Computer Science

Desktop

(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear

Taskbar

A bar normally located at the bottom of the Windows desktop, displaying information about open programs and providing quick access to others.

Non- Adjacent Files

A broken up file

Adjacent Files

A file not broken apart

Web Browser

A program that allows a user to view and interact with web pages

Program

A set of step-by-step instructions to a computer. Some are burned directly into chips, while others are stored as program files. Programs are written in languages such as BASIC and C++.

Search Engine

A software program you can use to find Web sites, Web pages, and Internet files.

File Extension

A tag of three or four letters, preceded by a period, which identifies a data file's format or the application used to create the file.

Wireless Network

Any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Brain of the computer that performs instructions defined by software

Collapse a folder

Close a folder and close access to documents inside

File/ Folder

Common storage unit/method for organizing files

Address Bar

Contains address of the current page and is where you enter the location for the webpage you want to visit.

Binary Code

Groupings of 1's and 0's that makes information that a computer can understand.

Ellipsis

Indicated by a series of three periods, the __ indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text.

Menu/Submenu

List of commands or choices offered to user.

Motherboard

Printed circuit board on which the CPU, RAM chips and other electronic circuit elements of a digital computer are frequently located.

operating system software

Programs that make the computer work. ex: Windows 8, vista, GUI, Linux.

RAM

Random Access Memory - temporary place to store material that works quickly. erased when computer turns off. Volatile.

ROM

Read Only Memory- Permanent instructions that cannot be changed. It makes the BIOS function. Checks your OS.

Software

Set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task.

Pixel

Smallest portion of a display or image

Operating System (OS)

Software used to control the computer and its peripheral equipment.

Hard Drive

Storage device that stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating rigid disks with magnetic surfaces. The device is either permanently installed within the computer case or can be portable

Expand a folder

To open a folder to access its contents

Bug

Unexpected problem with hardware or software

Client

a desktop computer capable of obtaining info and applications

Network

a set of computers which are connected to each other and operate as part of the same system, able to exchange information and messages

Enhanced Screen Tip

an on-screen note that provides the name of the command, available keyboard shortcuts, a description of the command, and sometimes instructions for how to obtain help about the command

Multitasking

an operating system feature that allows more than one application to run at a time

BASIC

beginners all purpose symbolic instruction code

Order of bytes from least to greatest

bits, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte.

Hardware

computer machinery and equipment

Output

device that projects images, gives sound, and basically gives out the info from the computer so the user can obtain it (ex: monitor, printer, projector, speakers)

Input

device used to insert data into a computer or other device (ex: keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, voice recognition)

Copy/Move

duplicating text, data, files, or disks and putting it into another location

Application Software

ex: Word, Excel, Photoshop, WordPerfect...

Auxiliary Storage Devices

ex: network drive, hard drive, flash drive, google drive.

GUI

graphical user interface

Memory/Storage Units

part of computer where data is stored for later use

Quick launch icon/ pinning and arranging

section where user can launch programs

Server

software capable of accepting requests

Calculator

something used for making mathematical calculations, in particular a small electronic device with a keyboard and a visual display

Accessories

things that attach onto the computer/ add onto the computers functional capabilities