| RADIUS | Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service | Checks who you are and whether to let you into the network. | Security | Like the bouncer at the entrance of a club. | |
| RAID | Redundant Array of Independent Disks | Combines multiple disks into one array for speed or reliability. | General | If one drive dies, data may still be preserved. | |
| RAM | Random Access Memory | Fast memory that stores data only while the computer is on. | General | Everything you're doing right now happens here. | |
| RCE | Remote Code Execution | The ability to execute remote code on a server. | Security | One of the most dangerous vulnerabilities. If this happens, you're in danger. | |
| RDA | Research Data Alliance | An organization developing standards for research data management. | Data | For managing research data. | |
| RDBMS | Relational Database Management System | A database that stores data in tables and supports SQL. | Data | Classic for storing structured data. | SQL |
| RDF | Resource Description Framework | A language for describing resources on the web. | Data | Used in the semantic web. | |
| RDFa | RDF in Attributes | A way to embed RDF data in HTML attributes. | Data | To help search engines better understand content. | RDF |
| RDFS | RDF Schema | A language for describing ontologies based on RDF. | Data | Defines classes and properties. | |
| REST | Representational State Transfer | An architectural style for building APIs. | Architecture | It's like a library where books are arranged on shelves with clear rules: to borrow a book, you use a specific method (GET), to add a new one you use another (POST), to update you use a third (PUT), and to delete you use a fourth (DELETE). No magic, just an agreement on how to access each book. | API |
| RFI | Remote File Inclusion | A vulnerability that allows including a remote file on the server. | Security | A dangerous thing. | |
| RIP | Routing Information Protocol | An old routing protocol. | Network & Infrastructure | Almost obsolete, but legacy systems still remember. R.I.P. — we remember, we mourn... | |
| RMON | Remote Network Monitoring | An extension of SNMP for network monitoring. | Network & Infrastructure | To monitor the network remotely. | SNMP |
| ROI | Return on Investment | Return on investment. | Management & Processes | Shows how much money the project generated. | |
| ROR | Research Organization Registry | A registry of research organizations. | Data | Assigns unique identifiers. | |
| RSA | Rivest-Shamir-Adleman | An asymmetric encryption algorithm. | Security | Used for encryption and signing. | |
| RSTP | Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol | A fast protocol for preventing loops in networks. | Network & Infrastructure | Works faster than STP. | STP |
| RTM | Requirements Traceability Matrix | A requirements traceability matrix. | Management & Processes | Tracks which requirements are implemented in the code. | |