Reference File

Cyberpunk Glossary

A compact glossary of genre terms used across film, games, and cyberpunk culture.

A

#1Augment

A cybernetic enhancement installed to improve physical or mental capability.

#2Arcology

A massive self-contained city-structure where corporations often control daily life.

#3Analog Ghost

Legacy hardware or offline systems that survive outside connected networks.

#4Afterimage

The residual visual trail left by neon signs, holo-ads, and overloaded optics.

C

#5Chrome

Slang for cybernetic body modifications and high-end synthetic implants.

#6Corpo

A corporate actor or culture aligned with megacorporate interests and power.

#7Cyberdeck

A portable computing rig used for deep network operations and intrusions.

#8City Glow

The permanent light haze formed by dense neon, screens, and elevated traffic.

D

#9Data Broker

An intermediary that buys, enriches, and sells behavioral or identity data.

#10Dead Drop

A secure one-way location or endpoint for transfer without direct contact.

#11Deep Net

Restricted network layers not indexed by public systems or search platforms.

#12Drift Zone

A district where law, infrastructure, and grid coverage are unstable.

N

#13Neon Noir

A visual mood blending hard contrast, rain, reflection, and saturated light.

#14Netrunner

An operator skilled in navigating and manipulating complex digital systems.

#15Node Lock

A security condition where an endpoint is isolated until trusted release.

#16Null Signal

An intentional communication blackout to evade tracking and monitoring.

S

#17Sprawl

An endless urban expansion where districts blur into corporate territory.

#18Streetware

Unofficial hardware mods assembled outside licensed supply chains.

#19Synthskin

Engineered artificial skin used on prosthetics and humanoid constructs.

#20Signal Trace

A forensic path used to attribute network activity to an origin point.

"The future is already here. It is just unevenly distributed."

- William Gibson