Engineering Glossary

From fundamental principles to cutting-edge practices, this glossary covers the full spectrum of software engineering terminology.

DevOps
Cloud Computing
Git
Containerization & Orchestration

Compliance as Code

Approach to maintaining regulatory compliance by defining compliance requirements as code, enabling automation and consistency.
DevOps

Complicated-subsystem Team

Team responsible for a specific complex component within a larger system, requiring specialized knowledge.
DevOps

ConDep

Open-source tool for automating continuous deployment and server provisioning, simplifying infrastructure management.
DevOps

Configuration Drift

Inconsistencies between the desired configuration state and the actual state of a system.
DevOps

Configuration Management

Process of maintaining systems, such as computer servers, in a desired, consistent state across time.
DevOps

Configuration as Code (CaC)

Managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files.
DevOps

Constraint

Limitation or restriction in a system that affects its performance or capacity, often a focus in optimization efforts.
DevOps

Consul

Service networking platform to connect and secure services across any runtime platform and cloud.
DevOps

Container Image

Lightweight, standalone, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application.
DevOps

Container Registry

Centralized repository for storing, managing, and distributing container images, crucial for container-based development and deployment.
DevOps

Containerization

Encapsulating an application and its environment to ensure consistent operation across different computing environments.
DevOps

Containers

Lightweight, standalone executable packages of software that include everything needed to run an application.
DevOps

Containers-as-a-Service (CaaS)

Model where container engines, orchestration and underlying compute resources are provided on-demand.
DevOps

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Geographically distributed network of proxy servers to provide high availability and performance.
DevOps

Continuous Compliance

Ongoing process of adhering to regulatory and security standards throughout the development lifecycle.
DevOps

Continuous Delivery (CD)

Approach where teams produce software in short cycles, ensuring it can be reliably released at any time.
DevOps

Continuous Delivery Pipeline

Automated implementation of an application's build, deploy, test, and release process.
DevOps

Continuous Deployment (CD)

Practice of automatically deploying every change that passes all stages of the production pipeline.
DevOps

Continuous Feedback

Constant flow of information about a product or process to facilitate continuous improvement.
DevOps

Continuous Governance

Ongoing process of implementing and monitoring policies and controls in software development.
DevOps

Continuous Improvement

Ongoing effort to enhance products, services, or processes, central to many management philosophies including Lean and Six Sigma.
DevOps

Continuous Integration (CI)

Development practice where code changes are automatically built, tested, and prepared for a release.
DevOps

Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD)

Combined practices of Continuous Integration and either Continuous Delivery or Continuous Deployment.
DevOps

Continuous Intelligence

Real-time analytics embedded into business operations, processing current and historical data.
DevOps

Continuous Learning Culture

Organizational approach that encourages ongoing skill development and knowledge sharing.
DevOps

Continuous Monitoring

Automated process of identifying compliance and security risks in an IT infrastructure.
DevOps

Continuous Quality

Ongoing process of building quality assurance into every step of the development lifecycle.
DevOps

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

Systematic approach to enhancing processes and products to achieve better performance.
DevOps

Continuous Reliability

Practice of building and maintaining reliable systems through constant monitoring and improvement.
DevOps

Continuous Security

Integrating security practices throughout the entire software development and deployment lifecycle.
DevOps

Continuous Testing

Process of executing automated tests as part of the software delivery pipeline to obtain feedback on business risks.
DevOps

Contract Testing

Testing method that verifies interactions at the boundary of an external service meet expectations.
DevOps

Cordova

Mobile application development framework that allows developers to build mobile apps using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
DevOps

CoreOS

Lightweight Linux operating system designed for providing infrastructure to clustered deployments, now part of Red Hat.
DevOps

Coupon Scraping

Automated collection of online coupon codes, often to exploit promotional offers.
DevOps

Create Test for Every Bug

Practice of writing a test that reproduces a bug before fixing the issue, ensuring the bug doesn't recur.
DevOps

Credential Abuse

Unauthorized use of valid credentials to gain access to systems or data, often resulting from poor password practices or stolen credentials.
DevOps

Credential Stuffing

Cyberattack method where stolen account credentials are used to gain unauthorized access to user accounts through large-scale automated login requests.
DevOps

Credmgr

Credential manager tool for securely storing and managing passwords and other secrets.
DevOps

Cron Job

Time-based job scheduler in Unix-like operating systems, used to automate system maintenance or administration tasks.
DevOps

Cross Platform

Ability of software or hardware to work across different types of platforms or operating systems.
DevOps

Cross-Functional Team

Group of people with different functional expertise working toward a common goal.
DevOps

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Security vulnerability allowing attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by others.
DevOps

CruiseControl

Java-based framework for creating a custom continuous integration and deployment environment, popular in early CI/CD implementations.
DevOps

Cryptomining Malware

Malicious software that uses system resources to mine cryptocurrency without user consent.
DevOps

Culture

Shared values, beliefs, and practices that characterize an organization, crucial in shaping DevOps and Agile transformations.
DevOps

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Web performance metric measuring visual stability, quantifying how much page content unexpectedly shifts during loading.
DevOps

Cybersecurity

Practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, crucial in today's interconnected world.
DevOps

DAST

Dynamic Application Security Testing; analyzes running applications to find vulnerabilities.
DevOps

DDoS

Distributed Denial of Service; cyberattack that floods a system with traffic to make it unavailable.
DevOps

DNS Lookup Time

Time taken to query the Domain Name System to translate a domain name into an IP address.
DevOps

DORA Metrics

Four key metrics (deployment frequency, lead time for changes, time to restore service, change failure rate) used to measure software delivery performance.
DevOps

Dark Launch

Technique of releasing features to production that are invisible to users until activated, allowing for testing in real environments.
DevOps

Dark Launching

Deploying code or feature flags to production without making them visible to users.
DevOps

Dark Release

Releasing new features to production that are invisible to users until activated.
DevOps

Dashboards

Visual displays of key performance indicators and metrics, providing at-a-glance views of business performance or system status.
DevOps

Data Breach

Incident where sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by unauthorized individuals.
DevOps

Data Leakage

Unauthorized transmission of data from within an organization to an external destination or recipient.
DevOps

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Set of tools and processes to ensure sensitive data is not lost, misused, or accessed by unauthorized users.
DevOps

Data Security

Protective measures applied to prevent unauthorized access to databases, websites, and computers.
DevOps

Database Management

Process of storing, organizing, and managing data in databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.
DevOps

Database Versioning

Practice of keeping different versions of database schemas, often in conjunction with application versioning.
DevOps

Datadog

Monitoring and analytics platform for cloud-scale applications, providing full-stack observability for IT infrastructure and application performance.
DevOps

Dead Code

Source code that's never executed or has no effect on program output, often a target for removal to improve maintainability and performance.
DevOps

Declarative Infrastructure

Defining infrastructure using a descriptive model, focusing on what should be deployed rather than how.
DevOps

Dedicated Environment

Computing resources exclusively allocated to a single user, project, or organization.
DevOps

Defense-in-Depth (DiD)

Cybersecurity strategy that employs multiple layers of security controls to protect assets and data from various types of threats.
DevOps

Definition of Done

Agreed-upon set of items that must be completed before a project or user story can be considered complete.
DevOps

Deis

Open-source Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that makes it easy to deploy and manage applications.
DevOps

Denial of Service (DoS)

Cyberattack aimed at making a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users.
DevOps

Deploykit

Tool designed to simplify and automate the process of deploying software applications across different environments and platforms.
DevOps

Deployment

Process of making software available and ready for use in a specific environment.
DevOps

Deployment Frequency

Rate at which new code or features are deployed to production, often used as a key metric in DevOps practices.
DevOps

Deployment Pattern

Standardized approach to rolling out software updates or changes, ensuring consistency and reliability in the deployment process.
DevOps

Deployment Pipeline

Automated manifestation of the process for getting software from version control to users.
DevOps

Deployment Target

Specific environment or infrastructure where software is deployed, such as development, staging, or production environments.
DevOps

Design Patterns

Reusable solutions to commonly occurring problems in software design, providing tested, proven development paradigms.
DevOps

Dev (from DevOps)

Represents the development aspects in the DevOps methodology, focusing on software creation and testing processes.
DevOps

DevOps

Set of practices combining software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle.
DevOps

DevOps Assembly Line

Series of automated steps for building, testing, and deploying software in a DevOps environment.
DevOps

DevOps Culture

Organizational culture that bridges the gap between development and operation teams.
DevOps

DevOps Engineer

Professional combining software development and IT operations skills to improve collaboration and productivity.
DevOps

DevOps Lifecycle

Continuous cycle of development, testing, deployment, and monitoring in DevOps practices.
DevOps

DevOps Model

Conceptual framework for integrating development and operations teams and practices.
DevOps

DevOps Pipeline

Automated processes and tools used to move code from development to production in DevOps.
DevOps

DevOps Team

Cross-functional team responsible for the entire software delivery process in a DevOps environment.
DevOps

DevOps-as-a-Service

Outsourcing of DevOps functions to a third-party provider, offering expertise and tools to improve software delivery processes.
DevOps

DevSecOps

Approach integrating security practices within the DevOps process, ensuring security is considered throughout the software development lifecycle.
DevOps

DevSecOps Pipeline

Automated workflow that integrates security at every phase of the software development lifecycle.
DevOps

DevXOps

Extension of DevOps principles to include all teams involved in delivering software.
DevOps

Developer Experience

Overall experience developers have when using tools, platforms, or processes in their work.
DevOps

Device Fingerprinting

Technique of collecting information about a device for identification purposes, used in security and fraud prevention.
DevOps

Diamond

Ruby-based system monitoring tool that collects metrics and allows configuring custom collectors.
DevOps

Digital Customer Experience

Overall experience a customer has with a brand through digital channels and touchpoints.
DevOps

Directory Traversal

Security vulnerability allowing attackers to access unauthorized directories, potentially exposing sensitive files.
DevOps

Distributed Tracing

Method of tracking application requests as they flow through distributed systems.
DevOps

Distributed Version Control System (DVCS)

Version control system where the complete codebase, including its full history, is mirrored on every developer's computer.
DevOps

Django Framework

High-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design.
DevOps

Djangy

Platform-as-a-Service specifically designed for hosting and scaling Django web applications, simplifying deployment and management.
DevOps

Docker

Platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers, enabling consistent deployment across different environments.
DevOps
@mention

@mention

A feature in Git platforms that allows users to notify specific team members or reference issues by using the @ symbol followed by a username.
API preview

API preview

A feature allowing developers to test and provide feedback on new Git API functionality before it's officially released.
Bare Repository

Bare Repository

A Git repository containing version control information without a working directory, typically used as a central repository for collaboration.
Bisect

Bisect

A Git command used to perform a binary search through a repository's history to identify the commit that introduced a bug or issue.
Bitbucket Pipelines

Bitbucket Pipelines

An integrated CI/CD service in Bitbucket for automating builds, tests, and deployments.
Blame

Blame

A Git feature that shows which user last modified each line of a file, helping developers trace changes and understand code history.
Blamestorming

Blamestorming

A collaborative process of analyzing Git blame information to identify the source of bugs or issues in a codebase.
Branch

Branch

A parallel version of a repository, allowing developers to work on different features or experiments without affecting the main codebase.
Branch policies

Branch policies

Rules enforced on Git branches to ensure code quality, require reviews, or restrict certain actions before merging.
Business plan

Business plan

A premium subscription tier offered by Git hosting services, providing advanced features and support for enterprise users.
CA certificate

CA certificate

A digital certificate issued by a Certificate Authority, used in Git to establish secure HTTPS connections and verify server identities.
Cache

Cache

A temporary storage area that holds frequently accessed data for quick retrieval, improving system performance.
Checkout

Checkout

A Git command used to switch between different branches or restore files from a specific commit in a repository's history.
Cherry-Pick

Cherry-Pick

A Git operation that applies the changes from a specific commit to the current branch, useful for selective code integration.
Cherry-picking

Cherry-picking

The practice of selecting and applying specific commits from one branch to another in Git, often used for targeted bug fixes.
Clone

Clone

The process of creating a local copy of a remote Git repository, allowing developers to work on the codebase independently.
Code owners file

Code owners file

A file specifying individuals or teams responsible for code in different parts of a repository.
Commit

Commit

Operation in version control systems that saves changes to the local repository, creating a new revision with a unique identifier.
Conflict

Conflict

A situation in Git where incompatible changes have been made to the same part of a file, requiring manual resolution before merging.
Continuous Integration

Continuous Integration

Practice of merging all developer working copies to a shared mainline several times a day.
DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph)

DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph)

Directed Acyclic Graph, the underlying data structure used by Git to represent the commit history and relationships between commits.
Detach HEAD

Detach HEAD

A Git operation that moves the HEAD pointer to a specific commit, allowing for temporary exploration of historical states.
Diff

Diff

A Git command or operation that shows the differences between two commits, branches, files, or other Git objects.
Downstream

Downstream

Refers to the direction of change propagation in Git, typically from a parent branch to its child branches or forks.
Explorer

Explorer

A feature in Git platforms for browsing repository contents, viewing files, and navigating through different branches.
Feature branch workflow

Feature branch workflow

A Git pattern where each new feature is developed in a dedicated branch, then merged back to the main branch.
Fetch

Fetch

A Git command that retrieves changes from a remote repository without automatically merging them into the local branch.
Force Push

Force Push

A Git push operation that overwrites the remote branch's history with the local branch, potentially causing data loss if used carelessly.
Fork

Fork

A personal copy of another user's repository on a Git hosting platform, allowing independent development without affecting the original project.
Free plan

Free plan

A no-cost tier offered by Git hosting services, typically with limited features and storage for individual users or small projects.
GPG (GNU Privacy Guard)

GPG (GNU Privacy Guard)

An encryption software used with Git for signing commits and tags, enhancing security and verification.
Gist

Gist

A simple way to share code snippets, notes, or small files using Git, often integrated into Git platforms.
Git

Git

Distributed version control system for tracking changes in source code during software development.
Git Alias

Git Alias

A custom shortcut command defined by users to simplify complex or frequently used Git operations.
Git Alternates

Git Alternates

A mechanism in Git allowing a repository to borrow objects from another repository, useful for saving disk space in large projects.
Git Annotate

Git Annotate

A Git command that shows the author and commit information for each line in a file, similar to the "blame" feature.
Git Assume Unchanged

Git Assume Unchanged

A Git feature that tells the system to temporarily ignore changes to a tracked file, useful for local configuration files.
Git Attributes

Git Attributes

A mechanism in Git for defining attributes on a per-path basis, controlling how Git handles certain files or directories.
Git Bisect

Git Bisect

A Git command used to perform a binary search through the commit history to find the commit that introduced a bug.
Git Bisect Run

Git Bisect Run

An automated version of Git Bisect that uses a script to determine if each checked-out commit is "good" or "bad".
Git Blame -C (Copy Detection)

Git Blame -C (Copy Detection)

An enhanced version of Git Blame that detects lines moved or copied from other files, providing better change tracking.
Git Bundle

Git Bundle

A Git command that creates a single file containing all the data needed to recreate a repository's branch or history.
Git Bundle Create/Verify

Git Bundle Create/Verify

Commands to create and verify Git bundles, useful for transferring repository data without using a network.
Git Cheat Sheet

Git Cheat Sheet

A quick reference guide summarizing common Git commands and their usage, helpful for both beginners and experienced users.
Git Cherry

Git Cherry

A Git command used to find commits that haven't been merged upstream, useful for identifying changes to be applied to another branch.
Git Clean

Git Clean

A command to remove untracked files from the working directory, helping to maintain a clean repository state.
Git Commit --amend

Git Commit --amend

A command that allows you to modify the most recent commit, adding new changes or updating the commit message.
Git Commit Amend

Git Commit Amend

A command that allows you to modify the most recent commit, changing its message or contents, and update it without creating a new commit.
Git Commit Hooks

Git Commit Hooks

Scripts that run automatically before or after a commit, allowing you to enforce rules, format code, or perform checks on changes.
Git Commit Templates

Git Commit Templates

Predefined structures for commit messages, helping maintain consistency and include necessary information in commits.
Git Commit Trailers

Git Commit Trailers

Metadata added to the end of commit messages, often used for things like issue references or sign-offs.
Git Commit-graph

Git Commit-graph

A file format used to store commit graph structure, improving performance for operations that traverse commit history.
Git Commit-graph Verify

Git Commit-graph Verify

A command to check the integrity and validity of the commit-graph file in a Git repository.
Git Commit-tree

Git Commit-tree

A low-level Git command used to create a new commit object from an existing tree object.
Git Config

Git Config

A command and system for setting configuration options for Git on a global, local, or repository level.
Git Count-objects

Git Count-objects

A diagnostic command that provides statistics about the number and size of objects in a Git repository.
Git Credential Helper

Git Credential Helper

A system that securely stores and retrieves credentials for Git operations, reducing the need for manual authentication.
Git Daemon

Git Daemon

A lightweight server for the Git protocol, allowing anonymous read access to Git repositories.
Git Dangling Objects

Git Dangling Objects

Objects in Git that are not reachable from any reference, often created during rebasing or other history-altering operations.
Git Describe

Git Describe

A command that generates a human-readable name for a commit based on the most recent tag and additional commit information.
Git Diff

Git Diff

A command that shows changes between commits, branches, files, or the working directory and the index.
Git Diff Algorithms

Git Diff Algorithms

Various methods used by Git to compute differences between versions of files, optimizing for different scenarios.
Git Diff Tool

Git Diff Tool

An external program or interface used to visualize differences between files or commits in a more user-friendly manner.
Git Fetch --All

Git Fetch --All

A command that fetches updates from all remote repositories configured in a Git project.
Git Filter-branch

Git Filter-branch

A powerful tool for rewriting Git history, allowing for large-scale changes across many commits.
Git Flow

Git Flow

A branching model for Git that defines a strict branching structure designed to support multiple parallel developments.
Git Fork

Git Fork

The process of creating a personal copy of someone else's project, allowing for independent development without affecting the original.
Git Fsck

Git Fsck

A command that verifies the connectivity and validity of objects in the Git database.
Git Fsck (File System Check)

Git Fsck (File System Check)

Verifies the integrity of objects in the Git database, checking for corruption and inconsistencies.
Git GPG verification

Git GPG verification

A security feature in Git that uses GPG to sign and verify commits and tags, ensuring authenticity.
Git Garbage Collection (gc)

Git Garbage Collection (gc)

A process that optimizes the Git repository by removing unnecessary files and compressing objects.
Git Gc (Garbage Collection)

Git Gc (Garbage Collection)

Short for Git Garbage Collection, a command to clean up unnecessary files and optimize the repository.
Git Grep

Git Grep

A command for searching files in a Git repository using regular expressions or simple string matching.
Git Hook

Git Hook

A script that Git automatically runs before or after specific events, like commits or merges, to customize workflows and enforce rules.
Git Hooks

Git Hooks

Same as Git Hook, scripts triggered by various Git actions to automate tasks or enforce policies.
Git Ignore

Git Ignore

A mechanism to specify intentionally untracked files that Git should ignore, typically defined in a .gitignore file.
Git Index Format

Git Index Format

The internal format used by Git to store the staging area information, representing the next commit to be made.
Git Init

Git Init

A command used to initialize a new Git repository, creating the necessary directory structure for version control.
Git Interactive Rebase

Git Interactive Rebase

A feature allowing users to modify commits in their branch history, useful for cleaning up before merging.
Git Internals (objects, refs, etc.)

Git Internals (objects, refs, etc.)

The underlying data structures and mechanisms Git uses to store and manage version control information.
Git Interpret-trailers

Git Interpret-trailers

A command to parse and manipulate the trailer lines typically found at the end of commit messages.
Git LFS (Large File Storage)

Git LFS (Large File Storage)

A system that manages large files by storing them outside the main repository, replacing them with lightweight pointers to improve performance and efficiency.
Git Large File Storage (LFS)

Git Large File Storage (LFS)

An extension that replaces large files with text pointers in Git, while storing the file contents on a remote server.
Git Log

Git Log

A command to display the commit history of a repository, showing details like author, date, and commit message.
Git Maintenance

Git Maintenance

A set of tasks performed to keep a Git repository in good condition, including garbage collection and optimization.
Git Merge Strategies

Git Merge Strategies

Different algorithms used by Git to combine separate development histories when merging branches.
Git Merge Tools

Git Merge Tools

External programs or interfaces used to resolve merge conflicts in a more visual and user-friendly manner.
Git Merge-base

Git Merge-base

A command that finds the best common ancestor between two commits, useful for determining the point where branches diverged.
Git Multi-pack Index (MIDX)

Git Multi-pack Index (MIDX)

A feature that improves performance for repositories with many pack files by creating an index across multiple packs.
Git Namespaces

Git Namespaces

A feature allowing multiple references (like branches or tags) with the same name to coexist by separating them into different namespaces.
Git Notes

Git Notes

A way to add or inspect object notes, allowing additional information to be attached to Git objects without changing their SHA-1 hash.
Git Object Storage

Git Object Storage

The system Git uses to store all the versions of files, commits, and other objects in a content-addressable filesystem.
Git Pack Files

Git Pack Files

Compressed files containing Git objects, used to efficiently store and transfer repository data.
Git Packfile Format

Git Packfile Format

The internal format used by Git to store multiple objects efficiently in a single file, reducing disk usage and improving performance.
Git Partial Clone

Git Partial Clone

A feature allowing users to clone a repository without downloading all of its objects, saving bandwidth and storage.
Git Patch

Git Patch

A file format representing changes between versions, used for sharing and applying modifications across different repositories.
Git Plumbing Commands

Git Plumbing Commands

Low-level Git commands that expose the internal workings of Git, primarily used for scripting and advanced operations.
Git Porcelain Commands

Git Porcelain Commands

User-friendly commands for everyday tasks, like git status and git commit, designed for ease of use and clear output.
Git Protocol

Git Protocol

The native network protocol used by Git for efficient data transfer between repositories.
Git Prune

Git Prune

A command that removes objects that are no longer reachable from any references in the repository.

Model Versioning

Managing different iterations of machine learning models in cloud-based development pipelines.

Module Registry

Repository for storing and managing reusable software components in cloud development environments.

Molecular Data Storage

Experimental technique using molecules to store digital data, potentially integrated with cloud systems.

Multi-Account Management

Tools and practices for managing multiple cloud accounts within an organization.

Multi-Cloud

Using services from multiple cloud providers in a single architecture, optimizing for cost, performance, and redundancy.

Multi-Cloud Integration Hubs

Centralized platforms for managing data and application integrations across multiple cloud providers.

Multi-Cloud Load Balancing

Distributing workloads across multiple cloud providers to optimize performance and reliability.

Multi-Cloud Management

Tools and practices for administering resources and applications across multiple cloud providers.

Multi-Cloud Network Fabrics

Technologies enabling seamless networking across multiple cloud provider environments.

Multi-Cloud Service Mesh Management

Coordinating microservices communication and security across multiple cloud environments.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Security system requiring two or more verification methods to access cloud resources.

Multi-Model Databases

Database systems supporting multiple data models (e.g., document, graph, relational) in a single backend.

Multi-Region Replication

Copying data across multiple geographic regions in cloud environments for redundancy and disaster recovery.

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC)

Bringing cloud capabilities closer to the network edge for improved performance and reduced latency.

Multi-cloud Cost Management

Tools and strategies for monitoring and optimizing expenses across multiple cloud providers.

Multi-cloud Cost Optimization

Strategies to minimize expenses and maximize efficiency when using multiple cloud providers.

Multi-cloud Disaster Recovery

Implementing backup and failover systems across multiple cloud providers for enhanced resilience.

Multi-cloud Networking

Connecting and managing network resources across multiple cloud provider environments.

Multi-cloud Security

Strategies and tools for protecting data and applications across multiple cloud provider environments.

Multicloud Data Controllers

Tools for managing and orchestrating data across multiple cloud provider environments.

Multicloud Networking Fabric

Unified network architecture spanning multiple cloud providers for seamless connectivity.

Multimodal AI Platforms

Cloud services supporting AI models that can process and integrate multiple types of data (e.g., text, image, audio).

Multimodal Cloud Interfaces

User interfaces that combine multiple input/output methods (e.g., voice, touch, gesture) for cloud service interaction.

Multimodal Data Fusion Platforms

Cloud services for integrating and analyzing data from various sources and formats.

NAT Gateway

Service that enables private subnet instances to connect to the internet or other AWS services.

Namespace

Isolated environment within a cluster to organize and manage resources in cloud platforms.

Natural Language Cloud Command Interfaces

Systems allowing users to interact with cloud services using conversational language.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

AI technology for understanding, interpreting, and generating human language in cloud environments.

Natural Language Processing as a Service

Cloud-based platforms offering pre-built NLP models and APIs for text analysis and generation.

Near-Edge Data Centers

Smaller data centers located closer to end-users for reduced latency in cloud service delivery.

Neomorphic Design for Cloud Interfaces

UI design approach mimicking physical objects for intuitive cloud service interaction.

Network ACLs

Rules controlling inbound and outbound traffic for subnets in cloud virtual networks.

Network Access Control List (NACL)

Stateless firewall for controlling traffic in and out of cloud subnets, enhancing network security.

Network Address Translation (NAT)

Process of modifying network address information to route traffic between private and public networks.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Virtualizing network services traditionally run on proprietary hardware in cloud environments.

Network Observability Platforms

Tools for monitoring, analyzing, and troubleshooting cloud network performance and behavior.

Network Performance Monitoring

Tools and practices for measuring and optimizing network performance in cloud environments.

Network Service Mesh

Technology for managing and securing service-to-service communication in cloud-native environments.

Network Telemetry

Collecting and analyzing network data for visibility and troubleshooting in cloud environments.

Network Traffic Optimization

Techniques for improving the efficiency and performance of data flow in cloud networks.

Network-as-Code

Defining and managing network infrastructure using code in cloud environments, enabling automated and version-controlled networking.

Neural Architecture Search (NAS) as a Service

Cloud-based automated design of optimal neural network architectures for specific AI tasks.

Neuro-Symbolic AI Frameworks

Cloud platforms combining neural networks with symbolic reasoning for more robust AI systems.

Neuro-symbolic AI Systems

Cloud-based AI integrating neural networks and symbolic AI for enhanced reasoning capabilities.

Neuromorphic Cloud Computing

Cloud services using brain-inspired computing architectures for improved efficiency in AI tasks.

Neuromorphic Computing Services

Cloud platforms providing access to brain-inspired computing architectures for AI applications.

Neuromorphic Computing as a Service

Cloud-based offerings of brain-inspired computing architectures for specialized AI workloads.

Neuromorphic Hardware Acceleration

Cloud-based AI processing using brain-inspired chip designs for improved efficiency and performance.

NewSQL Databases

Cloud databases combining the scalability of NoSQL with the ACID guarantees of traditional relational databases.

NoSQL Database (e.g., Amazon DynamoDB, Azure Cosmos DB)

Non-relational databases designed for flexible, scalable data storage and retrieval in cloud environments.

Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) over Fabrics

High-performance storage protocol for accessing SSDs over network fabrics in cloud environments.

OLAP (Online Analytical Processing)

Technology for quickly analyzing multidimensional data from multiple perspectives in cloud databases.

Object Storage

Cloud storage for unstructured data, accessed via APIs and organized as objects rather than files.

Object Storage (e.g., Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage)

Scalable cloud storage services for unstructured data, accessible via APIs, ideal for large-scale data storage and retrieval.

Object Storage Gateways

Devices or software providing local access to cloud-based object storage systems.

Observability Data Lakes

Centralized repositories for storing and analyzing large volumes of observability data in cloud environments.

Observability Data Pipelines

Systems for collecting, processing, and routing observability data in cloud environments.

Observability-Driven Development

Software development approach prioritizing built-in monitoring and debugging in cloud applications.

Olfactory Data Processing in the Cloud

Analyzing and interpreting scent-related data using cloud computing resources, enabling digital olfactory applications.

On-Device Machine Learning

Running ML models on edge devices, reducing reliance on cloud processing for certain tasks.

Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)

Technology for rapid analysis of multidimensional data in cloud-based data warehouses.

OpenFaaS

Open-source framework for building serverless functions with Docker and Kubernetes in cloud environments.

Operator Pattern

Kubernetes extension for automating application management tasks in cloud-native environments.

Optical Computing in the Cloud

Using light-based processing for high-speed, energy-efficient computation in cloud data centers.

Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates

Remote software updates for devices connected to cloud services, often used for IoT.

PCI DSS Compliance in the Cloud

Adhering to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard requirements in cloud environments.

Partitioning

Dividing large datasets or databases into smaller, more manageable parts in cloud storage systems.

Pay-as-you-go Model

Pricing structure where users only pay for the cloud resources they actually use.

Pay-as-you-go Pricing

Billing model where customers are charged based on their actual usage of cloud resources.

Pay-per-execution Model

Pricing scheme where users are billed only when their serverless functions are invoked.

Peering Connection

Direct network link between two virtual private clouds, often in different accounts or regions.

Penetration Testing in the Cloud

Simulated cyberattacks to evaluate the security of cloud-based systems and applications.

Persistent Memory

Non-volatile memory that combines speed of DRAM with data persistence, used in cloud storage systems.

Persistent Volumes

Storage resources in cloud environments that exist independently of any specific pod or container.

Photonic Integrated Circuits for Data Centers

Light-based chips for high-speed data processing in cloud infrastructure, improving energy efficiency.

Pipeline as Code

Defining and managing continuous integration/deployment workflows using code in cloud environments.

Point-in-Time Recovery

Ability to restore cloud-based data to a specific moment in the past, enabling granular data recovery options.

Policy Enforcement

Implementing and maintaining security and compliance rules across cloud resources.

Policy Management

Creating, updating, and enforcing rules governing cloud resource usage and security.

Polyglot FaaS (Function as a Service)

Serverless platform supporting multiple programming languages for cloud function development.

Polyglot Persistence

Using multiple data storage technologies to handle varied data storage needs in cloud applications.

Polyglot Serverless Development

Creating serverless applications using multiple programming languages in cloud environments.

Post-Migration Optimization

Refining and improving cloud-based systems after initial migration from on-premises.

Post-Quantum Cryptography Implementation

Deploying encryption methods resistant to quantum computer attacks in cloud systems.

Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)

Metric for measuring energy efficiency of cloud data centers, comparing total power consumption to IT equipment power usage.

Predictive Auto-Scaling

Using AI to anticipate resource needs and adjust cloud capacity automatically, optimizing performance and cost-efficiency.

Predictive Capacity Planning

Using data analytics and machine learning to forecast future cloud resource requirements and optimize infrastructure.

Predictive Maintenance

Using data analytics to anticipate and prevent equipment failures in cloud infrastructure.

Prescriptive Analytics

Advanced analytics providing recommendations for actions in cloud-based decision making.

Pricing Calculator

Tool for estimating costs of cloud services based on expected usage, helping in budgeting and resource planning.

Privacy-Enhancing Computation (PEC)

Techniques for processing sensitive data while preserving privacy in cloud environments.

Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs)

Tools and methods for protecting personal data privacy in cloud computing, ensuring compliance and user trust.

Privacy-Preserving Analytics

Techniques for analyzing data in the cloud while maintaining individual privacy.

Privacy-Preserving Data Mining

Extracting useful information from large datasets without compromising individual privacy in the cloud.

Privacy-Preserving Data Science

Performing data analysis in the cloud while protecting sensitive information, balancing insights with data privacy.

Private 5G Networks

Dedicated 5G networks deployed for specific enterprise use, often integrated with cloud services.

PrivateLink

Service enabling private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and on-premises applications.

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Tools for securing, controlling, and monitoring access to critical cloud resources and data.

Probabilistic Data Structures in the Cloud

Memory-efficient data structures for approximate data analysis in cloud environments.

Programmable Data Planes

Network architectures allowing customization of data packet processing in cloud infrastructure.

Ceph RadosGW

Object storage gateway for Ceph, providing S3-compatible API for container storage needs in Kubernetes.

Cgroup (Control Group)

Linux kernel feature for limiting, prioritizing, and isolating resource usage of container groups.

Change Data Capture (CDC)

Technique for tracking and capturing changes in databases, useful in microservices architectures.

Chaos Engineering in CI/CD

Practice of intentionally injecting failures in CI/CD pipelines to improve system resilience.

Chaos Mesh for Reliability Testing

Platform for simulating various abnormal scenarios in Kubernetes environments to test reliability.

Checkov for IaC Security Scanning

Static code analysis tool for detecting misconfigurations in Infrastructure as Code deployments.

Cilium

Open-source networking, observability, and security solution for container workloads based on eBPF.

Cilium Service Mesh

eBPF-powered service mesh offering high-performance traffic management and security for microservices.

Cilium's Hubble for Network Observability

Observability platform for Kubernetes providing deep visibility into container network flows.

Cilium's eBPF Datapath

High-performance networking mode in Cilium using extended Berkeley Packet Filter for packet processing and security.

CircleCI

Continuous integration and delivery platform supporting containerized application testing and deployment.

Circuit Breaker Pattern

Fault tolerance pattern preventing cascading failures in distributed containerized systems.

Circuit Breaking

Technique to detect failures and prevent system overload in microservices architectures, enhancing resilience.

Claim Check Pattern for Large Messages

Design pattern for handling large payloads in microservices by storing data externally, improving efficiency.

Clair for Static Image Analysis

Open-source tool for static analysis of vulnerabilities in container images, enhancing security.

Cloud Controller Manager

Kubernetes component managing interactions between cluster and cloud provider APIs, enabling cloud integration.

Cloud Native Application Bundle (CNAB)

Specification for packaging and managing distributed applications across different environments.

Cloud-Native Buildpacks

Tooling for building container images from source code without Dockerfiles, adhering to best practices.

Cloud-Native Design Patterns

Architectural patterns specifically tailored for distributed, containerized applications in cloud environments.

CloudEvents

Specification for describing event data in common formats, facilitating event-driven architectures in cloud environments.

CloudEvents Specification

Isolation technique in containerized microservices to prevent failure propagation across the system.

Cluster

Group of servers or other resources that work together as a single system to provide high availability.

Cluster API

Kubernetes project for declarative management and provisioning of clusters using Kubernetes-style APIs.

Cluster API Provider

Implementation of Cluster API for specific infrastructure providers, enabling cluster lifecycle management.

Cluster Autoscaler

Kubernetes component that automatically adjusts the size of a cluster based on resource demands.

Cluster Capacity Planning

Process of estimating and allocating resources needed for container workloads in a cluster.

Cluster Federation

Mechanism for coordinating multiple Kubernetes clusters, enabling multi-cluster application deployment and management.

Cluster Mesh

Interconnected network of container clusters, enabling cross-cluster communication and resource sharing.

Cluster Networking

Network configuration and management within and between container clusters, enabling inter-container communication.

Cluster Upgrade Process

Procedure for updating the Kubernetes version and components of a cluster while minimizing disruptions.

Cluster-level Logging

Centralized logging solution capturing logs from all containers and nodes in a cluster, aiding in troubleshooting.

ClusterAutoscaler

Kubernetes component that automatically adjusts the number of nodes in a cluster based on resource utilization.

ClusterIP

Kubernetes service type that exposes the service on an internal IP within the cluster, facilitating internal communication.

ClusterIP Services

Kubernetes services accessible only within the cluster, used for internal communication between pods.

ClusterRole

Kubernetes RBAC resource defining permissions across an entire cluster, not limited to a single namespace.

ClusterRoleBinding

Kubernetes RBAC resource that binds a ClusterRole to users, groups, or service accounts across all namespaces.

ClusterServiceVersion (CSV)

Custom resource in Operator Lifecycle Manager describing a specific version of an Operator.

Codefresh GitOps

GitOps platform for managing and automating containerized application deployments, streamlining CD workflows.

Cold Start Optimization

Techniques to reduce initialization time of containers, particularly important in serverless environments.

Compensating Transaction Pattern

Design pattern for handling failures in distributed container-based systems by reversing or compensating actions.

ConfigMap

Kubernetes API object used to store non-confidential data in key-value pairs, accessible by pods.

Consul Connect

Service mesh feature of Consul providing secure service-to-service communication with automatic TLS encryption.

Container

Standardized unit of software that packages code and all its dependencies for quick, reliable deployment.

Container Breakout Techniques

Methods used by attackers to escape container isolation and access the host system, posing security risks.

Container Engine

Software responsible for managing container lifecycle, including creation, execution, and destruction.

Container Escape

Security vulnerability allowing a process to break out of container isolation and access the host system.

Container Escape Prevention

Security measures and best practices to prevent containers from breaking out of their isolation.

Container Escape Vulnerabilities

Weaknesses in container runtimes or configurations that could allow processes to escape isolation.

Container Health Checks

Mechanisms to verify the health and readiness of containerized applications, ensuring service availability.

Container Host

Physical or virtual machine running the container runtime and hosting containers, providing the execution environment.

Container Image Promotion

Process of moving container images through different environments (e.g., dev, test, prod) in a controlled manner.

Container Image Signing

Cryptographic process of digitally signing container images to ensure their integrity and authenticity during distribution.

Container Lifecycle

Stages a container goes through from creation to termination, including running, paused, and stopped states.

Container Lifecycle Management

Processes and tools for managing containers throughout their lifecycle, from creation to deletion.

Container Logging

Process of capturing and managing log output from containerized applications for monitoring and troubleshooting.

Container Manifest

Configuration file specifying how to build a container image, including base image, commands, and environment setup.

Container Metrics

Quantitative measures of container performance, resource usage, and health, used for monitoring and optimization.

Container Network Interface (CNI)

Specification and libraries for configuring network interfaces in Linux containers, standardizing networking.

Container Network Interface (CNI) Spec

Standard for developing plugins to configure network interfaces in Linux containers, ensuring interoperability.

Container Networking Model

Architecture and principles governing how containers communicate within and across hosts in orchestrated environments.

Container Orchestration

Automated arrangement, coordination, and management of software containers, crucial in large-scale deployments.

Container Probes (Liveness, Readiness, Startup)

Kubernetes mechanisms (liveness, readiness, startup) for checking container health and controlling lifecycle.

Container Real User Monitoring (RUM)

Technique for capturing and analyzing real user interactions with containerized applications.

Container Restart Policies

Rules defining how containers should be restarted in case of failures or exits, enhancing application resilience.

Container Runtime

Software responsible for running containers, managing their lifecycle from creation to deletion.

Container Runtime Security

Measures and tools to protect containers during execution, preventing unauthorized access or malicious activities.

Container Shims

Lightweight processes that manage the lifecycle of containers and provide abstraction between runtimes.

Container Storage Interface (CSI)

Standardized interface for container orchestration platforms to interact with storage systems.

Container Storage Interface (CSI) Spec

Standard for developing storage plugins for container orchestration platforms, enabling storage extensibility.

Container Vulnerability Scanning

Process of identifying security vulnerabilities in container images and their dependencies.

Content Trust

Mechanism for verifying the integrity and authenticity of container images before deployment.

Continuous Deployment

Automated process of releasing container images to production environments after passing tests.

Continuous Verification

Ongoing process of validating deployed containers against defined policies and expectations.

Contiv-VPP for High-performance Networking

Container networking solution using VPP (Vector Packet Processing) for optimized performance.

Contract-First API Development

Approach prioritizing API definition before implementation, crucial for microservices architecture.

Control Groups (cgroups)

Linux kernel feature for limiting, prioritizing, and isolating resource usage of container groups.

Control Plane

Components managing the overall state of a container cluster, including API server, scheduler, and controllers.

Control Plane Upgrade

Process of updating the core components of a container orchestration system while maintaining cluster stability.

Controller Manager

Kubernetes component running controller processes to regulate the state of the cluster, maintaining desired state.

Controller Runtime

Software framework for building Kubernetes controllers and operators, simplifying custom resource management.

Conversion Webhooks

Kubernetes feature allowing custom resource API version conversions via external webhooks.

Copy-on-Write (CoW)

Storage optimization technique used in container filesystems to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

Cordon

Process of marking a node as unschedulable in Kubernetes, preventing new pods from being assigned to it.

CoreDNS

Flexible, extensible DNS server used for service discovery in Kubernetes clusters, replacing kube-dns.

Cortex

Horizontally scalable, multi-tenant, long-term storage for Prometheus metrics, enhancing monitoring capabilities.

Cortex for Multi-tenant Prometheus

Use of Cortex to provide isolated Prometheus monitoring for multiple users or teams in shared environments.

CronJob

Kubernetes object for creating time-based jobs, running containers on a schedule for automated tasks.

CronJob Patterns

Kubernetes patterns for running batch processes and scheduled tasks in containerized environments.

Cross-namespace Operators

Kubernetes operators capable of managing resources across multiple namespaces, enabling broader automation.

Custom Metrics API

Kubernetes API extension allowing pods to consume custom metrics for autoscaling and monitoring.

Custom Resource

Extension of the Kubernetes API that defines new, custom resource types specific to a cluster's needs.

Custom Resource Conversion

Process of converting custom resources between different API versions in Kubernetes, enabling API evolution.

Custom Resource Definition (CRD)

Kubernetes API extension allowing the definition of custom resources, enabling cluster customization.

Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs)

Kubernetes feature for extending the API with custom resources, enabling cluster customization.

Custom Resources

User-defined API objects in Kubernetes, extending the core functionality of the platform for specific use cases.

Custom Scheduler

Alternative or additional scheduler implementation for Kubernetes, allowing custom pod placement logic.

Custom Schedulers

Alternative scheduling implementations in Kubernetes for custom pod placement strategies, enabling specialized scheduling logic.

DNS for Services and Pods

Kubernetes feature providing DNS-based service discovery for containers within the cluster.

DPDK in Container Networks

Use of Data Plane Development Kit for high-performance packet processing in container networks.

DaemonSet

Kubernetes object ensuring that all (or some) nodes run a copy of a specific pod, useful for cluster-wide services.