Technology

Moore's law: trend, history, limits and technological impact Moore's law Empirical observation that transistor counts and related semiconductor capabilities grow roughly exponentially; its origin, technical and economic limits, industry responses, and b…

Mop: types, history, uses, care and notable distinctions Mop A mop is a basic cleaning tool with a head attached to a handle. This article explains common types, components, historical development, typical uses, maintenance, and important di…

Mortar and pestle: function, forms, history and uses Mortar and pestle Hand tools for grinding and mixing: design, materials, historical development, culinary and pharmaceutical uses, care, and key distinctions.

MOSFET — metal–oxide–semiconductor field‑effect transistor MOSFET MOSFET: a voltage‑driven semiconductor device used as a switch or amplifier. Covers structure, operation, history, common variants, and major applications in electronics and power…

Motherboard: the central circuit board of a computer system Motherboard Comprehensive overview of the motherboard: its purpose, main components, historical development, common form factors, and how it affects compatibility and system design.

Motion sensor: principles, types, uses, and practical considerations Motion sensor Comprehensive overview of motion sensors: how they work, common technologies, applications in security, industry, health and sports, installation and integration with data-loggers…

Motorola: Origins, innovations, and corporate evolution Motorola Overview of Motorola, an American electronics company founded in 1928; its key products, corporate split in 2011, and subsequent acquisitions by Google and Lenovo.

Mozilla (web browser) Mozilla was an early open-source internet suite that combined a web browser with mail, editor, and tools; it helped establish the Gecko engine and later influenced Firefox and SeaM…

Mozilla Thunderbird — Free Cross‑Platform Email Client Mozilla Thunderbird Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source, cross-platform email client offering message management, encryption support, calendar integration, and extensibility via add-ons.

MP3 player (portable digital audio player) MP3 player Portable electronic device for playing MP3 and other digital audio files; varies by storage, connectivity, supported formats and extra features such as video or apps.

MQV (Menezes–Qu–Vanstone) key agreement protocol MQV MQV is an authenticated Diffie–Hellman-based key agreement family that combines long‑term and ephemeral keys to provide mutual authentication and resistance to active attackers, wi…

MS-DOS: The Microsoft Disk Operating System — overview, history and legacy MS-DOS MS-DOS is a discontinued 16-bit, command-line disk operating system from Microsoft that shaped early personal computing, software distribution, and the transition to graphical inte…

MSX — an open standard for 1980s home computers MSX MSX was a standardized home-computer architecture created in the early 1980s to unify hardware and software across manufacturers. It spawned several generations, a strong game libr…

Multi-core processor A multi-core processor contains two or more independent processing units (cores) on a single chip. Cores share some resources but execute instructions in parallel to improve throug…

Multi-touch: simultaneous touch input for screens and trackpads Multi-touch Multi-touch is touch input that senses two or more contact points simultaneously on a screen or trackpad, enabling gestures like pinch, rotate, and complex multi-finger interaction…

MultiMediaCard (MMC): portable flash memory card standard MultiMediaCard MultiMediaCard (MMC) is a compact flash memory card format developed for consumer electronics in the late 1990s; it spawned several variants including embedded MMC (eMMC) used in m…

Multimeter — purpose, parts, operation and common uses Multimeter A multimeter is a handheld electrical instrument that combines voltmeter, ammeter and ohmmeter functions; modern models measure many quantities used in electronics, electrical work…

Multiplexer: devices that select and combine multiple signals Multiplexer A multiplexer (mux) selects one of several input signals for forwarding over a single output. Article covers types, operation, implementations, history, applications and relation t…

Multiprocessing Multiprocessing is the coordinated use of two or more processors within a single computer system to run tasks concurrently. Covers modes (SMP, asymmetric), history, benefits, and p…

Multitasking on iOS: background execution, app switching, and iPad features Multitasking (iOS) Overview of multitasking on Apple's iOS: how apps run in the background, UI multitasking on iPad, technical app states, common background modes, history, uses, and battery/policy c…

Multithreading in Computing Multithreading Multithreading is a technique that lets a computer program execute multiple threads of control concurrently, improving responsiveness and throughput while introducing synchronizati…

MVP: Minimum Viable Product, Most Valuable Player, Model–View–Presenter MVP A concise reference to the acronym MVP, explaining its principal meanings in product development, sports awards, and software design, with history, characteristics, examples and ho…

MySQL: Overview, features, history and common uses MySQL MySQL is a widely used open-source relational database management system that stores data in tables and is accessed with SQL. It is common for web applications and supports multipl…

Nokia N-Gage: hybrid mobile phone and handheld game console N-Gage The Nokia N-Gage was a 2003 attempt to combine a GSM mobile phone with a handheld gaming system. It ran Symbian Series 60, used removable game cards and early online services such…

N-type semiconductor A semiconductor doped with donor impurities that supply extra electrons as majority carriers; used in diodes, transistors, sensors and many electronic devices.

Nail gun — power tool for driving nails Nail gun A nail gun is a powered tool that drives nails into wood, masonry or other materials. Available in pneumatic, electric, gas and powder-actuated types, it speeds construction tasks…

NAND gate — the universal digital logic gate NAND gate Overview of the NAND gate: definition, behavior, truth table, physical implementations, how to build other gates from NANDs, and common applications in digital electronics.

Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) Nanoelectromechanical systems Nanoelectromechanical systems are devices that integrate electrical and mechanical functions at nanometer scales, offering high sensitivity and frequency for sensing, signal proces…

Nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the study and engineering of matter at the nanoscale, where materials can show unusual properties and support applications in medicine, electronics, energy, and a…

Napier Deltic diesel engine Napier Deltic A distinctive opposed‑piston two‑stroke diesel with a triangular layout and three crankshafts, developed by D. Napier & Son and used in fast naval craft and British locomotives.

Native Command Queuing (NCQ): purpose, operation, history and practical use Native Command Queuing Native Command Queuing (NCQ) lets SATA drives reorder outstanding I/O to reduce head movement and rotational latency, benefiting multi-request workloads; requires controller, drive…

Nellis Solar Power Plant A ground-mounted photovoltaic installation at Nellis Air Force Base, commissioned in 2007 and notable as the largest solar plant in North America when completed. Demonstrates milit…

Neo Geo — SNK arcade and home video game platform Neo Geo Neo Geo is a family of arcade and home game systems by SNK known for arcade-quality graphics, swappable cartridge boards, premium pricing, and influential fighting and action franc…

Neo-Luddism: modern critique of technology and its social effects Neo-Luddism Neo-Luddism is a contemporary critique of particular technologies and their deployment, emphasizing social, economic, and environmental harms and arguing for restraint, local contr…

Neon lamp A neon lamp is a low-pressure gas-discharge light whose glow color depends on the fill gas. Used in signage, indicators and decorative lighting, it includes neon tubes and small gl…

NepaLinux: Nepali-language Linux distribution for desktop computing NepaLinux NepaLinux is a Linux distribution focused on Nepali-language desktop computing, combining localization, input support and applications to promote free software use in Nepal.

NERF (toy brand) NERF NERF is a long-running toy brand best known for foam-based blasters and soft sports equipment. Created by Parker Brothers and now owned by Hasbro, it includes multiple product line…

NES Advantage The NES Advantage is an arcade-style joystick released by Nintendo in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It offered turbo controls and a large cabinet-like base to simulat…

NES Classic Edition (NES Mini) — compact reissue of the NES NES Classic Edition A compact reissue of the Nintendo Entertainment System with 30 built-in games, one wired controller, HDMI output and save states. Released in 2016 as a limited-production retro con…

NES Four Score (four‑player controller adapter) NES Four Score A four-player controller adapter for the Nintendo Entertainment System that expands the console’s two ports to four, enabling local multiplayer in compatible games and influencing…

NES Max (NES controller) NES Max Compact NES controller with built-in turbo (rapid-fire) functionality introduced as a smaller alternative to the arcade-style Advantage for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

NES Satellite A battery-powered infrared multiplayer adapter for the Nintendo Entertainment System that enabled up to four players on compatible games; an official wireless alternative to wired…

NES Zapper — Nintendo's light gun for the NES NES Zapper The NES Zapper is Nintendo's iconic light-gun peripheral for the Nintendo Entertainment System, used to aim and shoot on-screen targets in games such as Duck Hunt. It depends on CR…

Netbook — the small, low-cost portable computer Netbook Netbooks are compact, low-cost laptops designed for basic tasks such as web browsing and document editing. Popular in the late 2000s, they emphasized portability and battery life o…

NetBSD: a portable, permissively licensed Unix-like operating system NetBSD NetBSD is a free, open-source BSD-derived Unix-like OS prized for portability, clean design and permissive BSD licensing. It supports many hardware platforms and is used in servers…

Network bridge (Layer 2 device) Network bridge A network bridge connects and forwards data between separate LAN segments at the OSI data link layer, selectively passing frames to reduce collisions and extend networks while pres…

Network interface card (NIC) Network card A network interface card (NIC) connects a computer to a network. This article explains its purpose, components, history, common form factors, and typical uses in wired and wireless…

Network computing: principles, architecture, history, and applications Network computing Network computing coordinates multiple computers and servers to share resources, run applications, and process data across a network. Covers architectures, history, common uses, an…