45 Tech Terms Explained in Plain English: The Essential Glossary for Non-Technical Professionals

The world of technology can often feel like a members-only club with its own complicated lingo. For marketers, salespeople, and other business professionals, trying to communicate with the IT crowd can leave you feeling like a tourist in a foreign country.

But fear not – you don‘t need to go back to school for a computer science degree to make sense of all the jargon. In this post, we‘ll break down 45 must-know tech terms into plain English explanations anyone can understand.

By the end, you‘ll have a working vocabulary of key concepts related to:

• Websites & Software
• Coding & Programming
• Data & Analytics
• Networks & Security
• Digital Marketing

Think of this as your Rosetta Stone for translating geek speak. Having these terms in your back pocket will help you bridge the communication gap with your technical colleagues and become a savvier technology user yourself.

Websites & Software

Let‘s start with the fundamentals of how websites and applications work:

Client – The software program or web browser that requests services or info from a server. When you use Google Chrome to access a website, Chrome is the client.

Server – A computer program or device that provides functionality for other programs/devices, called "clients". Servers power websites, apps, databases and more behind the scenes.

Front-End – The part of a website or app that users directly interact with, like the visual layout. If a website was a restaurant, the front-end would be the dining area.

Back-End – The behind-the-scenes part of a website or app that handles data storage, security, and other core functions. In our restaurant analogy, the back-end is the kitchen.

Full-Stack – A developer or development approach that handles both the front-end and back-end of an application. They can cook the meal and serve it too, to extend the metaphor.

CMS – "Content Management System" – User-friendly software for creating and managing digital content like WordPress or Drupal, web-based and often open-source.

Some of the most popular CMSs include:

CMS	Market Share
WordPress	35.2%
Shopify	9.2%
Wix	1.7%
Drupal	1.6%
Squarespace	1.5%

Source: W3Techs, 2021

Using a CMS allows non-developers to build and maintain websites without extensive coding knowledge. Like ordering from a menu rather than cooking from scratch.

API – "Application Programming Interface" – A set of protocols for building software that specifies how different components should interact. APIs let applications "talk" to each other.

For example, when you use Facebook to log into a different app or website, that site is using the Facebook Login API to access your credentials and profile info. Over 24% of developers rely on APIs in their work.

SDK – "Software Development Kit" – A collection of tools for creating applications for a specific platform, like iOS or Android. If an API is a foreign language dictionary, an SDK is a whole bookshelf of reference materials.

The Cloud – A global network of remote servers for storing, managing, and accessing data and programs over the internet rather than locally on a computer. Almost 70% of enterprises have at least one application running in the cloud.

SaaS – "Software as a Service" – A distribution model where a software application is hosted by a vendor and made available to customers over the internet, usually on a subscription basis. Like renting an apartment vs. buying a house. Examples include Salesforce, Dropbox, and Microsoft 365.

On-Premises – Software that is installed and runs on computers or servers in the building of the person or organization using the software, rather than remote servers. The traditional model before cloud computing.

Coding & Programming

Now let‘s look at some of the fundamental concepts in software development:

Codebase – A collection of all the source code used to build an application. Imagine it as a recipe box containing all the ingredients and instructions.

Open Source – Software that is distributed with its source code freely available for modification. Open source projects are collaboratively developed and maintained by a community, like a potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish to share.

Some of the most widely-used open source technologies include:

• Linux (operating system)
• MySQL (database)
• WordPress (CMS)
• Firefox (web browser)
• Android (mobile OS)

Over 90% of companies use open source code in some way.

Version Control – The practice of tracking and managing changes to software code over time. Version control systems like Git allow developers to collaborate without overwriting each other‘s work.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) – A set of practices that encourage teams to make small code changes frequently and automate testing and deployment. The goal is to catch bugs early and release updates quickly.

QA – "Quality Assurance" – The process of testing and verifying software to prevent defects and meet requirements before release. QA is like a recipe taste-tester.

Scrum/Agile – Project management frameworks that break development work into short cycles (sprints) and prioritize flexibility and collaboration over rigid planning. Agile methods are 28% more successful than traditional approaches.

Data & Analytics

In today‘s information economy, understanding data is a critical skill:

Database – An organized collection of structured data stored electronically for easy access and management. Excel on steroids.

The most common types of databases include:

• Relational (SQL)
• Non-relational (NoSQL)
• Object-oriented
• Graph

The global database market is expected to reach $60 billion by 2025.

Big Data – Extremely large, complex data sets that can be analyzed to reveal patterns and trends, especially relating to human behavior. The "big" part refers to the 3 Vs – high volume, velocity, and variety.

Data Mining – The practice of examining large databases to generate new information and predict future trends. Like panning for gold in a riverbed of numbers.

Machine Learning – A branch of AI that uses statistical models to improve task performance over time without explicit programming. Email spam filters are a classic example – they automatically get better at flagging junk mail as they process more messages.

The machine learning market is projected to grow from $7.3B in 2020 to $30.6B by 2024, a CAGR of 43%.

Algorithm – A process or set of rules for solving a problem or accomplishing a task. Google‘s search algorithm, for example, determines what results to display based on factors like keywords, links, and location.

Neural Network – A type of machine learning model loosely inspired by the structure of the human brain. Neural networks can be "trained" on large datasets to recognize patterns, classify information, and make predictions.

Networks & Security

As our world becomes increasingly connected, it‘s important to understand how information travels and stays secure:

IP Address – A unique string of numbers that identifies every device on the internet, like a digital home address. IPv6, the latest standard, allows for 340 undecillion addresses.

Encryption – The practice of encoding information so it can only be accessed with a key, protecting it from unauthorized viewing. End-to-end encryption scrambles data from sender to recipient.

VPN – "Virtual Private Network" – An encrypted tunnel for sending and receiving data across shared or public networks. VPNs add a layer of privacy and security, especially on public Wi-Fi.

Firewall – A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined rules. A firewall is like a nightclub bouncer for your computer.

DDoS – "Distributed Denial of Service" – A type of cyber attack that overwhelms a server or network with traffic from multiple sources, causing it to crash. Imagine a stadium of people all trying to go through one turnstile at the same time.

DDoS attacks increased by 151% in the first half of 2020 alone.

Penetration Testing – An authorized simulated attack on a computer system to evaluate its security. Ethical hackers probe for vulnerabilities so they can be fixed before real criminals exploit them.

Digital Marketing

Finally, here are some key terms at the intersection of marketing and technology:

Conversion Rate – The percentage of website visitors or app users who complete a desired action like filling out a form or making a purchase. If your ecommerce site gets 200 visitors and 10 sales in a day, the conversion rate is 5%.

Across industries, the average landing page conversion rate is 4.02%. But the top 25% of companies are achieving 3-5x higher.

A/B Testing – A method of comparing two versions of a web page or app to determine which one performs better. Version A is the "control" and version B is the "challenger." Metrics like conversion rate determine the winner.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – The practice of managing a company‘s interactions with current and potential customers. CRM software helps automate and organize this, like a digital Rolodex.

Some of the most popular CRMs include:

• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Oracle NetSuite
• SAP

The global CRM software market is expected to reach $43.5 billion by 2024.

Marketing Automation – The use of software to automate certain repetitive marketing activities like email campaigns, social media posting, and targeted ads. Marketing automation lets you scale personalized outreach.

An 80% increase in leads and 77% higher conversions are among the top benefits of marketing automation.

SEO – "Search Engine Optimization" – The practice of increasing the quantity and quality of organic (non-paid) traffic to your website through search engine results. Tactics include keyword targeting, link building, and technical audits.

Over 50% of trackable website traffic on average comes from organic search, making SEO an essential long-term strategy.

Analytics – The analysis of data to draw conclusions and make decisions. Web analytics measure site traffic and visitor behavior. Some of the most important metrics include:

• Page views
• Unique visitors
• Bounce rate
• Time on site
• Referring sites
• Conversion rate

Over 70% of companies now rely on analytics to generate business insights.

Putting It All Together

Phew, that was a lot to cover! But don‘t worry if you didn‘t catch it all the first time around – bookmark this glossary and come back to it whenever you need a refresher.

The most important thing is to start incorporating these concepts into your everyday conversations and thought processes. The more you use them, the more comfortable you‘ll become.

Here are some tips for continuing to expand your tech fluency:

1. Follow industry blogs and publications – Stay up to date on the latest trends and terminology by reading sites like Wired, TechCrunch, and The Verge.

2. Attend webinars and conferences – Look for online and in-person events that bring together experts to discuss digital topics. Many are available free or at low cost.

3. Collaborate with your technical colleagues – Don‘t be afraid to ask questions and learn from the developers, engineers, and data scientists in your organization. They‘ll appreciate your interest!

4. Experiment with new tools and platforms – The best way to learn technology is to use it. Download some of the software mentioned in this guide and play around. You might be surprised at how intuitive a lot of it is!

5. Take an online course – For more structured learning, consider an e-learning platform like Coursera, Udemy, or Skillshare. Many offer beginner-friendly tech courses.

Remember, you don‘t need to become an expert in all these areas – but having a working knowledge will help you "speak the language" and collaborate more effectively with your technical peers.

So embrace your inner geek and keep learning! With these terms in your toolkit, you‘ll be able to approach any digital project with confidence.