Term
|
Definition
| The smallest unit of data a digital computer can recognize; represented by a 0 or a 1. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Approximately 1 thousand bytes (1,024 bytes to be precise). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Approximately 1 million bytes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Approximately 1 billion bytes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Approximately 1 trillion bytes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Approximately 1,000 terabytes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The numbering system that represents all numbers using 10 symbols (0–9). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The numbering system that represents all numbers using just two symbols (0 and 1). |
|
|
Term
| ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) |
|
Definition
| A fixed-length, binary coding system used to represent text-based data for computer processing on many types of computers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An international coding system that can be used to represent text-based data in any written language. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A piece of hardware that supplies input to a computer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An input device containing numerous keys that can be used to input letters, numbers, and other symbols. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An input device that moves an on-screen pointer, such as an arrow, to allow the user to select objects on the screen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A common pointing device that the user slides along a flat surface to move a pointer around the screen and clicks its buttons to make selections. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An input device that is used to write electronically on the display screen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A display device that is touched with the finger to issue commands or otherwise provide input to the connected device. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An input device that reads printed text and graphics and transfers them to a computer in digital form. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A machine-readable code that represents data as a set of bars. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An input device that reads barcodes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A device containing a tiny chip and a radio antenna that is attached to an object so it can be identified using RFID technology. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A device used to read RFID tags. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A device used to input biometric data, such as an individual’s fingerprint or voice. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An input device that takes pictures and records them as digital images. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The main box of a computer that houses the CPU, motherboard, memory, and other devices. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The main circuit board of a computer, located inside the system unit, to which all computer system components connect. |
|
|
Term
| Central processing unit (CPU) |
|
Definition
| The chip located on the motherboard of a computer that performs the processing for a computer. Also called the processor. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A central processing unit (CPU) for a personal computer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A CPU that contains the processing components or core of more than one processor in a single CPU. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A CPU that contains two separate processing cores. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A CPU that contains four separate processing cores. |
|
|
Term
| Random access memory (RAM ) |
|
Definition
| Chips connected to the motherboard that provide a temporary location for the computer to hold data and program instructions while they are needed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A characteristic of memory or storage in which data is not retained when the power to the computer is turned off. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A piece of hardware that presents the results of processing in a form the user can understand. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An output device that contains a viewing screen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A display device for a desktop computer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A display device built into a notebook computer, netbook, UMPC, or other device. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The smallest colorable area in an electronic image, such as a scanned image, a digital photograph, or an image displayed on a display screen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An output device that produces output on paper. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An output device that uses toner powder and technology similar to that of a photocopier to produce images on paper. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An output device that sprays droplets of ink to produce images on paper. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Output devices that provide audio output. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The part of a storage system where data is stored, such as a DVD disc. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A piece of hardware, such as a DVD drive, into which a storage medium is inserted to be read from or written to. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The primary storage system for most computers; used to store most programs and data used with a computer |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hard drive consisting of one or more metal magnetic disks permanently sealed, with an access mechanism and read/write heads, inside its drive. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hard drive that uses flash memory media instead of metal magnetic hard disks. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hard drive that contains both a large amount of flash memory and magnetic hard disks. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of storage medium read from and written to using a laser beam. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A low capacity (typically 650 MB) optical disc that is often used to deliver music and software, as well as to store user data. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A medium capacity (typically 4.7 MB or 8.5 GB) optical disc that is often used to deliver software and movies, as well as to store user data. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A high-capacity (typically 25 GB or 50 GB) that is often used to deliver high-definition movies, as well as to store user data. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Nonvolatile memory chips that can be used for storage by the computer or user; can be built into a computer or a storage medium. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small, rectangular flash memory medium, such as a CompactFlash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) card; often used with digital cameras and other portable devices. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small storage device that plugs into a USB port and contains flash memory media. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A storage device that is not directly connected to the computer being used, such as one accessed through a local network or the Internet. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Remote storage devices accessed via the Internet; also called cloud storage. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A credit card-sized piece of plastic containing a chip and other circuitry that can store data. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A piece of hardware that allows one device to communicate with other devices via a network or the Internet. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A network interface, such as an expansion card or external network adapter. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A device that enables a computer to communicate over analog networking media, such as connecting to the Internet via telephone lines. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An agreement, either included in a software package or displayed on the screen during installation, that specifies the conditions under which a buyer of the program can use it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Software that must be installed on a computer in order to be used. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Software that is delivered on demand via the Web; also referred to as Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloudware. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A feature found in recent versions of Microsoft Office that uses tabs to organize groups of related commands. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Changing the content of a document, such as inserting or deleting words. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Changing the appearance of a document, such as changing the margins or font size. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Something stored on a storage medium, such as a program, a document, or an image. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A name given to a file by the user; it is used to retrieve the file at a later time. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A named place on a storage medium into which files can be stored to keep the files stored on that medium organized. |
|
|
