Hardware & Infrastructure Glossary

Physical infrastructure, servers, computing resources, and hardware components that power cloud services.

16 Terms
All Skill Levels
Real Examples
13
Basic Terms
1
Intermediate Terms
2
Advanced Terms

16 Terms

Server

basic

A powerful computer that provides services to other computers. Like a restaurant kitchen that serves food to customers.

Example: When you visit a website, a server sends the webpage to your computer....

Data Center

basic

A building full of servers and networking equipment. Think of it as a giant computer warehouse.

Example: Google has data centers around the world to make search results load faster for everyone....

CPU

basic

Central Processing Unit - the brain of a computer that performs calculations and makes decisions.

Example: A faster CPU means your computer can run programs more quickly and handle multiple tasks at once....

RAM

basic

Random Access Memory - temporary storage that helps your computer work on multiple things at once. Like your desk workspace.

Example: More RAM allows you to have many browser tabs open without your computer slowing down....

GPU

intermediate

Graphics Processing Unit - specialized hardware designed for parallel processing that accelerates AI training and graphics rendering. Like having thousands of workers doing calculations simultaneously instead of one at a time.

Example: Training large AI models on GPUs can be 100x faster than using regular CPUs because GPUs can process...

TPU

advanced

Tensor Processing Unit - Google's custom AI accelerator chips optimized specifically for training and running neural networks. Like having a specialist tool designed exclusively for AI workloads.

Example: Google uses TPUs to train their massive language models like Gemini, achieving faster training times...

AI Accelerator

advanced

Specialized hardware designed to speed up AI and machine learning workloads by optimizing specific AI operations. Like having custom tools built specifically for AI tasks.

Example: Cloud providers offer AI accelerators like AWS Inferentia and Azure's custom chips to run AI models ...

IoT

basic

Internet of Things - network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that collect, exchange, and act on data. Like creating a nervous system for the physical world, enabling real-time monitoring and automation of everything from industrial equipment to consumer devices.

Example: Manufacturing facilities use IoT sensors to monitor equipment health and predict failures, while sma...

Hardware

basic

The physical parts of a computer that you can touch. Like the engine, wheels, and body of a car - the actual components that make it work.

Example: Your computer's screen, keyboard, memory chips, and processor are all hardware components....

Smartphone

basic

A mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities that can run applications and connect to the internet. Like having a computer that fits in your pocket.

Example: iPhones and Android phones are smartphones that let you make calls, send texts, take photos, and use...

Tablet

basic

A portable computer with a touchscreen interface, larger than a smartphone but smaller than a laptop. Like a digital notebook that you can carry anywhere.

Example: iPads and Android tablets are used for reading, watching videos, drawing, and light computing tasks ...

Laptop

basic

A portable computer with a built-in screen, keyboard, and battery that can be used anywhere. Like having a desktop computer that you can fold up and carry.

Example: Students and professionals use laptops to work, study, and stay connected while traveling or working...

Desktop Computer

basic

A personal computer designed to stay in one location, typically consisting of a separate monitor, keyboard, and main unit. Like a workstation that provides maximum power and screen space.

Example: Offices and homes often have desktop computers for heavy work like video editing, gaming, or running...

Touchscreen

basic

A display that responds to finger touches, allowing you to interact directly with what you see on screen. Like being able to touch and move things in a digital world.

Example: Smartphones, tablets, and some laptops have touchscreens that let you tap, swipe, and pinch to contr...

Battery Life

basic

How long a device can operate on a single battery charge before needing to be plugged in again. Like the fuel tank capacity of a car - bigger means longer usage.

Example: A smartphone with good battery life might last a full day of normal use, while a laptop might run fo...

USB

basic

Universal Serial Bus - a standard way to connect devices and transfer data between computers and accessories. Like a universal adapter that works with many devices.

Example: USB cables connect your phone to your computer for charging and transferring photos, music, and file...