Computer Vocabulary (Master Set)
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. Mac OS is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface. The original form of what Apple now calls OS X was the integral and unnamed system software first introduced in 1984 with the original Macintosh, and referred to simply as the System software.
Messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of graphical interface operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft.
Computer Cache
In computer science, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster.
PC Card
In computing, PC Card is a form factor peripheral interface designed for laptop computers, superseded by CardBus in 1995 and then ExpressCard in 2003.
Parallel port
In computing, PC Card is a form factor peripheral interface designed for laptop computers, superseded by CardBus in 1995 and then ExpressCard in 2003., A 25-pin port on a computer that can transmit data in parallel, 8 bits at a time, and is usually used with a printer. The names for parallel ports are LPT1 and LPT2
Driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer. A driver typically communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects.
Folder (Directory)
In computing, a folder, catalog (used on the Apple II, the Commodore 128 and some other early home computers as a command for displaying directory contents), or drawer, is a virtual container within a graphical user interface, in which groups of computer files and possibly other directories can be kept and organized.
Serial Port
In computing, a serial port is a serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time (in contrast to a parallel port). Throughout most of the history of personal computers, data transfer through serial ports connected the computer to devices such as terminals and various peripherals.
Scanner
In computing, an image scanner—often abbreviated to just scanner—is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image.
Pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel,(picture element) is a physical point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable element in a display device; so it is the smallest controllable element of a picture represented on the screen.
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM, an acronym of "Compact Disc Read-only memory") is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback.
Browser
A Computing program with a graphical user interface for displaying HTML files, used to navigate the World Wide Web: a Web browser.
Handheld PC/ Palmtop/ Netbook
A Handheld PC, or H/PC for short, is a computer built around a form factor which is smaller than any standard laptop computer. It is sometimes referred to as a Palmtop or Netbook.
Bit
A bit (a contraction of binary digit) is the basic capacity of information in computing and telecommunications; a bit can have the value of either 1 or 0 (one or zero) only.
CPU
A central processing unit (CPU), also referred to as a central processor unit, is the hardware within a computer system or smartphone which carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The term has been in use in the computer industry at least since the early 1960s. The form, design, and implementation of CPUs have changed over the course of their history, but their fundamental operation remains much the same.
Modem
A combined device for modulation and demodulation, for example, between the digital data of a computer and the analog signal of a telephone line. A modem (modulator-demodulator) is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data.
Computer Bug
A computer bug is any problem with a computer, whether caused by software or hardware.
File
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished. Computer files can be considered as the modern counterpart of paper documents which traditionally are kept in offices' and libraries' files, and this is the source of the term.
Font
A computer font (or font) is an electronic data file containing a set of glyphs, characters, or symbols such as dingbats. Although the term font first referred to a set of metal type sorts in one style and size, since the 1990s it is generally used to refer to a scalable set of digital shapes that may be printed at many different sizes.
Icon
A computer icon is a pictogram displayed on a computer screen and used to navigate a computer system or mobile device. The icon itself is a small picture or symbol serving as a quick, "intuitive" representation of a software tool, function or a data file accessible on the system. It functions as an electronic hyperlink or file shortcut to access the program or data. Computer icons, in conjunction with computer windows, menus and a pointing device, form the graphical user interface (GUI) of the computer system, and enable the user to easily and intuitively navigate the system.
Internet
A computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange.
Virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly, but erroneously, used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have a reproductive ability.
Format
A defined structure for the processing, storage, or display of data: a data file in binary format.
Floppy Disc
A flexible removable magnetic disk, typically encased in hard plastic, used for storing data. Also called diskette.
Hard Drive
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information using rapidly rotating discs (platters) coated with magnetic material. An HDD retains its data even when powered off. Data is read in a random-access manner, meaning individual blocks of data can be stored or retrieved in any order rather than just sequentially. An HDD consists of one or more rigid ("hard") rapidly rotating discs (platters) with magnetic heads arranged on a moving actuator arm to read and write data to the surfaces.
Hotspot
A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology.
Laptop/Notebook
A laptop computer is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop has most of the same components as a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a touchpad (also known as a trackpad) and/or a pointing stick, and speakers into a single unit. A laptop is powered by mains electricity via an AC adapter, and can be used away from an outlet using a rechargeable battery. Laptops are also sometimes called notebook computers, notebooks, ultrabooks or netbooks.
Floppy Drive
A magnetic storage device that reads data from and writes data to a floppy disk, which is a metal disk (usually 3½ in.) inside a rigid plastic case. These are found mostly on older machines—few new ones have floppy drives.
Peripheral
A peripheral is a device that is connected to a host computer, but not part of it. It expands the host's capabilities but does not form part of the core computer architecture. It is often, but not always, partially or completely dependent on the host.
Graphics Card
A printed circuit board that controls the output to a display screen.
Computer Program
A series of coded software instructions to control the operation of a computer or other machine. A computer program (also software, or just a program or application) is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute the instructions. The same program in its human-readable source code form, from which executable programs are derived (e.g., compiled), enables a programmer to study and develop its algorithms.
Flash Drive
A small electronic device containing flash memory that is used for storing data or transferring it to or from a computer, digital camera, etc.
iPad
A tablet computer from Apple Inc. Instead of a physical keyboard or keypad, the iPad includes a Multi-Touch screen and virtual keyboard and buttons. The iPad uses the iOS operating system and many of the same apps as the iPhone and iPod touch.
Tablet
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a one-piece mobile computer, primarily operated by touchscreen (the user's finger essentially functions as the mouse and cursor, removing the need for the physical (i.e., mouse and keyboard) hardware components necessary for a desktop or laptop computer; and, an onscreen, hideable virtual keyboard is integrated into the display).
eBook
An electronic book (variously, e-book, ebook, digital book, or even e-edition) is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as "an electronic version of a printed book," but e-books can and do exist without any printed equivalent. E-books are usually read on dedicated e-book readers or general purpose computer tablets. Personal computers and many mobile phones (most smart phones) can also be used to read e-books.
Graphical User Interface
An operating system characteristic that utilizes graphics and the point-and-click technology of the mouse and cursor, making the OS much more user friendly. The Xerox Alto was the first to use a graphical user interface. The Xerox Star Workstation introduced the first commercial GUI operating system. Examples: OSX, Unix (X Window System), Windows (7 & 8), GNOME Shell.
Anti-Virus Software
Antivirus or anti-virus software is software used to prevent, detect and remove malware (of all descriptions), such as: computer viruses, adware, backdoors, malicious BHOs, dialers, fraudtools, hijackers, keyloggers, malicious LSPs, rootkits, spyware, trojan horses and worms. Computer security, including protection from social engineering techniques, is commonly offered in products and services of antivirus software companies.
Backup Software
Backup software are computer programs used to perform backup; they create supplementary exact copies of files, databases or entire computers. These programs may later use the supplementary copies to restore the original contents in the event of data loss.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2400-2480 MHz) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. Created by telecom vendor Ericsson in 1994, it was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.
Computer Hardware
Computer hardware equals the collection of physical elements that comprise a computer system. Computer hardware refers to the physical parts or components of a computer such as monitor, keyboard, hard drive disk, mouse, printers, graphic cards, sound cards, memory, motherboard and chips, etc all of which are physical objects that you can actually touch.
Computer Software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provides the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it. Software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. Program software performs the function of the program it implements, either by directly providing instructions to the digital electronics or by serving as input to another piece of software.
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.
Data
Data are the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.
QWERTY
Denoting the standard layout on English-language typewriters and keyboards, having q, w, e, r, t, and y as the first keys from the left on the top row of letters.
OSX
OS X, previously Mac OS X, is a series of Unix-based graphical interface operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. It is designed to run exclusively on Mac computers, having been pre-loaded on all Macs since 2002. It was the successor to Mac OS 9, released in 1999, the final release of the "classic" Mac OS, which had been Apple's primary operating system since 1984. The first version released was Mac OS X Server 1.0 in 1999, and a desktop version, Mac OS X v10.0 "Cheetah" followed on March 24, 2001. Releases of OS X are named after big cats: for example, OS X v10.8 is referred to as "Mountain Lion". OSX 10.9 is named: Mavericks.
Mhz
One million hertz, esp. as a measure of the frequency of radio transmissions or the clock speed of a computer.
RAM
Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data storage. A random-access device allows stored data to be accessed in very nearly the same amount of time for any storage location, so data can be accessed quickly in any random order.
ROM
Read-Only Memory is Memory read at high speed but not capable of being changed by program instructions.
Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is a series of e-book readers produced by Amazon.com. Amazon Kindle devices enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media via wireless networking.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (abbreviated as WWW or W3, commonly known as the Web), is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. With a web browser, one can view web pages that may contain text, images, videos, and other multimedia, and navigate between them via hyperlinks.
Byte
The byte is a unit of digital information in computing and telecommunications that most commonly consists of eight bits.
Display Resolution
The display resolution of a digital television, computer monitor or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed.
Gigabyte
The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. A unit of information equal to one billion (1,073,741,824) bytes or 1024 megabytes
OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
The identification of printed characters using photoelectric devices and computer software.
Kilobyte
The kilobyte (symbol: kB) is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The term kilobyte and symbol kB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 (210) bytes or 1000 (103) bytes.
Boot Up
The process of starting a computer and putting it into a state of readiness for operation.
Terabyte
The terabyte is a multiple of the unit byte digital information. The prefix tera means 1012 in the International System of Units (SI), and therefore 1 terabyte is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, or 1000 gigabytes.
Megabyte
The term "megabyte" is commonly used to mean either 1000 bytes or 1024 bytes. This originated as compromise technical jargon for the byte multiples that needed to be expressed by the powers of 2 but lacked a convenient name.
TFT
Thin-film transistor, denoting a technology used to make flat color display screens, usually for high-end portable computers. A thin-film transistor (TFT) is a special kind of field-effect transistor made by depositing thin films of a semiconductor active layer as well as the dielectric layer and metallic contacts over a supporting substrate. A common substrate is glass, since the primary application of TFTs is in liquid crystal displays. This differs from the conventional transistor where the semiconductor material typically is the substrate, such as a silicon wafer.
USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and communications protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices.
External Hard Drive
Used to back-up the contents of the entire computer (or huge files), this large drive sits outside the main computer in its own enclosure. External removable HDDs typically connect via USB. Plug and play drive functionality offers system compatibility, and features large storage options and portable design. External HDDs are available in 2.5" and 3.5" sizes, and as of March 2012 their capacities generally range from 160GB to 2TB. Common sizes are 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, 640GB, 750GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi, also spelled Wifi or WiFi) is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data wirelessly (using radio waves) over a computer network, including high-speed Internet connections.