Discover a comprehensive glossary of Microsoft products including Windows, Office, Windows Server, Office 365, Microsoft 365, and more. Find definitions and details of all Microsoft releases.
A
- Active Directory (AD): Directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows Domain Networks. It’s used to manage permissions and access to network resources.
- Azure: Microsoft’s cloud computing platform offering a range of services including computing, analytics, storage, and networking.
B
- BitLocker: Full disk encryption feature included in certain versions of Windows designed to protect data by encrypting entire volumes.
C
- Cortana: Microsoft’s virtual assistant included in Windows 10 that uses natural language processing to respond to voice commands.
D
- DirectX: A set of APIs developed by Microsoft for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Windows.
- Dynamics 365: Microsoft’s suite of intelligent business applications that combine ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) functionalities.
E
- Edge: Web browser developed by Microsoft, replacing Internet Explorer as the default browser for Windows 10.
F
- Forefront: Microsoft’s suite of enterprise security products, including antivirus, firewall, and other protection tools.
G
- Group Policy: A feature in Windows that allows network administrators to manage and configure operating system, application, and user settings.
H
- Hyper-V: Microsoft’s virtualization technology that allows the creation and management of virtual machines.
I
- Internet Explorer: Microsoft’s former web browser, replaced by Microsoft Edge but still available in some versions of Windows for compatibility.
L
- Volume Licensing: Microsoft’s licensing model that allows organizations to purchase multiple software licenses at a reduced cost.
M
- Microsoft 365: A subscription service that combines Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security, offering an integrated solution for productivity and security.
- Microsoft Exchange: Microsoft’s email server system that provides email, calendar, task, and contact management.
- Microsoft Teams: Unified communication and collaboration platform that combines chat, video conferencing, file storage, and application integration.
- MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network): Microsoft’s network for developers providing tools, resources, and support for software development.
- MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System): Disk operating system developed by Microsoft, popular in the 1980s and early 1990s.
O
- Office: Microsoft’s suite of productivity applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and others.
- Office 365: Subscription-based cloud service offering access to Microsoft Office applications and other productivity services.
- OneDrive: Microsoft’s cloud storage service that allows users to store and share files online.
P
- Power BI: Microsoft’s business analytics service that provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities with a simple interface.
- PowerShell: Microsoft’s task automation and configuration management framework consisting of a command-line shell and scripting language.
S
- SharePoint: Microsoft’s collaboration and document management platform used to create intranets, websites, and collaboration portals.
- Skype for Business: Microsoft’s communication application integrating instant messaging, voice and video calls, conferencing, and file sharing.
- Surface: Microsoft’s line of hardware devices including tablets, laptops, and high-performance PCs.
T
- Terminal Server: Component of Windows Server that allows remote execution of applications on servers, now known as Remote Desktop Services.
- Teams: See Microsoft Teams.
V
- Visual Studio: Microsoft’s integrated development environment (IDE) used to develop applications, websites, web services, and mobile apps.
- Visual Basic: Microsoft’s programming language and development environment, part of Visual Studio.
W
- Windows: Microsoft’s operating system with various versions over the years, such as Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10, and more.
- Windows Server: Microsoft’s line of server operating systems designed to provide network services, web hosting, user management, and more.
- Windows Defender: Integrated security solution in Windows providing protection against malware and threats.
- Windows Update: Microsoft’s service that provides software updates for the Windows operating system and other Microsoft products.
- Windows Insider Program: Microsoft’s program that allows users to obtain and test the latest Windows versions before their official release.
X
- Xbox: Microsoft’s line of video game consoles including Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
