Technology Words Everyone Uses

Every time you go online, your device has a kind of digital return address. It is called an IP address—but despite what you may hear Read more

You've probably heard someone toss around "AI," "machine learning," and "deep learning" Read more

Every time you hear "AI," does your brain jump straight to glowing-eyed robots plotting world domination? Good news: Read more

Ever wondered how so many programmers around the world build software without getting paid? Read more

The word "algorithm" gets thrown around like it's some mysterious force controlling the internet. Strip away the mystique, though, and it's one of the simplest ideas in all of computing Read more

You've probably seen the little notice at the top of a chat: "Messages are end-to-end encrypted." Read more

Your phone can talk to your headphones, your router, and a cell tower miles away — all at the same time, all using completely different technologies. Here's why it needs all three, and how to tell which one is misbehaving when something won't connect. Read more

Here is a fun party trick: Ask five people to explain the difference between "the internet" and "the world wide web." Most will stare blankly. A few will say, "Aren't they the same thing?" And honestly, that is completely understandable. Read more

When most people picture a programmer, they imagine someone hunched over a glowing screen, typing endless streams of numbers and solving complex calculus equations. Movies and TV have done us no favors here. Read more