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

Animation

App

AutoFill

c

Cell

Click

Close

Clipboard

Column

Copy

Cursor

Cut

D

Design

Desktop

Desktop Folder

Document

Double Click

Download (Noun)

Download (Verb)

Downloads Folder

Drag

Drop

e

Excel

F

File

File Menu

File Path

Folder

Format

Formula

Function

G

Gridlines

H

Highlight

I

Icon

Insert

L

Login Screen

M

Maximize

Menu

Minimize

Mouse Pointer

N

Notes Pane

O

Open

P

Password

Password Reset

Paste

Portal

PowerPoint

Presenter View

Properties

R

Range

Recycle Bin

Redo

Resize

Ribbon

Right-Click Menu

Row

S

Save

Scroll

Scroll Bar

Search Bar

Select

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

Username

V

Verification Code

W

Worksheet

Worksheet Tab

Window

Word