Test your knowledge of computers, programming languages, internet history, gadgets, and the latest in digital innovation. Ideal for coders, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how the digital world works — from transistors to artificial intelligence.
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Technology Quiz: All Questions & Answers
Browse all 50 technology trivia questions with the correct answers and a detailed explanation for each. Use it as a study guide, an answer key, or to read up before you play the timed quiz above. Questions are picked at random each round, so every playthrough is different.
1. What does HTML stand for?
- A.Hyper Trainer Markup Language
- B.HyperText Markup Language✓ Correct
- C.High Text Modeling Language
- D.Hyperlink Text Module
Answer: HyperText Markup Language. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language for creating web pages. It uses 'tags' to structure content on the web. HTML5 is the latest major version, adding support for audio, video and interactive elements natively.
2. Who co-founded Apple Inc.?
- A.Bill Gates
- B.Steve Jobs✓ Correct
- C.Jeff Bezos
- D.Larry Page
Answer: Steve Jobs. Apple was co-founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976. Wozniak designed the first Apple computers, while Jobs focused on design and marketing. Apple became the world's first $1 trillion company in 2018.
3. What does CSS stand for?
- A.Computer Style Sheets
- B.Creative Style System
- C.Cascading Style Sheets✓ Correct
- D.Coded Syntax Styling
Answer: Cascading Style Sheets. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to describe the presentation of HTML documents — controlling layout, colors, fonts and animations. The 'cascading' refers to how multiple style rules are applied with a defined priority order.
4. Which company developed the Android operating system?
- A.Apple
- B.Microsoft
- C.Google✓ Correct
- D.Samsung
Answer: Google. Android was originally developed by Android Inc., which Google acquired in 2005. Google released the first commercial Android device in 2008. Today, Android powers over 70% of the world's smartphones, making it the most widely used mobile OS.
5. What does RAM stand for?
- A.Read Access Memory
- B.Random Access Memory✓ Correct
- C.Rapid Array Module
- D.Runtime Allocated Memory
Answer: Random Access Memory. RAM (Random Access Memory) is a computer's short-term memory, used to store data that is actively being used or processed. Unlike storage drives, RAM loses its data when the power is turned off — it is 'volatile' memory.
6. Which programming language runs natively in web browsers?
- A.Python
- B.Java
- C.JavaScript✓ Correct
- D.Ruby
Answer: JavaScript. JavaScript is the only programming language that runs natively in web browsers without a plugin. It was created by Brendan Eich in just 10 days in 1995. Today it is the world's most widely-used programming language and runs on servers via Node.js too.
7. What does GPU stand for?
- A.General Processing Unit
- B.Graphics Processing Unit✓ Correct
- C.Graphical Performance Utility
- D.Global Parallel Unit
Answer: Graphics Processing Unit. A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized chip designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate image creation. Modern GPUs with thousands of cores are also used for AI training, scientific computing and cryptocurrency mining.
8. Who founded Amazon?
- A.Elon Musk
- B.Tim Cook
- C.Jeff Bezos✓ Correct
- D.Mark Zuckerberg
Answer: Jeff Bezos. Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, starting it as an online bookstore from his garage. It grew into the world's largest e-commerce platform and cloud computing provider (AWS). Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021, with Andy Jassy taking over.
9. What protocol is used to send emails?
- A.FTP
- B.HTTP
- C.SMTP✓ Correct
- D.SSH
Answer: SMTP. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for sending email messages across networks. For receiving email, separate protocols are used: POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).
10. What does URL stand for?
- A.Universal Reference Link
- B.Uniform Resource Locator✓ Correct
- C.Unique Record Location
- D.Unlimited Resource Link
Answer: Uniform Resource Locator. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a resource on the internet, such as a web page, image or file. It includes the protocol (https://), the domain (example.com), and optionally a path (/page) and query parameters.
11. What does CPU stand for?
- A.Computer Personal Unit
- B.Central Processing Unit✓ Correct
- C.Core Power Unit
- D.Central Program Utility
Answer: Central Processing Unit. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the primary component that carries out a computer's instructions. Often called the 'brain' of the computer, it performs the calculations and logic that run programs.
12. Who co-founded Microsoft alongside Paul Allen?
- A.Steve Jobs
- B.Bill Gates✓ Correct
- C.Larry Ellison
- D.Michael Dell
Answer: Bill Gates. Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. The company's Windows operating system and Office software became dominant worldwide, making Gates one of the richest people on the planet for decades.
13. What does 'AI' stand for in technology?
- A.Automated Input
- B.Artificial Intelligence✓ Correct
- C.Advanced Internet
- D.Applied Information
Answer: Artificial Intelligence. AI stands for Artificial Intelligence — the simulation of human intelligence by machines. Modern AI systems can recognise images, understand language and generate text, powering tools from chatbots to self-driving cars.
14. Which company created the iPhone?
- A.Samsung
- B.Google
- C.Apple✓ Correct
- D.Nokia
Answer: Apple. Apple created the iPhone, first unveiled by Steve Jobs in 2007. Its touchscreen design revolutionised the mobile phone industry and helped make smartphones a part of everyday life.
15. What does 'USB' stand for?
- A.Universal System Bus
- B.Universal Serial Bus✓ Correct
- C.United Serial Backup
- D.Ultra Speed Buffer
Answer: Universal Serial Bus. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, a standard for connecting devices and transferring data and power. Introduced in the 1990s, it replaced a confusing mix of earlier ports with a single, universal connector.
16. What is the current name of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter?
- A.Threads
- B.X✓ Correct
- C.Bluesky
- D.Meta
Answer: X. Twitter was rebranded as 'X' in 2023 after being acquired by Elon Musk. The platform retained its core function of short public posts, formerly called 'tweets'.
17. What does Wi-Fi allow devices to connect to wirelessly?
- A.A printer only
- B.The internet / a network✓ Correct
- C.A television
- D.The electricity grid
Answer: The internet / a network. Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that lets devices connect to the internet and to local networks using radio waves, removing the need for physical cables.
18. Who is the billionaire CEO behind both Tesla and SpaceX?
- A.Jeff Bezos
- B.Elon Musk✓ Correct
- C.Bill Gates
- D.Sundar Pichai
Answer: Elon Musk. Elon Musk leads the electric-car maker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX. He is known for ambitious goals such as accelerating the shift to sustainable energy and making human life multiplanetary.
19. What does 'VPN' stand for?
- A.Virtual Public Network
- B.Verified Private Node
- C.Virtual Private Network✓ Correct
- D.Variable Protocol Node
Answer: Virtual Private Network. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, encrypted connection over the internet. It is used to protect privacy and to access networks or content as if from a different location.
20. Which company develops the Windows operating system?
- A.Apple
- B.IBM
- C.Microsoft✓ Correct
- D.Oracle
Answer: Microsoft. Microsoft develops Windows, the most widely used desktop operating system in the world. First released in 1985, it has gone through many versions, including the popular Windows XP, 7, 10 and 11.
21. The binary number system, used by computers, is based on how many digits?
- A.Two✓ Correct
- B.Eight
- C.Ten
- D.Sixteen
Answer: Two. Binary uses just two digits, 0 and 1, representing 'off' and 'on' states in a computer's circuits. All data in a computer — text, images and programs — is ultimately stored and processed in binary.
22. What does 'PDF' stand for?
- A.Personal Data File
- B.Portable Document Format✓ Correct
- C.Print Document File
- D.Public Display Format
Answer: Portable Document Format. PDF stands for Portable Document Format, a file type created by Adobe in 1993. It preserves a document's layout and formatting across different devices and operating systems.
23. Which popular programming language shares its name with a type of snake?
- A.Cobra
- B.Python✓ Correct
- C.Viper
- D.Java
Answer: Python. Python is a widely used programming language famous for its readable syntax. Despite the name, its creator Guido van Rossum actually named it after the British comedy group Monty Python, not the snake.
24. In which year was the first iPhone released?
- A.2005
- B.2007✓ Correct
- C.2010
- D.2003
Answer: 2007. The first iPhone was released in 2007. Its combination of a touchscreen, internet browser and media player in one device transformed the mobile phone industry and kick-started the smartphone era.
25. Which company owns the video-sharing platform YouTube?
- A.Meta
- B.Google✓ Correct
- C.Amazon
- D.Microsoft
Answer: Google. Google acquired YouTube in 2006 for about $1.65 billion. YouTube has since grown into the world's largest video platform, with billions of users watching content every day.
26. What is the general term for malicious software designed to harm or exploit devices?
- A.Firmware
- B.Malware✓ Correct
- C.Freeware
- D.Shareware
Answer: Malware. Malware (malicious software) is a broad term covering viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware and more. It is designed to damage systems, steal data or gain unauthorised access to devices.
27. Who founded the social network Facebook?
- A.Jack Dorsey
- B.Mark Zuckerberg✓ Correct
- C.Evan Spiegel
- D.Reid Hoffman
Answer: Mark Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004 while a student at Harvard University. The platform grew into one of the world's largest social networks, and its parent company was later renamed Meta.
28. What does 'HTTP' stand for?
- A.HyperText Transfer Protocol✓ Correct
- B.High Transfer Text Process
- C.Hyperlink Transmission Tool Protocol
- D.Host Transfer Tracking Protocol
Answer: HyperText Transfer Protocol. HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the web, used to load web pages. Its secure version, HTTPS, encrypts the connection to protect users' data.
29. In computing, what does 'the cloud' generally refer to?
- A.Weather-tracking software
- B.Remote servers accessed over the internet✓ Correct
- C.A type of screen display
- D.A wireless keyboard
Answer: Remote servers accessed over the internet. 'The cloud' refers to remote servers, accessed over the internet, that store data and run applications. Cloud services let people use computing power and storage without owning the physical hardware.
30. Which company manufactures the PlayStation game console?
- A.Microsoft
- B.Nintendo
- C.Sony✓ Correct
- D.Sega
Answer: Sony. Sony manufactures the PlayStation, first launched in 1994. It became one of the best-selling video game console brands in history, competing with Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's consoles.
31. What does 'OS' stand for in computing?
- A.Online Service
- B.Operating System✓ Correct
- C.Open Source
- D.Output Signal
Answer: Operating System. OS stands for Operating System — the core software that manages a computer's hardware and runs applications. Examples include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
32. Which unit of digital storage is equal to roughly 1,000 megabytes?
- A.Kilobyte
- B.Gigabyte✓ Correct
- C.Terabyte
- D.Petabyte
Answer: Gigabyte. A gigabyte (GB) is about 1,000 megabytes (or 1,024 in binary terms). Storage sizes climb from bytes to kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and beyond.
33. Which company developed the AI chatbot ChatGPT?
- A.Google
- B.OpenAI✓ Correct
- C.Meta
- D.Microsoft
Answer: OpenAI. OpenAI developed ChatGPT, launched in late 2022. The conversational AI quickly reached hundreds of millions of users and helped spark a wave of interest in generative artificial intelligence.
34. What does 'GPS' stand for?
- A.General Positioning Service
- B.Global Positioning System✓ Correct
- C.Geographic Path Software
- D.Guided Personal System
Answer: Global Positioning System. GPS (Global Positioning System) is a satellite-based navigation system that lets devices determine their precise location on Earth. Originally built by the US military, it now powers everyday maps and navigation apps.
35. Which is the most widely used search engine in the world?
- A.Bing
- B.Yahoo
- C.Google✓ Correct
- D.DuckDuckGo
Answer: Google. Google is by far the most widely used search engine, handling the large majority of all web searches globally. Founded in 1998, its name has even become a verb for searching online.
36. In computing, what is a 'bug'?
- A.A type of virus
- B.An error or flaw in software✓ Correct
- C.A cooling fan
- D.A network cable
Answer: An error or flaw in software. A 'bug' is an error or flaw in software that causes it to behave incorrectly. The term was popularised after a real moth was found causing a fault in an early computer in 1947.
37. What is the main purpose of a CAPTCHA on websites?
- A.To speed up loading
- B.To distinguish humans from bots✓ Correct
- C.To store passwords
- D.To display ads
Answer: To distinguish humans from bots. A CAPTCHA is a test designed to tell humans and automated bots apart, often by asking users to identify images or distorted text. It helps prevent spam and automated abuse of online services.
38. Which company manufactures the Galaxy line of smartphones?
- A.Apple
- B.Samsung✓ Correct
- C.Huawei
- D.Sony
Answer: Samsung. Samsung, a South Korean company, manufactures the Galaxy line of Android smartphones and tablets. It is one of the largest smartphone makers in the world, competing closely with Apple.
39. What does 'ROM' stand for in computing?
- A.Random Output Memory
- B.Read-Only Memory✓ Correct
- C.Rapid Operation Module
- D.Remote Online Memory
Answer: Read-Only Memory. ROM (Read-Only Memory) stores data that normally cannot be modified, retaining its contents even when the power is off. It is often used to hold a device's startup instructions (firmware).
40. The term 'QWERTY' refers to the layout of which device?
- A.A mouse
- B.A keyboard✓ Correct
- C.A monitor
- D.A printer
Answer: A keyboard. QWERTY is the standard keyboard layout, named after the first six letters on the top row. It was designed in the 1870s for early typewriters and remains the dominant layout today.
41. What does 'IoT' stand for?
- A.Internet of Things✓ Correct
- B.Index of Technology
- C.Input Output Transfer
- D.Internal Operating Tool
Answer: Internet of Things. IoT stands for the Internet of Things — the network of everyday physical objects, such as smart thermostats, lights and wearables, that connect to the internet and exchange data.
42. Which company developed the Chrome web browser?
- A.Mozilla
- B.Google✓ Correct
- C.Microsoft
- D.Apple
Answer: Google. Google developed the Chrome web browser, first released in 2008. Known for its speed and simplicity, it became the most widely used browser in the world.
43. In computer security, what is the main purpose of a 'firewall'?
- A.To cool the processor
- B.To block unauthorised network access✓ Correct
- C.To boost Wi-Fi range
- D.To back up files
Answer: To block unauthorised network access. A firewall monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic, blocking unauthorised access while permitting legitimate communication. It acts as a barrier between a trusted network and untrusted ones like the internet.
44. Bitcoin is the best-known example of what kind of technology?
- A.A search engine
- B.A cryptocurrency✓ Correct
- C.A web browser
- D.An operating system
Answer: A cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, created in 2009, is the first and most famous cryptocurrency — a digital currency secured by cryptography and recorded on a decentralised ledger called the blockchain.
45. What does 'LAN' stand for?
- A.Large Area Node
- B.Local Area Network✓ Correct
- C.Linked Access Node
- D.Logical Address Number
Answer: Local Area Network. LAN stands for Local Area Network — a network that connects computers within a limited area such as a home, office or school. A WAN (Wide Area Network) connects devices over much larger distances.
46. What does 'API' stand for in software development?
- A.Applied Program Index
- B.Application Programming Interface✓ Correct
- C.Automated Process Integration
- D.Advanced Protocol Interface
Answer: Application Programming Interface. An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules that lets different software programs communicate with each other. APIs allow apps to use features or data from other services, like maps or payment systems.
47. Who is often regarded as the world's first computer programmer?
- A.Grace Hopper
- B.Ada Lovelace✓ Correct
- C.Alan Turing
- D.Margaret Hamilton
Answer: Ada Lovelace. Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century mathematician, is often considered the first computer programmer for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed Analytical Engine, writing what is regarded as the first algorithm intended for a machine.
48. Who created the original Linux operating system kernel?
- A.Richard Stallman
- B.Linus Torvalds✓ Correct
- C.Dennis Ritchie
- D.Ken Thompson
Answer: Linus Torvalds. Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel in 1991 and released it as free, open-source software. Linux now powers most of the world's servers, supercomputers and Android smartphones.
49. What does 'HD' stand for when describing screens and video?
- A.Hard Drive
- B.High Definition✓ Correct
- C.Hyper Display
- D.Home Device
Answer: High Definition. HD stands for High Definition, referring to video and displays with greater resolution and clarity than older standard-definition formats. Even higher resolutions include Full HD, 4K and 8K.
50. Which technology provides the secure, shared record-keeping behind cryptocurrencies?
- A.Blockchain✓ Correct
- B.Bluetooth
- C.Broadband
- D.Bandwidth
Answer: Blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralised digital ledger that records transactions across many computers so they cannot easily be altered. It underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and has many other emerging uses.