The New Hacker's Dictionary

This document is a collection of slang terms used by various

subcultures of computer hackers. Though some technical material isincluded for background and flavor, it is not a technical dictionary;

what we describe here is the language hackers use among themselves for

fun, social communication, and technical debate.

The `hacker culture' is actually a loosely networked collection of

subcultures that is nevertheless conscious of some important shared

experiences, shared roots, and shared values. It has its own myths,

heroes, villains, folk epics, in-jokes, taboos, and dreams. Because

hackers as a group are particularly creative people who define

themselves partly by rejection of `normal' values and working habits,

it has unusually rich and conscious traditions for an intentional

culture less than 40 years old.

As usual with slang, the special vocabulary of hackers helps hold

their culture together -- it helps hackers recognize each other's

places in the community and expresses shared values and experiences.

Also as usual, not knowing the slang (or using it inappropriately)

defines one as an outsider, a mundane, or (worst of all in hackish

vocabulary) possibly even a [26]suit. All human cultures use slang in

this threefold way -- as a tool of communication, and of inclusion,

and of exclusion.