The world of Information Technology (IT) is jam-packed with jargon. Here are some good-to-know terms that will help you follow IT@Cornell articles more easily, describe issues to the IT Service Desk, and navigate technology with more confidence.

Breadcrumb (or Breadcrumb Trail) 

Some sites and apps will show you the path you have taken to get to where you are. Generally, these are displayed at the top or center of a page. You may be more familiar with seeing breadcrumbs when navigating your computer's files. For example: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud\Components

Browser

Browser is short for "Internet Browser." Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge are all internet browsers, an application on your computer that you use to visit websites.

Exchange Account

At Cornell, an exchange account refers to your NetID email account. You may access your NetID email from Google, but your email account is managed by Cornell in Microsoft's environment. The university has limited administrative access to manage the Google environment.

• Exchange Group Accounts (EGAs) are mailboxes that can be accessed by multiple people.
• Exchange Account Manager is the system by which EGAs can be managed.

Incognito Mode/Private Browsing

An optional mode when opening a browser window that allows you to use the internet without storing cookies, site data, or browsing history in that particular window. Because incognito mode doesn't have data stored in it, it's an excellent tool for diagnosing browser-based issues. If a website isn't working as expected, or you're having difficulty logging in, try using incognito mode or private browsing. If the site or login works, then you can generally resolve your issue by clearing your browser cookies, cache, and history.

Navicon

A navicon is a navigational icon. These icons take the place of text-based website and application icons such as "menu," "options," and "more."

Hamburger icon

This stack of three horizontal lines is synonymous with "menu." Its resemblance to a hamburger (a patty between two buns) is the inspiration behind its nickname. Wherever you see this icon, you can expect that selecting it will reveal typical menu options.

Kebab icon 

Three horizontal or vertical dots synonymous with "options" or "more." Wherever you see this icon, you can expect that selecting it will reveal more options and actions available to you for whichever app or site you're using.

Waffle icon 

Nine dots or squares arranged in a 3x3 grid synonymous with "App launcher." This icon looks more or less like a waffle, or candy bar, depending on what you're in the mood for. When you select a waffle icon you can expect to find a menu of apps, often in a grid format.

Power Cycling 

Power cycling means turning off a device completely before turning it on again. Often, this process involves disconnecting a device from its power source once it's off, then reconnecting it before turning it back on. Power cycling can also be referred to as a hard reset.

Two-Factor Authentication (TFA/2FA)

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security on many accounts and systems such as email, banks, and social media. It requires the person logging into an account to not only have that account's password, but also access to something they know (like a PIN, or security answer), or something they have (like a smart card, or key fob), or something they are (like a fingerprint, or face ID). Biometrics and push notifications are commonly used as the second required "factor" in two-factor authentication.

Want to expand your vocabulary some more? Check out IT Security Vocabulary.