly by Microsoft and Apple. It enables typefaces to be displayed on screen exactly as they will print, and allows them to print to best effect on different resolution devices.

Typeface

Sometimes called fonts, thousands of different typefaces are available, each with its own individual letter shapes and characteristics.