(GIF). A graphics file format developed by CompuServe that uses LZW compression and 256 colors. GIF files are widely used on World Wide Web pages because they provide good-quality color images in a format that takes up a small amount of space. The GIF89 version allows one color of an image to be made transparent.

(GUI). An interface that has pictures as well as words on the screen. Originally invented by Xerox, the idea was expanded and popularized by Apple Computers. With windows, icons, pull-down menus, and the mouse, the graphical user interface is easier to learn and work with.

A device that connects two computer networks that use different protocols. It translates between protocols so that computers on the connected networks can exchange data. For example, commercial online services often have gateways for sending e-mail to Internet addresses.

Carl Friedrich Gauss, a German mathematician (1777-1855). He discovered the method of least squares, Gaussian elimination, Gaussian primes, and Gaussian distribution, and made many other contributions to mathematics. The Gauss, a unit of measurement of electromagnetism, was named after him.

Gigabyte; one billion bytes.

One billion bytes. Abbreviated GB, Gbyte or G-byte.

One billion bits. Abbreviated Gb, Gbit and G-bit.

Gigabit. One billion bits.

GigaFLOPS. One billion floating point operations per second.

Playing games. Games played on computers include MUDs, RPGs, 3-D simulation games, etc.