iOS Definition iOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple. It was originally named the iPhone OS, but was renamed to the iOS in June, 2009. The iOS currently runs on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Like modern desktop operating systems, iOS uses a graphical user interface, or GUI. However, since it is a mobile operating system, iOS is designed around touchscreen input, rather than a keyboard and mouse. For example, applications, or "apps," can be opened by a single tap, rather than a...

API Definition Stands for "Application Programming Interface." An API is a set of commands, functions, protocols, and objects that programmers can use to create software or interact with an external system. It provides developers with standard commands for performing common operations so they do not have to write the code from scratch. APIs are available for both desktop and mobile operating systems. The Windows API, for example, provides developers with user interface controls and elements, su...

Web Browser Definition A web browser, or simply "browser," is an application used to access and view websites. Common web browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. The primary function of a web browser is to render HTML, the code used to design or "mark up" webpages. Each time a browser loads a web page, it processes the HTML, which may include text, links, and references to images and other items, such as cascading style sheets and JavaScri...

Golden Master Definition A golden master, or GM, is the final version of a software program that is sent to manufacturing and is used to make retail copies of the software. The golden master follows several other stages in the software development process including the alpha, beta, and release candidate stages. The final release candidate (RC) becomes the "release to manufacturing" (RTM) version, which is also called the golden master. The term "golden master" has been used by Apple for many ye...

Rootkit A rootkit is a software program designed to provide a user with administrator access to a computer without being detected. Rootkits are are considered one of the most serious types of malware since they may be used to gain unauthorized access to remote systems and perform malicious operations. The name "rootkit" includes the word "root," because the goal of a rootkit is to gain root access to a computer. By logging in as the root user of a system, a hacker can perform nearly any opera...

SharePoint Definition Microsoft SharePoint is a web-based platform used for sharing files and information. It is designed for teams and provides collaboration features, such as project management, messaging, and shared document storage. SharePoint is commonly used to create a company intranet, which can only be accessed by employees. It provides a secure platform for team members to exchange files and share information. SharePoint may also be used to create an extranet, as a way for remote cl...

SDS Definition Stands for "Software-Defined Storage." SDS is software that manages data storage devices. It is commonly used for managing large amounts of data in data centers, server farms, and enterprise environments. SDS functions independently of the underlying hardware. It can merge several physical storage devices into one virtual storage volume. For example, five HDDs that have a storage capacity of 2 terabytes can be merged into a single 10 terabyte storage area instead of five separa...

Wrapper Definition In computer science, a wrapper is any entity that encapsulates (wraps around) another item. Wrappers are used for two primary purposes: to convert data to a compatible format or to hide the complexity of the underlying entity using abstraction. Examples include object wrappers, function wrappers, and driver wrappers. 1. Object Wrapper An object wrapper is a class that encapsulates a primitive data type or another object. It may be used in Java, for example, to convert a char p...

Digital Asset Definition A digital asset is a digital entity owned by an individual or company. Examples include digital photos, videos, and songs. These assets are not tangible, meaning they have no physical presence. Instead, they are files that reside on storage device, such as a local computer or a cloud-based storage network. The term "digital asset" ascribes legal ownership and value to a digital file. For example, if you pay $1.29 to download a song from iTunes, it becomes a digital as...

ASO Definition Stands for "App Store Optimization." ASO is the process of optimizing the listing of an app in an online app store, such as Apple's App Store, the Microsoft Store, or Google Play. It is similar to search engine optimization (SEO) but is targeted towards apps rather than websites. The goal of ASO is to improve an app's visibility within an app store. One of the top ways an app can gain prominence is to rank highly in the search results for specific keywords. For example, the devel...