Computing analogies

Concepts in computing are sometimes poorly understood. The following fanciful (and unavoidably imperfect) analogies may help:

Computer - a building.

Internet - the world outside the building.

Internet (or network) connection - a door into the building.

World Wide Web - all the roads and sidewalks in the world.

web browser - a magic car with a chauffer, instant transportation to most places in the world.

website - a store, a library, etc. that can be visited by car.

cookie - a stamp printed on you when you visit a store, etc., used to identify you as a repeat customer, and possibly profile you.

email - a package. Packages can be sent almost instantaneously to anyone in the world for free.

spam - an unsolicited package from a direct-marketing company.

program - a person.

firewall - security guard at a door into a building who can alert the owner when unauthorized persons attempt to enter or leave, and prevent them from doing so.

port scan - when a person turns doorknobs on a building to see if they will open.

virus - a stranger (often a vandal or burglar) who tries to sneak into a building through use of a disguise, hiding in a package, etc.

anti-virus program[?] - a security guard trained to recognize disguises, etc., and arrest and/or kill(!) sneaky strangers.

user - a god(?).

display, speaker - the senses of a god (vision, hearing).

keyboard, mouse - the body of a god, through which actions are performed.

key logger - a spy who can secretly record all actions that occur inside a building.

file - an object, such as a music recording, a movie, a car, a person, etc. Perfect copies of objects can (magically) be made for free.

file-sharing network - a place where gods meet to allow others to (magically) perfectly duplicate any objects they bring along, and keep the duplicates.

encryption cipher - a trunk with a lock. It is believed that a strong trunk cannot be broken into, nor opened without the key.

symmetric encryption - use of a trunk with a lock that requires the same key to lock and unlock it.

secret key - key used to lock and unlock the trunk.

asymmetric encryption - use of a trunk with a special lock that requires a pair of keys: when it is locked with one, it can only be unlocked using a different, related key.

public key - one of a pair of keys (call it "A") to a special lock on a trunk. Copies of this key are made widely available.

private key - the other of a pair of keys (call it "B") to the special lock on a trunk. Copies of this key are kept private.

message digest - fingerprint of a person. Fingerprints can also (magically) be made of any type of object.

digital signature - an object's fingerprint locked in a small trunk with special lock using key "B". It is sent along with the object. The object's authenticity can be verified by anyone with a copy of key "A" by unlocking the trunk and confirming that the object's fingerprint agrees with the one that was locked in the trunk. (Only someone with a copy of key "B" could have locked it in the trunk.)

Editorial Note: Analogies added to this article should be consistent with those already here. Otherwise, other self-consistent sets of analogies should be appended to the article.

Common misspelling and questions (FAQ)

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