When learning about technology, you can easily encounter a lot of vague terms. And precisely because technology is evolving every day, new terms in this field also appear constantly.
Knowing and understanding the meaning of terms is essential if you want to use them properly. To help you, we’ve prepared a list of the most misunderstood and often misused pairs of terms.
1. Bits – Bytes
The most obvious difference between bits and bytes is size and capacity. A bit can be either a 1 or a 0. Meanwhile, a byte can hold 8 bits of data.
In fact, there is one more big difference between these two units. Memory that stores data (such as SSD, HDD, or RAM) uses bytes as the standard unit of measurement. Meanwhile, network devices (such as Wi-Fi adapters, network cards, and modems) use the standard unit of measurement, which is bits.
Besides, the shorthand unit of byte is “B” (uppercase), and the shorthand unit of bit is “b” (lowercase). For example, 10 megabytes would be written as 10 MB, and 10 megabits/second would be known as 10 Mbps. Thus, just by looking at the spelling, you can easily identify which units of measurement are being used.
2. CPU – GPU – TPU
Central Processing Unit (CPU), or central processing unit, is the brain of the computer. It is a bridge between software and hardware, helping to create the connection between these two parts. The CPU is in charge of handling all the functions of the computer.
The Graphical Processing Unit (GPU), or graphics processing unit, is responsible for processing and enhancing the system’s graphics capabilities. Usually, manufacturers will integrate a basic GPU in the CPU. However, you may need to install an additional discrete GPU to enhance the system’s image processing performance.
Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) is the part that handles giant multiplications, AI calculations, and algorithms. TPU is a processor specific to framework applications like Google’s TensorFlow.
3. RAM – ROM
Although these are two very common terms, many users often confuse them.
– RAM stands for Random Access Memory, or random access memory.
ROM stands for Read-Only Memory, or read-only memory.
RAM is a type of computer memory used to store programs and data in use for a short time. RAM is volatile memory and will be wiped clean when the user shuts down or restarts the system. In contrast, ROM is immutable memory. Information will be stored permanently on ROM memory, such as a computer hard drive. “Permanent” here means that the data will persist until you decide to delete them.
4. FPS – Hz
Computer monitors in particular and monitors in general often have two specifications: frame rates and refresh rates. These parameters all indicate the ability to sense the motion shown on the screen.
Frames Per Second (FPS), or frames per second, is the number of frames a computer can process in 1 second. The higher this index, the smoother the image projected on the screen will be.
– Hert (Hz), or hertz, is the unit of the refresh rate. The refresh rate is the number of times the computer updates the image on the screen. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the motion.
You can refer to other important parameters of the screen here.
5. 32-bit – 64-bit
As mentioned above, a bit is a unit of measurement for the capacity of computer memory. In addition, you will often come across many different systems categorized into 32-bit and 64-bit. These are two terms that represent computer architecture. The numbers “32” and “64” are data processing capabilities. The 32-bit architecture is suitable for small systems with 4 GB of RAM or less. The 64-bit architecture can handle more data in a single operation and is better able to multitask with devices with higher hardware configurations.
6. Memory (Memory) – Drive (Storage)
Memory is a computer component used for short-term data storage. Examples are processing data and activity logs. This is volatile memory, which means it will hold data for as long as the system is active. Memory is also another interpretation of RAM, as explained above.
Computer drives allow long-term data storage. This is a form of non-volatile memory (similar to the ROM mentioned above). Hard disk drives (such as HDD and SSD) refer to the types of drives that store data.
7. SRAM – DRAM
SRAM (Static RAM – static random access memory) or DRAM (Dynamic RAM – dynamic random access memory) are two types of RAM with different architectures. SRAM has faster speed and lower power consumption than DRAM. However, DRAM is cheaper than SRAM. SRAM is usually used for cache (temporary memory), while DRAM is usually used as main memory.
8. IP – DNS – MAC Address – TCP
– Internet Protocol (IP) is the unique address of each system to identify it on the internet. Your internet service provider will provide you with an IP address.
The Domain Name System (DNS) translates alphanumeric website names for IP addresses. This makes them easier to understand and remember.
– MAC address (Media Access Control Address) is the address assigned by the device manufacturer to the network adapter. This is the unique identifier of each device. The MAC address helps determine the physical address of a computer on the internet.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a connection mechanism that allows programs and devices to exchange information over a network. This protocol allows the server to communicate with the client.
9. IPv4 – IPv6
IPv4 and IPv6 are two types of IP addresses that differ in format and size. IPv4 is a 32-bit address consisting of 4 digits combined into a unique IP address. IPv6 is an upgraded version of IPv4. IPv6 is a 128-bit hexadecimal number address. It consists of 8 sets of hexadecimal numbers that combine to form an IP address.
10. POP3 – IMAP – SMTP
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Instant Messaging Access Protocol) are mechanisms for recovering, managing, and storing email messages from servers or third-party devices.
POP3 allows storing email messages and sending messages from a single device. In contrast, IMAP allows email messages to be stored on servers. It allows access to email from many different devices. POP3 is an outdated and simple technology, while IMAP is more advanced and fast becoming the common standard.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard communication protocol used in POP3 and IMAP to send and receive email messages.
Understand well, use it correctly
In the field of technology, concepts are often quite new. Therefore, you must constantly stay up to date with newly developed technologies. Understanding technology jargon not only helps you expand your knowledge, but also enables you to use those technologies correctly.