About Software Dictionary
A small library for big software words.
Every software term gets one page that starts with a one-sentence answer, then adds just enough detail to make it stick.
- books
- 15
- pages
- 666
- comparisons
- 98
- roadmaps
- 14
- code examples
- 617
- reader questions
- 1954
What's inside
One library, many ways in: read a book cover to cover, look up a single word, or test what stuck.
Books and pages
One book for each area of software. Every page explains one term and has its own page number, like a real book.
Open the libraryEvery term, A to Z
The index at the back of the book: every page in alphabetical order, with the book it lives in.
Browse the indexSide by side
The pairs people mix up most, like SQL vs NoSQL or merge vs rebase, laid out on facing pages with a table.
Compare termsRoadmaps
Reading routes across books, from how the web works to system design, in an order that builds up.
Pick a roadmapQuizzes and flashcards
Read a definition and pick the term, or flip cards and check yourself. Every book has its own quiz.
Test yourselfDaily review
Pages you've answered come back just before you'd forget them: soon after a miss, further apart when you know them.
Open the reviewCheat sheets
Each book on a few printed pages: every term's one-line definition and its main points. Print it or save it as a PDF.
See a cheat sheetOffline reading
Pages you read are kept in your browser, and you can save a whole book to read without a connection.
Saved pages
Anatomy of a page
Every page follows the same order, so you always know where to look.
- 1In shortOne sentence you can quote on its own.
- 2What is it?A plain explanation, often with an everyday analogy.
- 3Key takeawaysThe few points worth remembering.
- 4ExampleA short code sample, highlighted and ready to copy.
- 5Readers askAnswers to the questions people actually search.
- 6See alsoRelated pages, in this book or another.
How every definition is written
Answer first
Every page opens with an “In short” definition before anything else.
Plain language
Jargon is explained where it appears, so no page needs another page first.
Show, don't just tell
Short, realistic code examples show what the idea looks like in practice.
Connected
Pages point to each other, so you can follow a concept wherever it leads.
Neutral
Definitions describe concepts, not products or vendors.
Dated
Every page shows when it was last updated, so you know how fresh it is.
Your reading stays with you
Software Dictionary remembers what you read so you can pick up where you left off, but that memory lives in your browser, not with us.
- Reading history, quiz scores and saved pages are kept in this browser's storage.
- No accounts, and no cookies unless you allow Google Analytics.
- Your reading history is never sent anywhere, so we can't see what you read.
- Pause tracking or clear everything at any time.
Open to people and machines
Every page is static and fast, with schema.org markup. Search engines, AI assistants and feed readers get the same content in formats made for them.
Questions about Software Dictionary
Is Software Dictionary free?
Yes. Every page, comparison, roadmap, quiz and cheat sheet is free to read, with no account and no paywall.
Do you track what I read?
Your reading history, quiz scores and saved pages stay in your browser and are never sent anywhere. We count visits to see which pages help: the page, the country and the type of device, never your name or email. The privacy page explains exactly how, and lets you turn Google Analytics off.
Can I quote a definition?
Yes. Every page starts with a one-sentence definition written to be quoted on its own; please link back to the page you quote.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Pages you've read are kept automatically, and each book has a “Save for offline” button that keeps the whole book in your browser.
Which languages is it in?
English and Turkish. Every page exists in both, and you can switch languages from the footer on any page.
Do you use AI to write the pages?
We use AI tools for research, drafting and checking, but they never publish anything. Every page is read, edited and approved by a person before it goes live. The editorial policy page explains each step.
How up to date are the pages?
Each page shows the date it was last updated, right under its title, so you can always see how fresh it is.
Can I suggest a term or a fix?
Yes. Use the contact page, or the “Suggest an edit” link at the end of every page; it opens your email app with the message ready.
- Programming
- Web
- Backend & APIs
- Databases
- DevOps & Cloud
- Version Control
- Security
- AI & ML
- Architecture
- Testing
- Networking
- Data Structures
- Operating Systems
- Languages
- Teams & Process
Pick a book and start reading.
666 pages across 15 books, last updated October 5, 2026.