A glossary of key terms used throughout the pattern library.
Fundamentals
- Computer — Anything with computing power
- Data — Zeros and ones stored in a computer
- Software — A defined process that reads or writes data
- Database — Software that organizes, manages, and queries data
- Access — The ability to read or write data on a computer
Networking
- Protocol — A set of well-defined rules for how data is sent between computers
- Network — Many computers connected by a shared protocol
- Server — A computer that manages access to data in a network
- Cloud — Many connected servers
- System — A set of computers and software working together
- Federation — Many connected servers with autonomy over access rules
Data Operations
- Replication — When a computer downloads the same data as another computer
- Sync — When multiple computers see the same data
- Fork — An editable copy
Peer to Peer
- Peer to Peer — Each computer can act as a server for others
- Seed — A computer that uploads data to other computers
- Leech — A computer that downloads data without uploading
- Peer — A computer that both uploads and downloads data
- Discovery — The process by which one peer connects with another
- Third Party — A person or group besides the two computers primarily involved
- Distributed Hash Table — A data structure used so peers can discover each other
- Gossip — When one computer tells another about data from a third computer
- Group — A set of users who share common data
- Swarms — A set of peers all serving the same data
- Trackers — Facilitate introduction in peer-to-peer networks
Cryptography
- Keypair — A two-part key for encryption and signature verification
- Public Key — The part of a keypair used to verify a signature
- Private Key — The part of a keypair used to create signatures
- Signed Data — Data with cryptographic payload confirming the creator
Data Structures
- Interoperable — When two systems can exchange and use information from each other
- Identifier — A number or string used to reference data or a user
- Content Addressable — Data that can be queried by what it contains
- Hash — Characters that uniquely represent a piece of data
- Tree — A data structure
- Merkle Tree — A data structure that protects and verifies data from tampering
- Block — A small piece of data with a specified maximum length