Terms like cache , encryption , and open reservoir in all probability speech sound familiar to anyone who browses the World Wide Web on a even basis . But unless you ’re steep in the technical school universe , explaining exactly what these words think could get tricky . A new digital lexicon from Google’sJigsawandThe Washington Postaims to frame complicated tech argot in ways that anyone can understand , Co. Designreports .

The makers ofSidewaysprioritized ease . Visitors can enter the term they want defined into the website or app , or they can scroll through the list of 70 - odd technical school concepts that are boast . Terms array from those we use in everyday conversation ( app ) to some we see less often ( buffer overflow fire ) . No matter the full term , the definition assumes you ’re hearing about it for the first fourth dimension . For instance , here ’s the top description for " cookie " : " It ’s like a barista with a practiced memory . So every morning when you come in for your decaf soy caffe latte with an extra shot and cream , they nod tiredly and say ‘ The common ? ’ "

Merriam - Webstermeanwhile delimitate the same word as : " a humble file or part of a file cabinet stored on a World broad Web user ’s figurer , create and subsequently learn by a site server , and containing personal information . "

Screenshot via Sideways

Sideways include slang terms like " troll " ( " It ’s like road fad … people shout and get fast-growing in ways that would never occur to them if you were talk brass to typeface " ) and professional terminology like " nimble software program development " ( " It ’s like a band trying fresh material on tour … the band tries out new songs with audiences — screen what work and what does n’t " ) .

Most definition were written by British design author Nick Asbury and tech pioneer Vint Cerf . If user have an doctrine of analogy they think bring better , they can bring it to the site . A crowdsourced up - voting and down - voting system of rules ascertain the most democratic submissions toss off up first .

Along with the web site , Sideways launch a Chrome denotation that delineate tech jargon within mail service and articles anywhere on the internet . WWW user looking to further their technical school literacy can install ithere .

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