Default
An action, setting or value that an application or device automatically selects unless you choose an alternative.

Defragment
A file isn’t necessarily stored all in one place on your hard disk. It is often broken into smaller fragments and stored in different places to fit around other files. A disk defragmenter rearranges your hard disk so that each file is stored in one segment.

Desktop
The main screen and working area that you see when Windows has been started. You can change the way it looks by selecting a new wallpaper or pattern, or re-arranging the position of the icons.

Desktop shortcut
An icon on the desktop that can be double-clicked to open an application.

Destination
The location on your computer hard drive where the software is saved. The default location for the main part of the software is usually the Program Files folder but some files will automatically be saved in the Windows folders. You can find and start most programs by using the All programs menu.

Dialogue box
A special window used to offer a choice of program options.

Digital input
A controller or function button that is either on or off, with no variation.

Directory
A container or folder on your PC, used to organise folders and files into a hierarchical structure. Many user interfaces actually prefer to use the term ‘folder‘ instead of ‘directory‘.


DLL
Dynamic Link Library. A type of file that Windows programs use to store common code.

Document
Each specific word processing file.

Dolby Pro Logic II
An encoding format used to store surround sound data that is decoded by software or hardware and played through speakers.

Domain
The name following the @ symbol in an email address.

Download
The process of copying a file from a website to your computer.

Drag
Clicking on an object, holding the button down and moving the mouse so that the object moves with it.

Drag and drop
The function of clicking on (or highlighting) an item while holding down the left mouse button, then moving that item and releasing the mouse button to position the item in a new location.

Drag handles
Small squares or circles at the corners and middle of a text box or picture. They can be used to resize the box by left-clicking, holding down the mouse button and dragging to the new size.

Drag points
Small squares at the corners and middle of a text box or picture. They can be used to resize the box by left-clicking on a square, holding down the mouse button and dragging to the new required size.

Drive
An internal or external device that reads data from and writes data to a disk on your PC.

Driver
A program which controls how a specific device, such as your modem, communicates with the rest of your PC.

DRM (Digital Rights Management)
"iTunes controls how a track purchased from its music store is used. FairPlay is the brand name of the technology used by Apple; this ensures that the rights are fair to the artist, the record company and the consumer." Every track in the iTunes music store is encoded with FairPlay. This means that the encoded track can be played on up to five authorised computers simultaneously, and a playlist containing a purchased track can be burned up to seven times. If you manage to hit those limits, you will need to buy the track again.

Drop-down menu
A list of options that appear when you click on a down-facing arrow or if you right-click on an option.

DVD
Digital Video Disc. The common disc format that replaced video cassettes in the late nineties.

Emoticon
A graphic or sequence of keyboard symbols emulating a facial expression, used to complement a written message.

Encryption
When sending documents via the Net, encryption changes your information into a secure code using a complex equation. The data can only be read by the computer you are sending

Encryption padlock
A symbol indicating it is safe for you to give personal details to a website. No one else can read or steal the data.

Evaluation period
The period during which a program is available as a free trial. After this time, you must pay to continue using the program.

Explorer
Whenever you open a folder, Explorer is the program that manages what you see.

FAQs
Frequently asked questions. A section of many websites and help files that lists the questions that are most commonly asked and provides answers to them. FAQs is a good place to start when you have a query.

Favorites Center
A panel within Internet Explorer providing quick access to favourite websites, subscribed feeds and browsing history.

Feather
Without feathering, any object selected with the Freehand tool would have a hard edge to it. Using feathering allows for the capture of the soft edges that fringe faces, hair and clothes.

Feed reader
The software needed to update and display web feeds in a readable format. Also known as an aggregator.

File extension
The three letters at the end of a filename. They indicate the type of information stored in the file. Photo files commonly have .jpg or .tif extensions. However, there are many types.

File server
A computer connected to the internet dedicated to sharing files with other computers. File servers have very high bandwidth connections and can often handle thousands of users at a time.

File systems
When you format a disk by right-clicking on the drive icon and choosing Format, you will see that there are different types of file system you can use. These let the computer add extra information, invisible to us, to manage files.

Firewall
A program that monitors the internet and allows only authorised programs to access it. This is to protect your PC from hackers and programs designed to find out your personal details. Most PCs are set up with a firewall automatically.

Flash Player
The main part of Flash for users that lets you interact with sites and view the movies and games that are created by the technology’s authoring program.

Flattening
This is the process of merging the information from all selected images into a single image. Once flattened, the selected images cannot be adjusted.

Font
A design for a set of text characters in a program. A font is a combination of typeface and features such as size and spacing.

Format
A particular style or arrangement of text, images, clipart or numbers that you choose from a spreadsheet or document.

Formatting
Blank hard drives or floppy disks need to be set up before use, so that the computer can read and write to them. This is called formatting. CD and DVD media is automatically formatted by the writing software while memory sticks come pre-formatted ready for instant use.

Fragmentation
The process when a file is split up and placed on different areas of the hard disk. It causes delays to Windows’ loading time.

Freeware
Programs, pictures, clipart or fonts that people give away for free. Freeware typically refers to software – mostly small utilities – but it can be anything, including collections of fonts. These are often given away to tempt you to come back and buy larger collections of different fonts when you have tried the free product.

FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A method of transferring files over the internet. FTP is most commonly used by people who have their own websites and have to upload and download new content to or from a server on a regular basis.

Function
A built-in calculation used instead of creating a formula. For instance if you wanted to find the sum of a range of cells you would use the Sum() function. So the sum of cells B3 to B6 would be Sum (B3:B6) instead of B3+B4+B5+B6.

Function key
A key present on notebook computers or compact PC keyboards. You press this to change the function of another key, indicated by extra characters in a different colour.