Internet Terms-G

G short for gigabyte.

garbage collection unwanted, unused, or otherwise useless or dated information cluttering up disk space.
garbage in garbage out (GIGO) a somewhat dated phrase meaning the conclusion reached by a computer can only be as good as the quality of the data that was used to reach the conclusion.

gateway a link between two different types of otherwise incompatible networks allowing users the benefits of both.

Gateway Inc. a direct marketer of personal computers and related products and services. Gateway develops, manufactures, markets, and supports a broad line of desktop and portable PCs, servers and workstations used by individuals, families, businesses, government agencies and educational institutions.

GB short for gigabyte.

geek short for computer geek. A term used to describe an individual, usually male, with an inordinate enthusiasm for computers and software, who sometimes neglects other routine activities of daily living such as eating and bathing.

GHz short for gigahertz.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) a type of graphic file developed by CompuServe utilizing Unisys technology, designed to compress graphics used on the Internet, allowing them to load quickly.

giga (G) derived from the Greek meaning giant, a metric prefix meaning X 1,000,000,000.

gigabyte approximately one billion bytes. Actually 1024 megabytes. Modern computer manufacturers usually measure hard drive storage capacity in gigabytes.

GIGO see garbage in garbage out.

glitch a small problem or malfunction associated with a computer hardware or software, though the term has evolved to include problems in many circles. see bug.

gonk slang term used in online chat rooms, bulletin boards, and other public forums, meaning to embellish or tell an outright lie.

Gopher a program maintained by the University of Minnesota using a menu-driven interface which compiles information gathered from the Internet and distills it into usable form.

GOTO a programming statement used in early computer programs such as Fortran and Basic. The use of this command has been limited since the 1970s when it was discovered to produce a great deal of erroneous data.

.gov a domain name suffix that indicates the Website is operated by one of the many arms of the federal or state governments.

grammar check a feature included in some word processing applications that alerts a user when improper grammar or spelling has been used and offers options for correcting the error. The grammar check feature can be disabled allowing the user to incorporate a particular style to the writing including grammar not considered proper.

graphical user interface (GUI) pronounced gooey. a method of interacting with a computer program by making use of graphics, icons, pop-up menus, windows, a mouse and mouse pointer. To point to an object with a mouse cursor, click on the object, and experience a result such as having a menu appear or to arrive at a Web page is an example of graphical user interface. The basic technology was developed by Xerox in the 1970s but the company could find few practical applications for it. Macintosh adapted GUI as the foundation of the Apple Macintosh in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s with the emergence of Windows 3.0 that the technology really took off.

graphics computer screen images represented as pictures or photographs. Graphics are formatted differently than text and require software that is able to read giga 57 and display them. The quality of a graphical image viewed on a computer or produced by a printer will depend on the resolution of the screen or printer.

graphics card a plug-in video circuit board containing memory that allows a computer to display graphic images as well as text.

grayscale the use of various shades of gray along with pure black and white to produce an image.

green PC a computer designed to minimize the use of electricity it uses. It usually shuts down after a pre-determined amount of idle time. see Energy Star.

GUI see Graphical User Interface.

GUI hack to alter a computer program or gain unauthorized entry into a program, computer, or computer system.