IT Glossary: Technical Terms Clearly Explained
From API to Zero-Downtime Deployment – find comprehensive explanations of terms from software development, AI, legacy modernization, and IT projects. Each term includes a definition, examples, pros & cons, and FAQ.
203 terms across 23 categories – Page 2 of 7
Clear explanations for decision-makers and project teams – definitions, examples, and FAQs for modern software, AI, and cloud projects.
How to use this IT glossary
The glossary lists 203 terms across 23 categories – from software architecture and cloud computing to AI, cybersecurity, and DevOps.
What each glossary entry includes
- Definition and practical examples
- Pros and cons for project decisions
- FAQs so you can place terms in tenders and delivery
Navigate and go deeper
Use the letter navigation or search on this page to jump to a term. For costs, delivery, and typical project steps, see the linked hubs below.
You are on page 2 of 7. The full alphabetical index starts on page 1 of the glossary.
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For deeper guidance see our services, topic pages, and cost calculators. Back to page 1 of the glossary.
C
- CDNInfrastructure
- A globally distributed network of servers (edge servers) that cache and deliver content such as images, videos and web pages close to the user.
- ChatbotAI
- AI-powered dialogue systems that answer user requests automatically – from rule-based FAQ bots to LLM-based assistants with natural language understanding.
- ChunkingAI & Data
- Chunking is the splitting of larger texts or documents into smaller, semantically meaningful sections so AI systems can search, process and cite content better. Chunk quality largely determines the answer quality of RAG systems.
- CI/CDDevOps
- Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment – automated processes to test and deliver software updates for faster releases with high quality.
- Cloud ComputingInfrastructure
- Provision of IT resources (servers, storage, databases, AI) over the internet on demand – instead of your own hardware. Flexible scaling and pay-as-you-go.
- Cloud-NativeArchitecture
- Software architecture designed for the cloud: microservices, containers, dynamic scaling and declarative APIs.
- CMSBusiness Software
- Content Management System – software to create and manage website content without programming. From WordPress and TYPO3 to headless CMS like Strapi.
- Code ReviewMethods
- The systematic review of source code by other developers to find defects, ensure quality and share knowledge within the team.
- CORSSecurity
- A browser security mechanism that controls which websites may access resources on other domains (origins) using special HTTP headers.
- CRMBusiness Software
- Customer Relationship Management – software for central management of customer relationships, sales processes and marketing campaigns for better retention.
- Cross-PlatformDevelopment
- Development approach with one codebase for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web). Frameworks like Flutter and React Native deliver near-native performance.
- CSSBasics
- Cascading Style Sheets – the stylesheet language that defines the look of websites: layout, colours, fonts, animations and responsive design.
- CybersecuritySecurity
- Protection of IT systems, networks and data from digital attacks – with measures such as penetration testing, encryption, firewalls and security awareness.
D
- Data MigrationModernization
- The process of moving data between storage systems, databases, formats or applications – e.g. during system changes, cloud migrations or mergers.
- DatabaseBasics
- Organised collection of data that can be stored and queried electronically. Relational databases use tables; NoSQL uses flexible models.
- DATEV InterfaceBusiness Software
- A DATEV interface connects business software such as ERP, shop, CRM or custom software with DATEV systems for accounting, tax advisory and payroll. It transfers invoices, receipts, journal entries and master data largely automatically.
- DDoSSecurity
- A cyber attack in which thousands of compromised devices send huge numbers of requests to a target system to overwhelm it and make it unavailable.
- Definition of DoneMethods
- The Definition of Done binds when a task, feature or sprint result is considered truly finished. Beyond programming it covers code review, tests, documentation, security and business sign-off.
- DelphiTechnology
- Programming language and IDE for Windows applications (Embarcadero). Many companies still run Delphi legacy systems that need modernisation.
- Design SystemDesign
- A documented set of reusable UI components, design tokens, patterns and guidelines that ensures a consistent user experience across all digital products.
- DevOpsMethods
- Culture and practice that connects development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) – for faster releases, better quality and higher stability.
- Digital TransformationBusiness
- The fundamental change of business models, processes and corporate culture through the strategic use of digital technologies – far more than mere digitization.
- Discovery WorkshopMethods
- A discovery workshop is a structured project kickoff that clarifies goals, user groups, processes, system landscape, risks and the initial scope of a software initiative. It forms the reliable basis for quote, architecture, effort estimation and MVP scoping.
- DNSInfrastructure
- The Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names (e.g. google.com) into machine-readable IP addresses (e.g. 142.250.185.99) – the internet’s phone book.
- Docker / ContainerDevOps
- Technology to package applications with all dependencies. Containers enable consistent deployments and are the basis for Kubernetes.
- DomainBasics
- The web address of a site (e.g. example.com). Domains consist of name and top-level domain and are the basis for branding and reachability.
- Domain-Driven Design (DDD)Architecture
- A software design approach that puts the business domain at the center and, through close collaboration between developers and domain experts, leads to practical, maintainable solutions.
- DORA MetricsDevOps
- DORA metrics are four key figures that make software delivery performance measurable: deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate and mean time to recovery. They assess speed and stability at the same time.
E
- Edge ComputingInfrastructure
- Edge computing moves data processing from the central data centre to the edge of the network – closer to the devices and users that produce the data.
- EmbeddingAI & Data
- An embedding is a numeric representation of text, images or other data that allows semantic similarity to be computed. Embeddings are the basis for semantic search, RAG systems and AI knowledge bases.
IT Glossary – Over 100 Terms Clearly Explained
From API to Zero-Downtime Deployment – find comprehensive explanations of terms from software development, AI, legacy modernization, and IT projects. Each term includes a definition, examples, pros & cons, and FAQ.
203 terms in 23 categories – Page 2 of 7
Services & Topic Pages
Many glossary terms link to our service pages and topic pages. There you will find concrete applications, costs, and processes.
You are on page 2 of our IT glossary with a total of 203 terms from software development, cloud computing, AI, and digitalization. Each term is explained with a precise definition, practical examples, pros and cons, and FAQs. The full list of all terms is on page 1 of the glossary.
The glossary is sorted alphabetically and divided into categories. Use the letter navigation above to jump to the desired initial letter on this page. For deeper dives and concrete applications we recommend our services and topic pages.
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