Computer Vocabulary
(Plain English)

This page contains clear, plain-English definitions of essential computer vocabulary terms. Each term includes a definition, characteristics, examples, and non-examples to support beginner computer users and ESL learners.

A

Account

Active Cell

Address Bar

Animation

App

Assignment Submission

Attachment

AutoFill

B

Back + Forward Buttons

c

Cell

Click

Close

Clipboard

Column

Copy

Course Page

Cursor

Cut

D

Delete

Design

Desktop

Desktop Folder

Document

Double Click

Download (Noun)

Download (Verb)

Downloads Folder

Download Prompt

Drag

Drop

e

Enter Key

Excel

F

File

File Menu

File Path

File Type

Folder

Format

Formula

Function

G

Gridlines

H

Highlight

Hover

I

Icon

Insert

L

Link / Hyperlink

Login Screen

M

Maximize

Menu

Minimize

Module

Mouse Pointer

N

Notes Pane

O

Open

P

Password

Password Reset

Paste

Pop-Up

Portal

PowerPoint

Presenter View

Properties

R

Range

Recycle Bin

Redo

Refresh

Rename

Resize

Return Key

Ribbon

Right-Click Menu

Row

S

Save

Save As

Scroll

Scroll Bar

Search Bar

Select

Select All

Shortcut

Sign Out / Log Out

Slide

Slide Layout

Start Menu

Status Bar

Student ID

T

Tab

Taskbar

Theme

Title Bar

Toolbar

Trackpad

Transition

Type

U

Undo

Upload (Noun)

Upload (Verb)

Username

V

Verification Code

W

Worksheet

Worksheet Tab

Window

Word