Tech glossary: technical terms explained clearly

The CPU (Central Processing Unit), also known as the processor, is the absolute brain of the computer. This vital component coordinates all processes, performs calculations and controls the other components in the system.

• In practice: every action you take on your computer (from moving your mouse to launching a demanding game) is processed by the CPU.

• Buying advice: for basic tasks such as browsing the web, a simple processor is enough, while demanding software (such as video editing or gaming) needs a more powerful CPU with more computing power.

• Source & further reading: see current processor advice and specifications in the Tweakers Processor Best Buy Guide.

• Source: Tweakers Processor Best Buy Guide

A benchmark is a frame of reference or yardstick for objectively comparing the performance of devices, systems, processes or organisations. In Dutch the term is often translated as ijkpunt, maatstaf, standaard or norm. [1, 2]

The verb to benchmark describes the process in which an organisation measures its own performance against the best practices in the market in order to learn and improve. [1, 2]

The meaning depends heavily on the context in which the term is used:

1. In IT and technology

For computers, smartphones and software, a benchmark is a standardised test procedure. Special software (benchmark programs) runs heavy calculations to measure a device's maximum computing power, graphics performance or battery life. The resulting scores make it easy for consumers and experts to compare hardware objectively.

2. In business and government

Here, benchmarking is a strategic tool for quality control. Organisations compare their own figures (such as customer satisfaction, lead times or costs) with those of competitors or peers in their sector, through databases such as the Dutch Kenniscentrum voor Beleid en Regelgeving. This usually follows a fixed pattern: [1, 2, 3]

• Identify: decide which process or product needs improvement.
• Compare: collect data and set your performance against the best in the market.
• Analyse: find out where the gaps are and why others perform better.
• Improve: make plans and implement changes to raise your own level. [1, 2]

3. In finance (investing)

In the financial sector, a benchmark is the yardstick for an investment portfolio. [1]

• For example, an equity fund that invests in large Dutch companies uses the AEX index as its benchmark.
• If the fund achieves an 8% return in a year but the AEX rises by 10%, the fund has underperformed the market (the benchmark), despite the profit.

The PassMark score is an independent performance figure that expresses the computing power of hardware. The score comes from standardised tests (benchmarks) in which components such as processors are pushed to their limits.

• In practice: it lets consumers compare the speed of different computers or processors at a glance, without in-depth technical knowledge.

• Buying advice: a higher score means better performance. When comparing, look at the ratio between price and score to find the best deal.

• Source & further reading: for real-world tests and scores, see the Tweakers processor benchmarks.

• Source: Tweakers processor benchmarks

Multi-threading is a technique that lets a single physical processor core handle several computing tasks (threads) at the same time. This makes much more efficient use of the processor's available computing power.

• In practice: thanks to multi-threading, your computer can multitask smoothly, for example exporting a video while you browse the web without stutters.

• Buying advice: software for professional image editing, 3D rendering and heavy calculations benefits greatly from a processor with good multi-threaded performance.

• Source & further reading: read more about the performance impact in the Tweakers productivity guide.

• Source: Tweakers productivity guide

The nanometre (nm) figure for computer chips indicates the size of the smallest parts (transistors) on the chip. The smaller the number, the more transistors fit on the same area and the shorter the distances electrical signals have to travel.

• In practice: a smaller manufacturing process in nanometres results in chips that are faster and use considerably less energy. This is crucial for the battery life of laptops and phones.

• Buying advice: when buying a new computer, look at the processor generation; newer generations use smaller nm technologies and are therefore more energy-efficient.

• Source & further reading: discover the technical background on the Tweakers Gathering forum.

• Source: Tweakers Gathering forum

A GPU (graphics processing unit) is the chip that calculates images, video and 3D graphics; in a PC it sits on the graphics card or inside the processor, and it increasingly handles AI workloads too.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

VRAM is the fast memory on a graphics card that holds textures and frames; the more VRAM, the higher the resolutions and heavier the games the card can handle smoothly.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The chipset is a chip on the motherboard that connects the processor to USB ports, storage and expansion cards, among others; it determines which connections and features a motherboard offers.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The motherboard is a computer's main circuit board, into which the processor, memory, storage and graphics card are plugged.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The power supply (PSU) converts mains electricity into the voltages a PC's components need; it must deliver enough watts for the processor and graphics card combined.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A cooler draws heat away from the processor with a heatsink and fan or with liquid cooling, so the chip doesn't overheat and can keep its speed.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The socket is the mount on the motherboard that the processor fits into; processor and motherboard must share the same socket, for example AM5 for AMD or LGA1851 for Intel.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Cores are the individual processing units inside a processor; more cores mean the processor can run more tasks at the same time.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Threads are the streams of work a processor can handle at once; thanks to hyper-threading or SMT, one core can often run two threads at the same time.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Clock speed, measured in gigahertz (GHz), tells you how many processing cycles a processor runs per second; within the same generation, a higher clock speed is faster.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TDP (thermal design power) is the amount of heat, in watts, a processor or graphics card gives off under normal load; it's a good guide to power draw and the cooling required.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TGP (total graphics power) is the maximum power a laptop graphics chip is allowed to use; the same GPU is noticeably faster in a laptop with a higher TGP.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An iGPU (integrated GPU) is a graphics chip built into the processor itself; fine for office work and video, but slower than a separate graphics card.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An eGPU (external GPU) is a separate graphics card in its own enclosure that you connect to a laptop or mini PC over a fast cable such as Thunderbolt or OCuLink.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

OCuLink is a cable connection that carries PCIe signals straight out of the device; ideal for attaching an external graphics card to a mini PC with little loss of speed.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TOPS (tera operations per second) states how many trillion operations an AI chip or NPU performs per second; it's the usual measure of AI processing power.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

ATX is the standard size for motherboards, cases and power supplies in desktop PCs (30.5 × 24.4 cm), with room for plenty of expansion cards.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Micro-ATX is a smaller motherboard size (24.4 × 24.4 cm) with fewer expansion slots, suited to more compact and cheaper PCs.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Mini-ITX is a very small motherboard size (17 × 17 cm) with a single expansion slot, made for small yet powerful PCs.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a security chip that stores encryption keys safely; Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

OC stands for overclocked: a graphics card or processor that the manufacturer already runs faster than its standard speed.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

SFF (small form factor) refers to a small PC or a short, compact graphics card that fits in small cases.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

x64 is the 64-bit processor architecture from Intel and AMD that most Windows PCs and their programs run on.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

ARM64 is the power-efficient 64-bit processor architecture used in smartphones, Apple computers and newer Windows laptops; programs must be written or translated for it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

RDNA is AMD's graphics architecture, used in Radeon graphics cards and in the integrated graphics of Ryzen processors.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

CUDA is NVIDIA's platform that lets software use the graphics card for heavy computing, such as AI, video editing and 3D rendering.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A benchmark is a standardised test that measures the speed of a processor, graphics card or device, so you can compare them fairly.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Cache is a small but very fast buffer memory where a processor or program keeps frequently used data so it is available more quickly.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Ray tracing is a technique that simulates the path of light rays, making lighting, shadows and reflections in games look far more realistic; it does take a lot of processing power.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Upscaling renders an image at a lower resolution and enlarges it intelligently to a higher one, so you get more frames per second with almost the same sharpness.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

DLSS is NVIDIA's upscaling technology that uses AI to create a sharp high-resolution image from a lower resolution; it only works on GeForce RTX cards.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is AMD's upscaling technology that renders games at a lower resolution and scales them up; older versions work on almost any graphics card.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

XeSS is Intel's upscaling technology that uses AI to create a higher resolution from a lower one, similar to DLSS and FSR.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

QWERTY is the most widely used keyboard layout, named after the first six letters at the top left; it's standard in the Netherlands, the UK and most other countries.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

AZERTY is the keyboard layout used in Belgium and France, where keys such as A, Z and M sit in different places than on QWERTY.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The CE marking shows that a product meets European requirements for safety, health and the environment and may be sold in the EU.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The FCC is the US telecoms regulator; FCC approval means an electronic device doesn't cause harmful radio interference.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

RoHS is a European directive that restricts hazardous substances such as lead and mercury in electronics; a RoHS label means the product complies.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Geekbench is a benchmark program that measures the speed of smartphones, tablets and computers, so you can compare them on one scale.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

RAM (Random Access Memory), also called working memory, acts as the computer's temporary short-term memory. The computer quickly stores data from the programs that are open at that moment, so the processor can access it immediately.

• In practice: as soon as you switch off the computer, RAM is completely wiped. Too little working memory makes programs slow or stutter when you have several of them open at once.

• Buying advice: for modern Windows use, 16 gigabytes (GB) is the standard recommendation; for heavy gaming or professional tasks, 32 GB or more is advisable.

• Source & further reading: learn how to choose the right memory on the Coolblue RAM advice page.

• Source: Coolblue RAM advice page

DDR4 is the fourth generation of mainstream computer memory. It succeeded DDR3 and offers a stable balance between performance and power consumption.

• In practice: although there is a newer successor, DDR4 remains a widely used and affordable option for budget PCs and older hardware.

• Buying advice: DDR4 memory does not physically fit in a newer DDR5 motherboard because of the different pin layout. Always check in advance what your computer supports.

• Source & further reading: see the specification guidelines in the Megekko RAM Academy overview.

• Source: Megekko RAM Academy

DDR5 is the latest generation of working memory and offers considerably higher speeds and more data bandwidth than its predecessor, DDR4. It is designed to meet the high demands of modern processors.

• In practice: DDR5 processes data faster, which improves overall system performance in tasks such as data analysis, virtualisation and intensive gaming.

• Buying advice: choose a future-proof system that supports DDR5 if your budget allows. Keep in mind that DDR5 prices are affected by market fluctuations.

• Source & further reading: read the full comparison test in the Tweakers DDR5 vs DDR4 benchmark.

• Source: Tweakers DDR5 vs DDR4 benchmark

An SSD (Solid State Drive) is the modern, super-fast storage medium for all your permanent files, such as the operating system, photos and software. Unlike an old-fashioned hard drive (HDD), an SSD has no moving parts.

• In practice: because data is read electronically from flash memory chips, a computer with an SSD boots in seconds and programs load almost instantly. SSDs are also silent, energy-efficient and shock-resistant.

• Buying advice: don't buy a computer without an SSD as its main boot drive these days. For regular use, a capacity of at least 512 GB to 1 terabyte (TB) is recommended.

• Source & further reading: for handy tips and myths, see the Consumentenbond guide on cleaning up, and find the best-tested drives in the Tweakers SSD Best Buy Guide.

• Source: Consumentenbond guide on cleaning up

• Source: Tweakers SSD Best Buy Guide

• In practice: this is a modern digital communication protocol designed specifically to exchange data extremely fast with flash memory (SSDs). Think of it as an ultra-modern railway line running straight to your computer's brain (the processor). It makes your computer and heavy programs or games start up smoothly.

• Source: IBM

• Important nuance or limitation: although NVMe is much faster than older technologies on paper, you will hardly notice it in everyday use (such as browsing or word processing). Under heavy load these drives can also get very hot, so they need a heatsink to prevent overheating (and the resulting loss of performance).

• Source: ADATA Technology

• Reliable source: more technical background is available in the official NVM Express® Overview and in this IBM NVMe explanation.

• Source: NVM Express® Overview

• In practice: this is the traditional connection and language that was the standard for hard drives and early SSDs for many years. Think of it as a reliable, older country road along which data travels from the drive to the computer. It is still the standard for larger, traditional hard drives (HDDs).

• Source: YouTube · Hostinger Academy

• Important nuance or limitation: SATA has a hard speed limit (about 600 MB/s). By modern standards this has become a serious bottleneck. It's fine for storing photos or films, but outdated for the fastest computer performance.

• Source: Gigabyte

• Reliable source: read about the differences in the IBM SATA vs NVMe guide.

• Source: IBM SATA vs NVMe guide

• In practice: this is the physical 'motorway' on your computer's motherboard. It is the infrastructure (the rails) that NVMe technology (the train) uses to communicate directly with the processor. Graphics cards use this fast connection too.

• Important nuance or limitation: PCIe comes in generations (such as PCIe 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0). A brand-new PCIe 5.0 SSD does work in an older PCIe 3.0 slot, but its speed is then automatically limited to the maximum of that older connection.

• Reliable source: details about PCIe generations can be found in the ADATA PCIe overview.

• Source: ADATA PCIe overview

• Source: IBM

M.2 is a small plug-in format for SSDs and Wi-Fi cards; an M.2 SSD screws directly onto the motherboard, with no cables.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

SO-DIMM is the smaller memory module format used in laptops, mini PCs and some NAS devices.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

ECC memory (error-correcting code) detects and fixes small memory errors by itself; it's mainly used in servers and NAS systems where reliability matters.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

SMR (shingled magnetic recording) is a recording technique where tracks on a hard drive overlap; it gives lots of storage for little money, but writing is slower, which is a drawback in a NAS with RAID.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

UFS (Universal Flash Storage) is the fast storage used in smartphones and tablets; a newer version such as UFS 4.0 loads apps and files faster.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A GB (gigabyte) is a unit of storage or memory, roughly a billion bytes; a photo is a few MB, a film easily several GB.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A TB (terabyte) is 1,000 GB of storage; enough for hundreds of thousands of photos or hundreds of films.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A DVD is a 4.7 GB disc holding films, music or software; most new computers no longer have a drive for it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

CFexpress is a very fast memory card format for professional cameras, needed for fast photo bursts and high-quality video.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

UHS-II is a fast SD card standard with an extra row of contacts, letting cards reach about 300 MB/s; your camera or reader must support it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A microSD card is a tiny memory card for smartphones, action cameras and drones that adds extra storage.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

• In practice: a NAS is a smart, compact computer with its own hard drives that is permanently connected to your home network. It acts as your own central cloud at home, so you can reach your files, backups and media from your phone, laptop and TV anywhere in the house.

• The speed at which you access your files at home depends heavily on the quality of your Wi-Fi or network cables, not just on the speed of the NAS itself.

More information: also read our article What is a NAS?.

• In practice: this is a technique that lets several separate hard drives in a computer or NAS work together as one big drive. Depending on the setting, you can have data stored twice (RAID 1), so your data stays intact if a drive physically fails.

• Important nuance or limitation: RAID is definitely not a backup! It only protects you against the mechanical failure of a drive. If you accidentally delete a folder, get a virus, or there is a fire, you still lose everything. An external backup (for example in the cloud or on a separate drive kept elsewhere) is always necessary.

• Reliable source: the different RAID types are explained in the PCMag RAID overview and in the Synology RAID knowledge base.

• Source: PCMag RAID overview

• Source: Synology RAID knowledge base

• Source: Reddit · r/explainlikeimfive

• In practice: this is simply the physical 'slot' or drawer in a computer case or NAS into which you slide a hard drive or SSD. A "2-bay NAS" has room for up to two drives, and a "4-bay NAS" has room for four.

• Important nuance or limitation: more bays give you more flexibility to expand your storage later. Do check the size: some bays are made only for large 3.5-inch hard drives, while compact 2.5-inch SSDs often need an adapter or specific screws.

• Reliable source: practical information about drive bays is available from manufacturers, such as the Ugreen NAS Storage Guide.

• Source: Ugreen NAS Storage Guide

• Source: YouTube · SpaceRex

• In practice: this indicates the speed of a wired network connection. 1 GbE stands for 1 gigabit per second, which in practice means a maximum transfer speed of about 110 to 125 megabytes per second when copying files.

• Important nuance or limitation: this is a theoretical maximum. In practice, network traffic, the quality of your network cables (at least Cat5e required) and the speed of the connected routers or switches mean the actual speed is often a little lower.

• Reliable source: for network standards, see the general documentation on the network pages of PCMag Technology Terms.

• Source: PCMag Technology Terms

• In practice: this is the universal software protocol (the 'language') that computers use to talk to each other over a network and share files. Thanks to SMB you can open folders on your NAS directly in Windows Explorer or the Mac Finder, as if it were a local drive in your computer.

• Important nuance or limitation: older versions of this protocol (such as SMBv1) are badly outdated and vulnerable to hackers. Make sure your devices use modern, up-to-date versions (SMBv2 or SMBv3) to avoid unnecessary digital risks.

• Reliable source: extensive documentation on how it works and its history is available in the official Microsoft SMB documentation.

• Source: Microsoft SMB documentation

• In practice: a VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. This hides your real IP address and makes it look as if you are online from the location of the VPN server. It's useful for privacy on public Wi-Fi and for watching region-locked streaming content.

• Limitations & points of attention: a VPN often makes your internet connection a little slower because of the encryption. You are also not completely anonymous; in theory the VPN provider can still see what you do. So always choose a provider with a strict no-logs policy.

• Reliable sources: information about how it works is available on NordVPN's official page or through consumer advice on VPNexpert.

• Source: NordVPN

• Source: VPNexpert

A router shares your internet connection with all the devices in your home, over cable and Wi-Fi, and gives each device its own address on your network.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A modem converts the signal from your provider, over cable, phone line or fibre, into an internet connection your router and devices can use.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An access point is an extra Wi-Fi transmitter that you connect to your router with a network cable, to provide Wi-Fi where the signal is weak.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Mesh Wi-Fi uses several cooperating units that form one network, so you get a strong signal throughout your home without switching networks.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

WAN (wide area network) is the internet side of your router: the port where the connection from your provider or modem comes in.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

LAN (local area network) is your own home network: all the devices connected to your router by cable or Wi-Fi.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

DHCP is the router feature that automatically hands out an IP address to every device that connects, so you don't have to set anything up yourself.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

NAT (network address translation) lets all your home devices share one public internet address; the router keeps track of which reply goes to which device.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Double NAT happens when two routers in a row both translate addresses; it can cause problems with gaming, video calls and remote access.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

With DMZ, a router forwards all incoming traffic to one device, such as a second router; useful against double NAT, but that device must be well protected itself.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

In bridge mode, a router switches off its own routing functions and simply passes the internet connection on to another router.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An IP address is a device's unique address on a network, such as 192.168.1.10, which makes sure data reaches the right device.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A firewall monitors traffic between your network and the internet and blocks connections that aren't allowed.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Ethernet is the standard for wired networks using a network cable; more stable and often faster than Wi-Fi.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A server is a computer that's always on and provides services to other devices, such as files, websites, backups or media.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A media server stores your films, series, music and photos centrally and streams them to your TV, smartphone or computer.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Plex is software that turns your computer or NAS into a media server, so you can watch and listen to your own films and music anywhere.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

DSM (DiskStation Manager) is the operating system of Synology NAS devices, which you control through a web browser.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TrueNAS is a free operating system that turns your own PC into a powerful NAS, using the reliable ZFS file system.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A backup is a spare copy of your files in another place, so you don't lose anything if a device breaks, is stolen or is hacked.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The cloud is storage and software on servers on the internet; your files no longer live only on your own device and are reachable anywhere.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Streaming is playing music or video directly over the internet as it arrives, without downloading it fully first.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A hotspot is a Wi-Fi connection for getting online; using your smartphone as a hotspot shares its mobile data with your laptop or tablet.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Fibre is an internet connection that sends data as light through thin glass strands; very fast, including uploads, and stable.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

RJ45 is the plug on an ordinary network cable, slightly wider than a phone plug, used to connect devices to your network by cable.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

• In practice: where a VM simulates an entire computer, Docker is software that packages applications in compact, separate 'containers'. Each container holds only the app and the code needed to run it, sharing the operating system of your own PC. This makes starting smart software (such as Home Assistant for your smart home) extremely fast and efficient.

• Limitations & points of attention: Docker requires basic technical knowledge and is mainly controlled through text commands (the terminal). It is less visual than a traditional virtual machine.

• Reliable sources: more background information is available from DataNorth AI and the explanation by Combell.

• Source: DataNorth AI

• Source: Combell

• In practice: a virtual machine is a complete computer simulated in software inside your own computer. It lets you, for example, run Windows on a Mac, or set up a separate, safe test environment (such as Linux) without affecting your main system.

• Limitations & points of attention: a VM is very demanding on your hardware. Because it simulates a complete operating system, it uses a lot of working memory (RAM), processing power and storage.

• Reliable sources: read the technical explanations and comparisons in the TTNL knowledge base.

• Source: TTNL

• In practice: firmware is the built-in software that directly controls a device's hardware. It is built into devices such as your router, smart TV, washing machine or wireless earbuds, and makes sure the device knows how to perform its basic functions.

• Limitations & points of attention: if a firmware update is interrupted halfway (for example by a power cut), the device can become unusable ('bricked'). So only update devices with a stable connection and enough battery charge.

• Reliable sources: for updates and manuals, consumer organisations always refer to the support page of your device's manufacturer.

A chatbot is a program you can have a conversation with in plain language; modern AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude answer questions and write text.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

GPT (generative pre-trained transformer) is the name of OpenAI's language models that power ChatGPT.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Open source is software whose source code is public: anyone may inspect it, change it and often use it for free.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An APK is an installation file for Android apps; it lets you install apps that aren't in the Google Play Store.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Root or rooting means getting full administrator rights on an Android device; it opens up more possibilities, but also more security risks.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A macro is a stored sequence of commands in a program such as Outlook or Excel that runs with one click or automatically.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is the programming language in Microsoft Office used to write macros that automate tasks.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

BCC (blind carbon copy) is an invisible copy of an email: the other recipients can't see that this address also got a copy.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

CC (carbon copy) is a visible copy of an email: everyone can see that this address also received it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

SelfCert is a Microsoft Office tool for creating your own digital certificate to sign your own macros, so Office trusts them.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An EXE file is a program file in Windows that starts when you double-click it; only open EXE files from sources you trust.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

ESU (Extended Security Updates) is the programme that keeps delivering security updates for a while after Windows 10 support has ended.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

OS (operating system) is a device's operating system, such as Windows, macOS, Android or iOS, which controls all the hardware and apps.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

UI (user interface) is everything you see and operate on screen, such as menus, buttons and settings.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A QR code is a square code you scan with your smartphone camera to quickly open a website, app or payment.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

• In practice: OLED is a display technology in which each individual pixel emits its own light. Because pixels can be switched off completely in dark scenes, an OLED screen offers infinite contrast and perfect blacks. The result is very vivid, true-to-life colours on TVs and monitors.

• Limitations & points of attention: OLED screens have a lower peak brightness than traditional LED screens, which makes them less suitable for brightly lit rooms. There is also a small risk of burn-in with static images shown for long periods.

• Reliable sources: extensive product tests and comparisons can be found on consumer platforms such as PC-Active or the Tweakers tech community.

• Source: PC-Active

• In practice: AMOLED is an advanced variant of OLED used specifically in smartphones and smartwatches. Thanks to a built-in active matrix, the pixels are driven even faster and more efficiently. This means smooth images, lower battery consumption and thinner screens that can be flexible or foldable.

• Limitations & points of attention: AMOLED screens can sometimes reflect or be harder to read in direct, bright sunlight. Replacement costs after a drop are also relatively high because of the complex integration with the touch layer.

• Reliable sources: manufacturer specifications and display sites such as DisplayMate offer in-depth analyses of these mobile panels.

• In practice: HDR is a technique that creates much greater contrast between the darkest and brightest parts of an image. You see more detail in both deep shadows and bright highlights, with a wider and more realistic colour range as a result.

• Limitations & points of attention: to really enjoy HDR, both the source material (the film or game) and your screen must support HDR. Cheap TVs often advertise HDR support but lack the physical brightness to actually show the effect.

• Reliable sources: official standards and explanations are managed by the UHD Alliance and video expertise centres.

• In practice: the refresh rate indicates how many times per second a screen can show a new image, expressed in hertz (Hz). A standard screen runs at 60 Hz (60 images per second). Screens at 120 Hz or higher show animations, scrolling and fast action in games noticeably more smoothly.

• Limitations & points of attention: a higher refresh rate uses more power, which can shorten battery life on smartphones. The connected computer or console must also be powerful enough to actually deliver that many frames per second (FPS).

• Reliable sources: the technical background of display technology is widely documented in the knowledge bases of the major display manufacturers.

• In practice: OIS is a hardware solution in cameras (such as smartphones or DSLRs) that mechanically corrects the shaking of your hand. Small gyroscopic sensors measure the movement, after which built-in tiny motors physically move the lens or image sensor in the opposite direction. This gives sharp photos in low light and smooth video without jolts.

• Source: PictureCorrect

• Important limitations: OIS only compensates for the photographer's movements, not those of a fast-moving subject (such as a running pet). It also makes camera modules more complex, more vulnerable to hard knocks and more expensive.

• Reliable sources: read more about how it works mechanically in the Fujifilm Image Stabilization Guide, or see Wikipedia's technical explanation of image stabilisation.

• Source: Fujifilm Image Stabilization Guide

• Source: Wikipedia on image stabilisation

• In practice: one megapixel equals one million pixels (image points) on a camera sensor. A 12-megapixel camera takes a photo made up of about 12 million tiny coloured dots. More megapixels mean a higher resolution, so you can print photos larger or crop them heavily without the image becoming blocky.

• Source: Insta360

• Important limitations: more megapixels do not automatically mean better photo quality. If you cram too many pixels onto a small sensor (as in smartphones), the individual light-sensitive 'buckets' become too small. This leads to more noise and poorer low-light performance. High megapixel counts also produce huge files that need a lot of storage and processing power.

• Source: Reddit · r/Cameras

• Reliable sources: an in-depth analysis is available in the Insta360 blog guide on megapixels and in the Honor knowledge base.

• Source: Honor knowledge base

LCD is a screen technology using liquid crystals and a backlight; affordable and efficient, but with less deep blacks than OLED.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An LED (light-emitting diode) is an efficient light source; in screens, LEDs provide the backlight for an LCD panel.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Mini-LED is an LCD screen with thousands of very small LEDs as its backlight, dimming by zone; that gives deeper blacks and higher brightness.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

HD (high definition) is an image resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels; Full HD is 1920 × 1080 pixels.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

UHD (ultra high definition) is a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels, also called 4K: four times as many pixels as Full HD.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

WQHD is a screen resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels, sharper than Full HD and popular on gaming monitors.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

WUXGA is a screen resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels, slightly taller than Full HD, common on tablets and laptops with a 16:10 screen.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

QXGA is a screen resolution of 2048 × 1536 pixels in a 4:3 ratio, used on tablets among others.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

HDR10 is the basic standard for HDR images with more contrast and colour; HDR10+ adjusts brightness scene by scene.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Dolby Vision is an advanced HDR standard that optimises brightness and colour per scene or even per frame, for a more lifelike picture.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

4K is a resolution of about 4,000 pixels wide, usually 3840 × 2160; four times sharper than Full HD.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

8K is a resolution of 7680 × 4320 pixels, four times as many as 4K; mainly useful for zooming in or cropping afterwards.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Fps (frames per second) is the number of images per second; 30 fps is smooth for video, 60 fps or more feels smoother for games and action footage.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Resolution is the number of picture elements (pixels) in a screen, photo or video, such as 1920 × 1080; more pixels give a sharper image.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The refresh rate, in hertz, is how many times per second a screen shows a new image; 120 Hz feels noticeably smoother than 60 Hz.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

mDNIe is Samsung's image processing that automatically adjusts screen contrast, colour and sharpness to what you're viewing.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

AV1 is a modern, royalty-free video format that makes video much smaller at the same quality than older formats; YouTube and Netflix use it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

APS-C is a sensor size of about 23 × 15 mm, smaller than full frame; it makes cameras and lenses more compact and affordable.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Full frame is a camera sensor the size of a 35mm film frame (36 × 24 mm); it gives more detail, less noise in low light and more background blur.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A 1-inch sensor is a sensor size of about 13 × 9 mm, much larger than in most smartphones; it gives better low-light photos in a compact camera.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A mirrorless camera has no mirror like a DSLR; you look through an electronic viewfinder or the screen, which makes the camera smaller and lighter.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera) uses a mirror to send the image from the lens to an optical viewfinder; these cameras are increasingly replaced by mirrorless models.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

RAW is an unprocessed photo file with all the sensor data; larger than a JPEG, but you can adjust exposure and colours much better afterwards.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Image stabilisation counteracts shake, mechanically in the lens or sensor or digitally in software, so photos stay sharp and videos steady.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Optical zoom magnifies the image with the lens itself, with no loss of quality; digital zoom only enlarges pixels and gets less sharp.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The cover screen is the outer display of a foldable smartphone, which lets you use the phone without unfolding it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

USB-C is the small, reversible USB connector that plugs in either way up; through the same port you charge devices, transfer files and even connect a display, depending on what the device supports.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

• Misconception corrected: Wh (watt-hour) is a measure of energy (capacity), not of power (watts) or speed. It indicates how much energy is in the e-bike's 'fuel tank'.

• In practice: Wh determines how long the battery can supply power. A 500 Wh battery can in theory deliver 500 watts for one hour, or 100 watts for 5 hours. The higher the Wh, the greater the range (the distance you can ride with assistance).

• Important limitations: the actual range depends on many external factors, such as your own weight, the assistance level you choose, headwind, hills and the outside temperature (batteries perform worse in the cold). Batteries with more Wh are also physically larger, heavier and more expensive.

• Reliable sources: for an overview of e-bike components, see the bike technology page of 12GO Biking.

• Source: 12GO Biking

• In practice: the chainring is the toothed wheel at the front of the bike's drivetrain, mounted on the crank arm by the pedals. It turns the circular motion of your legs into the forward movement of the chain. Its size (the number of teeth) determines the gear ratio: a larger chainring makes pedalling harder but faster.

• Important limitations: chainrings wear out; over time the teeth wear down into a sharp 'shark fin' shape, which can make the chain skip. When replacing one, you must also pay close attention to the exact bolt circle diameter (BCD) and mounting method, as chainrings are often not interchangeable.

• Reliable sources: technical specifications of drivetrains are clearly explained by the bike specialists at Fietsonline and in the encyclopaedia of De Fietssite.

• Source: Fietsonline

• Source: De Fietssite

• Misconception corrected: QMR (Quick Mount Release) is the specific, patented mounting system of the VAUDE brand. It is not from Ortlieb, nor is it a generic term.

• In practice: QMR is a quick-mount system for bike panniers. Pulling the bag's handle opens the hooks automatically, so you can click the bag onto the rack or lift it off in one movement. Supplied adapters make the system fit different rack tube diameters.

• Important limitations: although the hooks are adjustable, the thick plastic lock at the back can sometimes clash with unusual or very thick e-bike rack frames (which often hold the battery). With intensive use on rough terrain, the hooks can also leave light scratches on the paint of your rack if dirt gets in between.

• Misconception corrected: Quick-Lock (such as QL2.1 or QL3.1) is ORTLIEB's official, protected brand name for its own mounting systems. It should not be used as a general name for all pannier systems.

• In practice: like Vaude's system, this is a self-locking hook system. As soon as you lift the bag by its handle, the hooks at the back open. Let go of the handle and the hooks grip firmly around the rack tube. It is known for being extremely robust and for the fact that all parts can be adjusted without tools and replaced individually.

• Important limitations: the system is brand-specific; Ortlieb bags with the advanced QL3.1 system, for example, need special mounting points on the rack (or a supplied adapter bracket), so without that adjustment they won't fit just any standard bike.

• Reliable sources: see the different versions and how they work directly on the official ORTLIEB Quick-Lock page.

• Source: ORTLIEB Quick-Lock page

An eMTB (electric mountain bike) is a mountain bike with an electric motor that boosts your pedalling, so you can tackle steep climbs and rough terrain more easily.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An SUV (sport utility vehicle) is originally a taller, rugged car that handles both roads and light off-road; for e-bikes the word describes a sturdy bike that is comfortable on long rides, carries luggage and can also handle unpaved trails.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Nm (newton metre) is the unit of torque, or turning force: for an e-bike motor it tells you how much pulling power the motor delivers, and the higher the number, the easier you accelerate and climb steep hills.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A mid-drive motor sits at the bottom bracket, between the pedals, and drives the bike through the chain and gears: that gives a natural riding feel, a low centre of gravity and plenty of power uphill, unlike a hub motor that sits in the hub of a wheel.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Helical gears have angled teeth instead of straight ones, so they mesh more gradually: that makes a motor or gearbox quieter and smoother.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The FOX AWL is a suspension fork from FOX designed for heavy e-bikes and touring bikes, with a strong chassis and room for mudguards and luggage.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A FLOAT is an air-sprung rear shock from FOX: you tune the suspension with air pressure so it suits your weight and riding style.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

CAT-III (category 3) is a bicycle use class under the ASTM F2043 standard: the bike is tested and approved for regular mountain-bike trails with rough terrain and drops of up to about 60 cm.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The head tube angle is the angle between the front fork and the ground: a slacker angle makes a bike more stable downhill, a steeper angle makes it more agile.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Apple Find My is Apple’s network that lets you locate your devices and other supported products, such as an e-bike, on a map with an iPhone, even when they have no internet connection of their own.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Smart Heart Rate Control is a feature of the Avinox drive system that automatically adjusts the pedal assistance to your heart rate, so you stay in the heart-rate zone you choose in the Avinox Ride app.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

MIK HD is a standard mounting system for rear racks: compatible bags, baskets and child seats click on in one movement and come off again with a key or button.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

USB is the standard connection for linking and charging devices; it comes in different plugs, such as USB-A and USB-C, and speeds.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

USB-A is the classic rectangular USB plug that only fits one way round; it's increasingly being replaced by USB-C.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

DisplayPort is a video connection for monitors that supports high resolutions and refresh rates; often the best choice for gaming monitors.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

VGA is an old analogue video connection with a blue plug; still found on older monitors and projectors.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

5G is the latest generation of mobile network, faster and with less delay than 4G, provided there's coverage where you are.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

NFC (near field communication) lets devices exchange data within a few centimetres; you use it for contactless payments with your smartphone.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

GPS uses satellites to determine your exact position on Earth; needed for navigation, routes and recording your rides.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

LiDAR measures distances with invisible laser pulses; drones and smartphones use it to detect obstacles, focus in the dark and make 3D scans.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

MagSafe is Apple's magnetic system on the back of iPhones that makes chargers, cases and mounts snap into the right place.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Qi2 is the new standard for magnetic wireless charging, based on MagSafe, so chargers and devices from different brands work together.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A nano-SIM is the smallest physical SIM card size, used in almost all current smartphones.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Dual SIM means a device can use two SIM cards or eSIMs at once, for example a personal and a work number.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless connection, up to about ten metres, for earbuds, speakers, watches and other accessories.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Wi-Fi is a wireless network that lets devices connect to your router and the internet without a cable.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Wi-Fi 6 is a faster Wi-Fi generation that copes better with many devices at once than the older Wi-Fi 5.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Power Delivery (PD) is the fast-charging standard over USB-C, in which charger and device agree on the highest possible charging power, up to 240 watts.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

PD is short for Power Delivery, the fast-charging standard over USB-C.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An e-bike is a bicycle with an electric motor and battery that assists you as you pedal; standard e-bikes help up to 25 km/h.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A pedelec is an electric bike that only assists while you pedal, up to 25 km/h; legally it counts as an ordinary bicycle.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The cassette is the cluster of sprockets on the rear wheel; together with the derailleur it determines how many gears you have.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Torque is a motor's turning force, measured in newton metres (Nm); on an e-bike it determines how strongly you pull away and climb hills.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

ABS is a tough, impact-resistant plastic often used for the housings of bike lights, cases and electronics.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

IPX6 means a device can withstand powerful jets of water from any direction, such as heavy rain; it must not be submerged.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

IP48 means protection against small solid particles from 1 mm and against prolonged immersion in water; it isn't dust-tight.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Lumen is the unit of light output; the more lumens a bike light has, the brighter it shines.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A kWh (kilowatt hour) is the unit of energy used: a 1,000-watt device running for an hour uses 1 kWh.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A dB (decibel) is the unit of sound level; every 10 dB more sounds roughly twice as loud.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

dBA is sound level in decibels, weighted to how the human ear hears; it lets you compare fairly how loud a fan or pump sounds.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An inkjet printer sprays tiny drops of ink onto the paper; good for colour photos, but ink can be expensive and dry out if you rarely print.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A laser printer applies powder (toner) to paper using a laser and heat; fast and cheap per page, especially for text.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Toner is the fine powder a laser printer uses instead of ink; a toner cartridge lasts much longer than an ink cartridge and doesn't dry out.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A G-sensor (accelerometer) measures acceleration and deceleration; a bike light uses it to notice when you brake and then shines brighter, like a brake light.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A gyroscope measures rotation and tilt; together with a G-sensor, a device knows exactly how it is moving and how it is oriented.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Auto-stop means an electric pump switches off by itself as soon as the set tyre pressure is reached, so you don't over-inflate your tyre.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Refurbished means a used device has been checked, cleaned and repaired where needed, then sold again with a warranty.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A speed pedelec (speedelec) is a fast electric bike with pedal assistance up to 45 km/h, which counts as a moped under the law and therefore requires a number plate, a helmet and a mirror.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

ECE-R75 is a European approval mark showing that a bike tyre has been officially approved and tested for safety, durability and grip at higher speeds up to 50 km/h, which is mandatory for fast e-bikes and speed pedelecs.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A balloon tyre is a noticeably wide bike tyre that, thanks to its large air volume, can be ridden at low tyre pressure, so it acts as natural, comfortable suspension over cobbles and bumps.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

Tubeless is a bike system in which the tyre is mounted airtight directly on the rim without an inner tube, filled with a liquid latex sealant that automatically seals small holes while you ride.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

GreenGuard is an eco-friendly puncture-protection layer of 3 mm thick, highly elastic natural rubber (partly made from recycled latex products) that stops sharp objects before they reach the inner tube.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

SnakeSkin is a light and flexible fabric layer in the sidewall of a bike tyre that effectively protects the sides against cuts from sharp stones or rocks.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A Presta valve (in Dutch: Sclaverandventiel, also called a French valve) is a narrow, elongated type of valve used mainly on road bikes, mountain bikes and sporty city bikes, which you have to unscrew by hand before you can inflate the tyre.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A Dunlop valve (also called a Dutch or Woods valve) is the most common wide bike valve on city bikes; it is easy to inflate with an ordinary bike pump and works with a separate valve insert that you screw down with a cap nut.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A car valve (Schrader valve) is a sturdy, wide valve with a spring mechanism in the middle, standard on car tyres and on many e-bikes and mountain bikes, so you can inflate the tyre directly at a petrol station.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A butyl inner tube is the most traditional inner tube, made of synthetic rubber, known for its excellent airtightness, elasticity and ease of handling when fixing a puncture.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A CO2 cartridge is a small metal canister filled with compressed carbon dioxide that inflates a tyre in a few seconds on the road; each cartridge can only be used once.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

PSI (pounds per square inch) is an imperial unit of pressure often printed on bike tyres and pumps: 1 bar is about 14.5 PSI, so 100 PSI is roughly 6.9 bar.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The bar is the metric unit of pressure most used in Europe for tyre pressure: 1 bar is roughly atmospheric pressure at sea level, and a bike tyre is usually inflated to between 2 and 8 bar.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A Presta valve head is the pump attachment that fits a narrow Presta valve (Sclaverandventiel in Dutch); you screw or clamp it onto the valve so the air goes into the tyre without leaking.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TPI (threads per inch) is the number of threads per inch in a bike tyre's casing; a higher TPI makes a tyre more supple and lighter, a lower one stronger.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

ETRTO is the European sizing system for bike tyres, giving width and inner diameter in millimetres, for example 55-584, so you know for sure a tyre fits your rim.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

An action cam is a compact, rugged and often waterproof video camera designed to capture active sports and adventures in high quality and from a dynamic perspective.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A cold shoe is a passive mount on a camera or accessory to which you attach photo and video accessories (such as a microphone or LED light), but unlike a hot shoe it has no electrical contacts to control or power the accessory.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a versatile, flexible and hard-wearing type of plastic, halfway between rubber and hard plastic, widely used for products such as phone cases, 3D-printing filament and shoe soles.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

TPU 95A is a flexible, rubber-like and very hard-wearing 3D-printing material of medium hardness (Shore 95A), making it ideal for printing shock-resistant parts, gaskets and protective covers.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

Infill is the internal lattice structure of a 3D-printed object that determines how hollow or solid the inside is, to strike the ideal balance between weight, strength and material use.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

An STL file is a standard file format for 3D printers and CAD software that describes the three-dimensional surface of an object as a fine mesh of connected triangles.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A 3MF file is a modern 3D file format that succeeds STL and, in addition to an object's geometry, efficiently stores extra data such as colours, materials and print settings in a single archive.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A tightening torque is the precisely specified turning force (expressed in newton metres) with which a bolt or nut must be tightened to guarantee a safe, firm connection without damaging the material or the thread.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

KlickFix is a popular quick-release system for bikes that lets you attach bags, baskets and other accessories firmly to the handlebar, seat post or frame with one simple click, and release them again at the push of a button.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

EVA foam (ethylene-vinyl acetate) is a light, rubber-like, shock-absorbing plastic widely used for shoe soles, protective cases, mats and linings because of its flexibility and durability.

Source: explanation generated with Gemini AI.

A smart lock is an electronic lock that opens and locks your door with your smartphone, a code, your fingerprint or automatically when you come home; most models simply fit onto your existing lock.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A retrofit lock is a smart lock you fit on the inside of your door over the key or thumb-turn of your existing cylinder; it turns the key for you, and nothing changes on the outside.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The cylinder is the part of your door lock that the key goes into; when you turn the key, the cylinder moves the lock's bolt.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A cylinder with an emergency function can be opened from outside with a key, even when a key is in the lock on the inside; most retrofit smart locks need such a cylinder.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A multi-point lock secures a door at several points at once, usually top, middle and bottom; often you have to lift the handle first before turning the key.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The SKG mark is a Dutch quality label for burglar-resistant locks and fittings; the number of stars, from one to three, shows how long a lock resists a break-in attempt.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

TS007 is a British standard for door cylinders and handles; a 3-star rating means the cylinder resists common break-in methods such as snapping.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Matter is a shared standard for smart-home devices, so they work with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings whatever brand you buy.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Thread is a low-power wireless network for smart-home devices in which the devices pass each other's signal along; it is often used together with Matter.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A Thread hub (border router) connects devices on the Thread network to your Wi-Fi and the internet, so you can control them remotely too; examples are a recent Apple TV, HomePod mini or Google Nest Hub.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

A bridge is a small plug-in box that connects a Bluetooth device, such as a smart lock, to your Wi-Fi, so you can control it remotely too.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

Apple Home Key is a digital house key in the Wallet app: you open a supported lock by holding your iPhone or Apple Watch against it.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.

The CR123A is a small, powerful 3-volt lithium battery; it lasts a long time and is widely used in cameras, smoke alarms and smart locks.

Source: explanation written with Claude AI.