When collaborating on shared family trees, genealogy websites, or digital archives, understanding user permissions is key to keeping your research organized and accurate. Here’s what each level of access means:

– Read-Only Access – You can view information but not make any changes. This is great for family members who want to see the tree without worrying about accidental edits.
– Editor Access – You can add, edit, and update records but may not have full administrative control. This is useful for trusted collaborators who contribute research but don’t need to manage user permissions or delete records.
– Administrator Access – Full control! Admins can edit, delete, merge profiles, and manage user permissions. If you’re managing a family tree, you likely have admin access. Be careful about granting this level to others—too many admins can lead to confusion or unintended data loss.

Adobe is a US-based computer company that specializes in making software (computer programs). Some of their more well known programs are:

• Adobe Acrobat – for reading and sharing documents.
• Adobe Photoshop – for creating and modifying photos, pictures and other visual files.
• Adobe PDF – a pdf is a specific type of file that is easy for people to create and share, but hard for others to change easily. That makes pdfs good for things like course handouts, official documents, and other files that the original author doesn’t want others to change. The last four characters (or extension) of the file are always “.pdf”. Adobe created the pdf format, and continues to make updates to the program. A lot of handouts in genealogy webinars are in pdf format. An example of a pdf file name is examplefile.pdf

Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing or advertising partnership between two companies or between an individual and a company. One company or website will post links to the other site, usually where an item or service is on sale. For example, a small genealogy website may review a book, and post a link to Amazon where the reader can buy the book. If the genealogy website has an affiliate agreement with Amazon, they might then receive a percentage of the sale.

Many genealogy blogs and websites use affiliate marketing with larger companies to generate revenue. By using the affiliate links on these websites, you can support the site while purchasing items you were already planning to buy. Important Note: It is considered good practice (and good ethics) for a website to label items or companies with which they have an affiliate agreement, however, labeling is not a legal requirement. Just because a site doesn’t state that they have an agreement doesn’t mean it’s not true. This site is part of various affiliate programs.

An agent is an AI system designed to take action on your behalf. Instead of just answering questions, an agent can make decisions, perform tasks, and interact with tools or data to reach a goal.

Think of an AI agent as a digital assistant that doesn’t just advise—it does. An agent might search records, organize information, monitor changes, or carry out multi-step tasks with limited supervision. In some cases you can even see it move the mouse on your screen!

For example: A genealogist could use an AI agent to monitor a specific online record collection (like new Italian civil records or newspaper databases). The agent could regularly check for updates, flag new entries that match a surname or location, and notify the genealogist when something new appears—without the researcher having to manually check every time.

AI agents are the building blocks behind tools that can automate research steps, track updates to records, or manage repetitive tasks—freeing you up to focus on analysis and storytelling.

An aggregator is a program that gathers and consolidates data from multiple sources. There are a few common types of aggregators. Google Shopping is considered a price aggregator, as can show different places to buy a specific item. News aggregators, like AOL News, bring together news stories from different news outlets. In genealogy, a site like Cyndi’s List aggregates genealogy links and websites.

AI is short for Artificial Intelligence. At it’s simplest, it is a type of computer program that can “learn” by examining very large amounts of data. It is very good at tasks like record searching, data analysis, and pattern recognition, making it ideal for examining large archives. It can also quickly identify connections, and suggest research leads, making genealogical research more efficient and accurate. One of the first well known uses of AI in genealogy was its use in transcribing the 1950 US Census. AI programs were able to “read” through the handwritten records and transcribe the results much faster than humans alone had done in previous censuses.

AirDrop is a feature on Apple devices (like iPhones, iPads, and Macs) that lets you quickly share files, photos, or documents with someone nearby—without needing email, texting, or USB drives.

Think of it like “passing notes” between devices through the air. For genealogists, AirDrop is handy for sharing family photos, scanned records, or research notes instantly at a family gathering or genealogy conference.

Android and iPhone are the names of specific operating systems used to run smartphones and tablets. A device will run either the Android or iPhone systems, not both. Most application developers will make both Android and iPhone versions of programs, so that you can load the program that is right for your device. For example, the Ancestry mobile program for your phone has both Android and iPhone versions.

API is short for Application Programming Interface. It is essentially a piece of code or a small program that allows two computer programs to communicate. For example, if you’ve ever used a software program like Family Tree Maker to work on your family tree, and then uploaded it to an online site like My Heritage or Ancestry, you’re using an api to connect the two programs.

App is short for application. Originally, “app” meant the small programs that you might have on your cellphone, like texting apps or camera apps. “Software” referred to the larger programs on your computer. But over the last few years “app” has been taking over, and tends to mean any computer program you might use on any of your devices.

An Attachment usually refers to a file that’s been added, or “attached” to an email. It can be a document, picture, audio file, or many other types of files. An email program will usually allow you to attach and send multiple attachments with an email, although there may be a size limit. If you receive an email with attachments, make sure it is from someone you know or are expecting. Downloading an attachment that you do not recognize onto your computer or phone is similar to letting a stranger into your house. They may be fine, but then again, they may not be so nice!

Most of the time, when you enter information into a program, you have to click a button to save what you’ve done. Some programs have the option to autosave, which automatically saves your work periodically. Autosave is handy because you don’t have to worry about losing work by accidentally turning off your program or losing power to your computer.

An avatar the name for the small picture that you sometimes see beside people’s names when they post online. Some people use their own photo, while others use computer graphics, artwork, or nothing at all.

AWS stands for Amazon Web Services. In addition to their retail website, Amazon provides a number of behind the scenes services for many businesses and computer companies. You may see a icon on your favorite website. This means that they are using some of AWS products

Beta testing is the stage when a program, such as genealogical software, online database or website, is made available to a select group of users outside the original development team. Beta testers can be regular users, like you or I, who can access the program early, and report back to the company on any problems or issues that they are finding. If this is something that interests you, follow the company that is creating the program, as some companies will post advanced notice for beta tester signup.

Blockchain is a new way of storing data. Think of it as a digital version of those old-fashioned ledger books our ancestors used to keep! But instead of ink and paper, it’s all online, and instead of just one bookkeeper, everyone gets a copy.

Imagine you’re adding a new ancestor to your family tree. You make an entry, and instantly, it gets copied to every family member’s book, ensuring everyone has the same, up-to-date record. That’s how blockchain works! Each “block” of data is like a page in the ledger, and once it’s added, it can’t be changed or erased. This keeps the record accurate and trustworthy, just like we want our genealogical research to be!
It’s secure, transparent, and every piece of information is verified – just like how we verify sources in our research. So next time you hear about blockchain, think of it as a giant, shared family tree that can’t be tampered with!

We have a blog! A blog is a website, or part of a website, that is updated often, with new topics and articles on a regular basis. A blog writer is called a “blogger”. Most major genealogical websites have blogs, such as My Heritage, Ancestry, and FamilySearch. Blogs are a great way of keeping up on new topics in genealogy. Read ours here!

Just like with a physical book, a bookmark is a way of marking your place on a website or page, so that you can return to it quickly. All internet browsers use bookmarks, but they may call them “favorites”, “shortcuts”, or other terms. Their use however, is universal. Bookmarks are usually saved to a list or folder that you can then access quickly to return to the original webpage. If you have a lot of bookmarks, you may want to organize them over several folders or lists to keep things organized.

Boolean logic is a system that tells search tools (including internet search boxes, and some genealogical archives) how to combine, include or exclude terms. It relies on three simple search terms:

• And: narrows your search to include everything before and after the “and”. Example: Search for Name = “Morgan” and “Stanley”. You can often use an “&” instead of the word “and”.
• Or: broadens your search to include either of the criteria mentioned. Example: Search for “birth” or “baptism”.
• Not: Removes unwanted results. Example: Search for “Brooklyn” not “Queens”

You can also combine these terms to create powerful search strings. Example: In a New York City archive you could search for: First Name = “Morgan” and “”Last Name = Stanley” and Document = “Birth” or “Baptism” and Borough = “Brooklyn” not “Queens”

Bot is short for Robot. While most of the robots we think of in popular culture have physical bodies (like the Mars Rovers), a bot could just be a computer program that was designed to perform a specific set of tasks. For example, if you are on a website, and a service representative begins to chat with you, chances are you’ve encountered a bot. Chatbots (also explained below) are a type of software-only bot that we’re all likely to encounter. Some bots do have physical forms, like Amazon Echo Dots, the home of Alexa. In this case, the Echo Dot is the physical casing, while Alexa is the software computer program. Alexa is fully capable of running on a computer, but that wouldn’t be as convenient. Using the Echo Dot allows strategic placement around your house or work.

A browser is a computer program that is specifically used to access websites on the internet. There are many browsers – some of the most popular are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. When you get a new computer device that accesses the internet, a browser may already be installed. A website should look the same regardless of the browser you use, although sometimes there are small differences. Browsers may differ in other ways, for example, the ways they handle bookmarks or how easily they incorporate plugins. People tend to have a preference, so if you don’t like the browser you are working with, you may want to try another.

As we said above, a browser is a computer program used for viewing websites on the internet. A browser extension is a small piece of computer code that can be added on to a browser to provide additional functionality. For example, you may want to visit a website that is written in a foreign language. Your browser alone will display the website in it’s original form, but by using an extension, you may be able to view the website in English. (also see Extension)

A byte is the basic unit of digital size. File sizes are measured in bytes, and file transmission speeds are measured in bytes per second. A byte is approximately equal to a single character. Because bytes are so small, describing file sizes can use some very large numbers. Therefore computer science uses the following measurements:

• Kilobytes (kb) – 1, 024 bytes. Only used for very small files.
• Megabytes (mb) – 1,024 kilobytes. Many documents and images are measured in megabytes
• Gigabyte – (gb) – 1,024 megabytes. Used for large files, like longer videos and movies. Some smaller devices may have storage capacity measured in gigabytes.
• Terabyte – (tb) – 1,024 gigabytes. Used for extremely large files like databases and archives. Also used for storage capacity of most computers.

A cache is a group of files that are saved when you use your internet browser. The purpose of saving parts of the website on your computer is so they will load faster the next time you go to that website. If a website has a lot of pictures or data, (or if your computer is older) it may load slowly the first time. In later viewing the computer will use files from the cache so that it doesn’t have to load the website from scratch every time.

Canva is an online graphic design tool that allows users to create flyers, social media posts, and even family history charts online, without needing fancy design software. It’s fairly intuitive for first time users, and has AI functionality built in to help create custom images. There are both free and paid versions.

A cell can mean more than one thing, depending on context. There is, of course, a cell phone, which uses wireless internet or wifi (wireless fidelity) to operate. A cell can also refer to a single unit or block in a spreadsheet. Each cell is referred to by it’s address, which is a combination of the column and row it inhabits. For example, the cell outlined in blue in this Google Sheets illustration is B3, because it is in column B, row 3:

A chatbot is a specific type of Bot that can take in instruction in normal sentences (instead of computer code) and perform many repetitive and mundane tasks. Chatbots like ChatGPT are helpful tools in transcribing, translating and analyzing data. They can also be used to create both written documents and visual art.

Chatbot instructions are called “prompts“. An example prompt might be: “Translate this sentence into English: Registri dello stato civile di Sorrento (Napoli), 1901-1929” The response from the chatbot is “Civil status records of Sorrento (Naples), 1901-1929”

Chat GPT is a specific type of AI (Artificial Intelligence) computer program. The “Chat” part of the name comes from the programs ability to “talk” in regular sentences instead of lines of computer code. If you’ve seen any webinars or articles on ChatGPT you’ll know that you can ask a question in regular English (or whatever language you’re using) and the program will respond in the same way. The words or sentence that you put in is called a prompt. GPT stands for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer”, which is a fancy way of saying that the creators of the program used a very large amounts of data to teach the AI program how to respond.

A chromebook is a specific type of laptop computer. All retail computers have a master computer program called an operating system or OS. Most consumer laptops either have a Windows OS or macOS (Macbooks). Chromebooks use a third type of OS created by Google specifically for these devices.

Chromebooks are very useful for specific tasks and not so much for others. They are physically light and fairly small, which makes them ideal to take on a research trip or to a conference. They connect easily to the internet, and are good if you save all your documents “in the cloud“. The downside is that they do not have a lot of space for files or programs, so if you’re not connected to the internet, you won’t have a lot of space to store data.

Every computer file needs a storage location for future access. In the 1980s, personal computers primarily used local storage, meaning files were kept on the computer in your home. If that computer was damaged, the files were lost. People started using external storage like floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, and USB Drives , but these were cumbersome and only accessible at home.

Cloud storage changed this by allowing files to be stored on remote servers, accessed via the internet. Companies like Google and Amazon provide these services, offering constant backups to prevent data loss. This means you can access your files from anywhere with an wi-fi connection, even on smartphones.

However, cloud storage has its downsides. Your files are on someone else’s server, so without internet access, you can’t reach them. There are also privacy concerns, as companies control your data and their policies could change. It’s a trade-off between convenience and potential risk.

Code is simply a list of instructions that tell a computer what to do, in a format (or language) that the computer can understand. There are a number of different coding languages, just like there are many human languages. Some well-known examples are C++, Java and Python.

To code, or coding, is simply the act of writing computer code.

In a spreadsheet, columns run vertically while rows run horizontally. Every cell in a spreadsheet is referred to by a combination of it’s column and row address. For example, the highlighted cell in the image below is B3 (column B, row 3)

A comment is a short message that you can sometimes leave on a webpage to give the author feedback on your reactions. Usually the webpage is an article or a blog post. It’s very similar to writing a “letter to the editor” for a magazine or newspaper.

Comment functionality must be available in order for you to submit one. Some website owners choose not to use comments. Others may only allow comments on specific pages.

You can comment on the articles on our blog! Go check it out and let us know what you think!

When you visit a website, a small file called a cookie is stored on your computer. This file remembers your preferences, login details, and what you’ve looked at, so the next time you visit, the website can provide a more personalized experience. Cookies can be helpful, but they also can be intrusive. Check out our blog article for everything you need to know about setting and deleting your cookies.

A data breach occurs when confidential information is exposed, losing its privacy. This can happen accidentally or through deliberate attacks, typically by external hackers or groups aiming for political or financial gain.

A database is a collection of information that’s organized for easy searching and retrieval. The information in a database can be text, images, sounds, or anything else that can be saved and organized. An old fashioned card catalog is a type of pre-computer database. Common genealogy databases include US Census information or the UK’s BMD data.

Desktop may mean one of two things:

1. It can mean a traditional computer setup (computer, monitor, keyboard & mouse) instead of a laptop.
2. It can also mean the desktop of the computer, which is traditionally what you see when you first log on to your computer, before you turn on any programs. Here is an example of what a computer desktop looks like.

When you’re researching family history, small marks can make a big difference!
Diacritics are the little symbols added to letters—like accents (é), tildes (ñ), umlauts (ö), and cedillas (ç). They change how a letter is pronounced and sometimes even the meaning of a word or name.
In genealogy, diacritics are more than just “fancy spelling.” They can:
– Preserve accuracy – Keeping original spelling in your family tree respects the cultural and linguistic identity of your ancestors.
– Improve searches – Many databases treat “Jose” and “José” differently. Using the correct diacritics can help you find records you might otherwise miss.
– Clarify meaning – A single accent mark can distinguish between two completely different names in some languages.

To use a diacritic that is not present on your keyboard, you may need to look under the “Insert” or “Symbol” command for your program.

Discord is a computer program that is used for text chatting and voice-only or video calls with friends or those with whom you share a common interest. Once you have a discord account you can sign up for groups according to your needs or interests. Discord was originally a program used most commonly by computer gamers, but has grown in popularity to include companies, hobbyists and special interest groups to connect and communicate. Discord can be used on many types of devices including computers and smartphones.

A dot is the smallest unit a printer can print. When scanners and digital cameras became popular, they took pictures in dots per inch format. The number of dots the printer was able to print in a 1″ by 1″ square affected the accuracy of the printout, with higher numbers of dots allowing greater accuracy. The concept is now used by some scanners and digital cameras when capturing images and storing them.

Doc is short for document. It can mean the generic form of document, which is generally a text file. Or it can specifically mean a file in Microsoft Word, which calls the text file a “document file”. You can determine this by the context of the conversation, but don’t be afraid to ask for specifics.

A file that ends in “.doc” or “.docx” is a document that has been created with Microsoft Word, a text writing programs. Documents in Microsoft Word can be edited by other people unless advanced settings are changed or a password is specified. Under normal circumstances, if you create and share a .doc file, be careful to keep an original for yourself. An example of a .doc file is examplefile.doc or examplefile.docx.

Downloading is the action of moving data (a file or multiple files) from one computer to another. You can download files from your email program, which are stored at the large computers for your email service (Google, AOL, etc.) or from a shared larger computer or server to a single user computer – something you might do when saving a file from FamilySearch or Ancestry to your own computer. It is very important to know and trust the person or company that gives you the download. Fake downloads are a popular way viruses and other damaging files can get on your computer.

Dropbox is a popular service that you can use to save (or “back up”) your files to a computer at another location. It is considered cloud storage because you save your files via the internet to another physical location, instead of having them on your local computer.

DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is a way of connecting to the internet via high-speed telephone lines.

An e-book is a book that has been published in a digital format and can be read on several types of devices including e-readers, computers, tablets and smartphones. Most popular new books are published in a digital format at the same time that they are released on paper.

It’s important to note that e-books are available from major online booksellers, but also can be borrowed from local libraries and free online repositories like Project Gutenberg and the Internet Archive.

As genealogists, we spend a lot of time online—researching records, building trees, and communicating with family. But have you ever wondered how your sensitive data (like DNA results or family documents) stays safe as it travels across the internet? That’s where encryption comes in.

Encryption is like putting your information in a locked box before sending it through the digital mail. Only the person with the correct key can unlock and read it. Encryption is set up by website developers when they create or update their sites.

Sites that begin with https:// use encryption to protect your information while it’s being transmitted. That little padlock icon in your browser’s address bar? That’s a sign you’re on a secure, encrypted connection.

Sharing DNA files? Storing research notes in the cloud? 📨Emailing scanned records?
All of these activities can involve sensitive data—and encryption helps keep it safe from prying eyes.

So next time you upload a GEDCOM or download a census record, remember: encryption is your research’s silent bodyguard.

Email is short for “electronic mail” It’s a way of sending messages from one computer (or device) to another. You need an email computer program and a connection to the internet to send emails. Some popular email programs include Gmail, AOLMail, or Microsoft Outlook.

An email signature is a section of images or text that some people and businesses put below (or instead of) their name, at the bottom of their email. You can usually create your own signature by going into the Settings portion of your email program.

As an example, our email signature looks like this:

An e-reader is a computer device that is specifically created for storing and reading books and magazines. Some e-readers are put out by book sellers, and the computer programs on them work best with the books that they sell. Depending on the model, they may have limited internet browsing capabilities or other features, but their main purpose is for reading books. Some common e-readers are Kindle (Amazon) and Nook (Barnes and Noble).

Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet computer program that is used by individuals and businesses worldwide. Genealogists use it to keep records organized, create research forms, and do DNA analysis.

An extension can mean a few things:

• A browser extension is a small piece of computer code that can be added on to a browser to provide additional functionality.

• A file extension is the last few characters of the full file name, that designates what type of a file it is. It is always preceded by a period. Examples:

• examplefile.pdf is an Adobe PDF file

• examplefile.xls and examplefile.xlsx are Microsoft Excel files

• examplefile.jpg is a jpg file (type of an image file)

An .exe file is a file extension (end of a file name) that is used to start a computer program running. If you want to install new software, you will probably start by opening a file with this ending. It is very important that you not run or open these files on your computer unless you know what they are, as they can add or remove things from your computer.

FaceTime is a video calling app (computer program) that is specifically used on iPhones.

In general, facial recognition refers to a type of computer program that can scan photographs, video or live feeds, and recognize the facial features in the image. Further programs can compare these images to each other to determine if two pictures are of the same person. This functionality is used by security programs, law enforcement, and now – genealogy. Check out Related Faces to see the ways that facial recognition can help you identify people in your photographs.

FAQ stands for “Frequently Asked Questions”. Many websites that have intricate or extensive information will have them. As an example, here is the the FAQ page for the US Census Bureau.

Favorites are a list of items that our devices keep track of so that it’s easy for us to access them again. For example, we can keep track of favorite bookmarks in our internet browser programs, favorite files on our computers, favorite people on Facebook, etc.

A field is a section of a form. There are different types of fields: text fields for inputting words, signature fields for…well, signatures, and many others. A field may have a character or word limit, meaning that you can’t put more than the form allows.

A file extension is the last few characters of the full file name, that designates what type of a file it is. It is always preceded by a period. Examples:

examplefile.pdf is an Adobe PDF file

examplefile.xls and examplefile.xlsx are Microsoft Excel files

examplefile.jpg and examplefile.jpeg are image files

A file template is a pre-designed document or form that serves as a starting point for creating new documents or forms. They are very useful for genealogists, who often need to capture the same information multiple times. Just like with a paper form, it provides a standardized structure, layout, and often content placeholders that you can fill in or customize for a specific purpose.

Many genealogy sites have templates you can use for free or a nominal cost. You can also create your own templates in software programs like Microsoft Word or Excel, and Google Docs or Sheets. Doing this makes it easier to stay organized! Just create the original file in the way that you need it, and then save it. Make a new copy for each time you need the file.

Just like in a file cabinet, folders are digital containers that you put files in. You can have folders on your computer for your files, folders for your bookmarks on your web browser, and in a host of other places. You can even put folders inside other folders. They are crucial to keeping you organized when doing your research.

A filter can have one of two meanings:

• In digital photography, a filter is a way to modify the colors of an image. For example, a sepia filter can make a modern photo seem older. There are many choices of filters available, depending on the photo program you chose.
• When using spreadsheets, a filter can help you organize a large column of data. For example, if a column contains many rows of US addresses, you can filter to only show those from California, or only those within a specific zip code.

A firewall is like a security guard for your computer or network. It monitors and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Think of it as a barrier that keeps out unwanted visitors—like hackers or malicious software—while allowing trusted sources to pass through. This helps protect your sensitive data and keeps your digital environment safe.

For genealogists, a firewall ensures that the personal and historical information you gather stays secure, safeguarding your research and your clients’ privacy.

An online form is similar to a paper one in that it is something to fill out. There may be different sections (called Fields) for different information.

Freeware is software provided to the public for free. While it’s available at no cost, it still holds a copyright; the owners are just offering it without a fee.

A file with the extension .ged is a gedcom file. It’s the standard file type used by to save family tree files. This allows users to easily move family tree files from one site to another. An example is: examplefile.ged.

A gigabyte is a unit of measurement used to measure the size of computer files. One gigabyte (GB) is equal to:

• 1,073,741,824 bytes, or

• 1,048,576 kilobytes, or

• 1,024 megabytes

GoPro is a company that makes small, wearable video cameras. They are often used by sports enthusiasts, travelers and anyone who needs to take pictures or videos hands-free. There is an entire subset of videos on Youtube devoted to GoPro videos taken by adventurers.

The Google company was originally created to support and publish the Google internet search program. It became so successful, that “to Google” something became a normal part of the English language. Since then, the Google company has gone on to create a myriad of software programs like Gmail and hardware, including Chromebook tablets and Pixel brand smartphones.

Google Docs is an online word document creation program. It is free to use for individuals, and has functionality similar to other word processing programs. It’s great for writing research notes, reports, or any other times you have a lot of text to save.

Google Meet is an an online video calling site, similar to Zoom or Microsoft Teams. As per Google in 2024: “Anyone with a Google Account can create a video meeting, invite up to 100 participants, and meet for up to 60 minutes per meeting at no cost.”

Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet creation program, similar to Microsoft Excel. It is free to use for individuals, and has functionality similar to other spreadsheet programs. It’s good for creating lists, research forms, and anything else where you need to keep data organized.

Google Workplace is the current name for the group of Google productivity and organization programs. It includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Google Calendar, Google Chat, and Google Sites.

Did you know that “grok” is both a noun and a verb? You may have heard of Grok (capital G), the AI platform that works with X-formerly known as Twitter. You can access it either through X or through it’s standalone site. But “to grok” is a verb. To grok something is to fully grasp it, often after thinking it through or seeing it in context. When you grok a concept, it clicks—you can explain it, apply it, and use it confidently. Why it matters (especially in tech & genealogy): You don’t just want to use a tool or follow steps—you want to grok what the data is telling you, how a search works, or why a result appears. That’s where real skill (and fewer mistakes) come from.