Technology

Binary image (bilevel or 1-bit raster image) Binary image A binary (bilevel) image stores each pixel as one of two values (commonly black or white). Used for text, barcodes, masks, fax and printing; produced by thresholding or dithering f…

Binoculars: design, history, types, and common uses Binoculars An overview of binoculars: how they work, main components, historical development, common types (Galilean, Porro, roof, night-vision), practical uses and tips for choosing a pair.

Bipod: portable two-legged support for firearms and equipment Bipod A bipod is a two-legged support device used to steady rifles, mortars and other equipment. This article explains its design, history, common types, uses and limitations.

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT): structure, operation and applications Bipolar junction transistor Compact overview of bipolar junction transistors: structure (NPN/PNP), operating regions, biasing, models, key parameters, thermal and practical considerations, and common applicat…

Bird cage: design, uses, safety, and care for pet birds Bird cage Overview of bird cages: purpose, common parts and materials, safety concerns, enrichment and maintenance, and guidance on choosing the right cage for different pet birds.

Bit-level parallelism: scaling processor word size Bit-level parallelism Bit-level parallelism increases processor word width so more bits are processed per instruction, reducing instruction count for wide-data tasks. Covers definition, history, benefit…

BitchX: Terminal-based IRC Client — History, Security, and Maintenance BitchX Overview of BitchX, a terminal-based IRC client from 1996: development history, known security flaws in older releases, and practical guidance on patches, maintained forks and curr…

Bitcoin — decentralized digital currency and its system Bitcoin An encyclopedic overview of Bitcoin: what it is, how it works, its history, key components (blockchain, mining, addresses), uses, and notable distinctions.

BitTorrent: peer-to-peer file distribution protocol and original client BitTorrent BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer protocol and the name of the original client. It fragments files into pieces, coordinates swarms with trackers or DHT, uses magnet links, and emphasize…

BlackBerry (smartphone brand) BlackBerry BlackBerry is a smartphone brand best known for its physical keyboards, enterprise security features and unified messaging. Once dominant in business markets, it later moved to And…

Blender (kitchen appliance) Blender A countertop electric appliance for mixing, chopping, puréeing and emulsifying foods and drinks; types, components, uses, history, safety and maintenance.

Blender (3D graphics software) Blender (program) Free, open-source 3D creation suite from the Blender Foundation. Supports modeling, animation, rendering, VFX, compositing and scripting on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Block cipher A block cipher is a symmetric-key algorithm that transforms fixed-size blocks of data using a secret key. It underpins many encryption protocols and is used with modes of operation…

Blockchain: Structure, History, Uses, and Key Concepts Blockchain Blockchain is a distributed ledger that links timestamped records using cryptography. This article explains its structure, consensus mechanisms, origins, common applications, and n…

Bloomery: the traditional iron-smelting furnace and its products Bloomery A bloomery is a preindustrial furnace that produces sponge iron (a bloom) by direct reduction of iron ores. Article covers construction, operation, history, products, and differenc…

Blowfish (cipher): design, history, security, and practical use Blowfish (cipher) Blowfish is a public-domain symmetric block cipher designed by Bruce Schneier in 1993. It offers a variable key length and fast encryption in software but has a 64-bit block size a…

Blu-ray Disc (BD): high-density optical disc format Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Disc (BD) is a high-capacity optical disc format for high-definition video, large data storage and games. Developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association, it succeeded earlier HD…

BMW 3 Series: compact executive car introduced in 1975 BMW 3 Series Overview, development, body styles, engines and the high-performance M3 variant of BMW's long-running compact executive 3 Series, produced since 1975 and now in its seventh generat…

BMW M3: The high-performance variant of the BMW 3 Series BMW M3 Sport-oriented version of the BMW 3 Series developed by BMW M, known for enhanced engines, chassis, brakes and track capability. Introduced with the E30 M3 and continued across sub…

Bobby pin Small U-shaped hair pin used to secure hair; also called a kirby grip or hair grip. Overview, design, history, common uses, tips, and differences from other hair fasteners.

Boeing X-37 (Orbital Test Vehicle) Boeing X-37 The Boeing X-37 is an uncrewed, reusable robotic spaceplane developed to test on-orbit technologies, reentry systems and autonomous runway landings. It began at NASA and later move…

BOINC — Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing BOINC BOINC is an open-source platform that enables volunteer distributed computing, letting researchers use donated idle CPU/GPU time for projects from astronomy to biomedicine and clim…

Bolt cutter A hand-operated cutting tool with long handles and hardened jaws used to shear metal fasteners and small sections of bar; used in construction, rescue, maintenance and demolition.

Boolean data type A primitive data type representing two truth values (true/false); used for logic, control flow, and Boolean algebra; implementations and behavior vary by language.

Boomerang A boomerang is a curved throwing implement that, when designed and thrown correctly, flies a curved path and often returns; used historically for hunting, sport and ceremony across…

Boot device: how a computer loads its operating system Boot device A boot device is the hardware or mechanism a computer uses to load its operating system into memory at startup. Covers types, process stages, history, examples and common distincti…

Booting: how computers and electronic systems start up Booting Overview of booting: the sequence that starts a computer or device, key components (firmware, bootloader, kernel), types of boot, modern variations (UEFI, network boot, secure boot…

Bot (software): automated programs and agents Bot A bot is a software program that performs automated tasks. This article explains types, design, history, common uses, and issues such as abuse, detection, and regulation.

Box (container): types, materials, uses, and history Box A box is a container—typically a rectangular or cuboid enclosure—used for storage, transport, display and many other purposes. This article describes forms, materials, uses, histor…

Branch prediction in modern processors Branch prediction Branch prediction is a processor technique that guesses the outcome and target of conditional and indirect branches to keep pipelines full and improve performance.

Break-open shotgun: design, history, and common uses Break-open shotgun An accessible overview of break-open shotguns: how they work, design varieties, history since the mid-19th century, practical uses, and how they compare with repeating shotguns.

Broadly Applicable Tracking System (BATS): a lightweight wildlife tracking tag Broadly Applicable Tracking System BATS is a very small, reusable tracking tag designed for bats and other small animals; it combines GPS, short‑range wireless and data logging to record movement and social interact…

Browning Auto-5 (Auto Five) — pioneering semi-automatic shotgun Browning Auto-5 The Browning Auto-5, designed by John Moses Browning, was the first widely successful semi-automatic shotgun. It used a long-recoil action, a distinctive 'humpback' receiver and re…

Bubble wrap: cushioning film for packaging and stress relief Bubble wrap Bubble wrap is an air-filled plastic cushioning material used to protect fragile items, valued for shock absorption, light weight, and its characteristic popping sound; it has indu…

Bugzilla — Open-source web-based bug tracking system Bugzilla Bugzilla is an open-source, web-based bug and issue tracker originating from the Mozilla project. It provides reporting, searching, notifications, customizable workflows and integr…

Bulldozer: heavy tracked machine for pushing, grading, and earthmoving Bulldozer A bulldozer is a powerful tracked or wheeled machine with a front blade and optional rear ripper, used for earthmoving, demolition, grading, and site preparation across constructio…

Bus Network (LAN Topology) Bus network A bus network is a LAN topology where nodes share a single communication medium. This article explains its structure, operation, history, advantages, disadvantages, and modern rele…

Butt plug (anal sex toy) Butt plug A butt plug is an anal sex toy with a flared base designed to be worn or removed safely. Used for sexual pleasure, prostate stimulation, and some therapeutic purposes; hygiene and…

Byte (unit of digital information) Byte A byte is a basic unit of digital information—commonly eight bits—used to measure storage and encode characters. This article covers its definition, history, encodings, common uses…

C (programming language) C is a general-purpose, procedural programming language developed in the early 1970s for system programming. It influenced many later languages and remains widely used for low-leve…

C# (programming language) — overview, features, history and uses C Sharp (programming language) C# is a modern, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft for the .NET platform. It is statically typed, managed, and widely used for desktop, web, mobile and gam…

C++: A general-purpose programming language with performance and abstractions C++ C++ is a high-performance, general-purpose programming language that combines low-level control with abstractions such as classes, templates, and modern features like modules and m…

Cache (computing): temporary storage to speed data access Cache (computing) Fast, temporary storage holding copies of data to reduce latency. Explains types, organization, replacement and write policies, performance metrics, locality, uses, and distinction…

Cache algorithm — eviction policies and practical trade-offs Cache algorithm Overview of cache algorithms: goals, common eviction policies (LRU, LFU, MRU, ARC, PLRU), practical considerations, history, use cases and how to choose an appropriate scheme.

Cache coherence: ensuring consistent views of shared data in multi‑cache systems Cache coherence Cache coherence is the set of techniques that keep multiple cached copies of the same memory location consistent in multiprocessor and multi-cache systems, balancing correctness an…

Calendar: systems for organizing days, months, years and eras Calendar A calendar is a system that assigns names and numbers to days and groups them into months and years. This article explains structure, types, history, uses, and notable modern calen…

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) California Institute of Technology Caltech is a private research university in Pasadena, California, focused on science and engineering, noted for small size, high selectivity, and its management of NASA's Jet Propu…

Calligra Flow — diagramming application in the Calligra suite Calligra Flow Calligra Flow is the diagram and flowchart component of the Calligra office suite. It provides tools for creating flowcharts, network diagrams and illustrations, and integrates wit…