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terabyte (TB)

1,024 GB, or approximately one trillion bytes.

BD-RE

A Blu-ray disc on which you can record data as on a BD-R, and then delete or re-record data on it as needed.

BD-R

A Blu-ray disc on which you can record data once.

CD-RW (compact disc rewritable)

A CD on which you can record data as on a CD-R, and then delete or re-record data on it as needed.

CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory)

A CD that contains software or music when you purchase it, but you cannot record additional data on it.

CD-R (compact disc recordable)

A CD that on which you can record data with a laser that changes the reflectivity of a dye layer on the blank disk, creating dark spots on the disk's surface that represent the data; once the data is recorded, you cannot erase or modify it.

dual-core processor

A CPU that has two processors on the chip.

quad-core processor

A CPU with four processors on the chip.

single-core processor

A CPU with one processor on the chip.

wireless local area network (WLAN)

A LAN connected using high frequency radio waves rather than cables.

malware

A broad term that describes any program that is intended to cause harm or convey information to others without the owner's permission.

graphics card

A card installed on the motherboard that controls the signals the computer sends to the monitor. Also called video display adapter or video card.

utilities

A category of system software that augments the operating system by taking over some of its responsibility for allocating hardware resources.

volatile memory

A characteristic of RAM in that it constantly changes while the computer is on, and clears when the computer is turned off. Also called temporary memory.

complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory

A chip installed on the motherboard powered by a battery whose content changes every time you add or remove hardware on your computer system and that is activated during the boot process so it can identify where essential software is stored. Also called semipermanent memory.

read-only memory (ROM)

A chip on the motherboard that is prerecorded with and permanently stores the set of instructions that the computer uses when you turn it on. Also called nonvolatile memory or permanent memory.

graphical user interface (GUI)

A computer environment in which the user manipulates graphics, icons, and dialog boxes to execute commands.

client

A computer networked to and dependent on a server.

device driver

A computer program that can establish communication between two devices because it contains information about the characteristics of your computer and of the device.

mainframe computer

A computer used by larger business and government agencies that provides centralized storage, processing, and management for large amounts of data.

all-in-one computer

A desktop computer where the motherboard and the CPU are part of the monitor instead of inside a separate tower.

router

A device that controls traffic between network components and usually has a built-in firewall.

Blu-ray disc

A disc used for storing high-definition video that stores 25 GB of data per layer.

executable file

A file that contains the instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task, such as the files that are used during the boot process.

virus

A harmful program that instructs a computer to perform annoying and destructive activities, such as erasing a disk drive; variants are called worms and Trojan horses.

broadband connection

A high-speed connection to the Internet.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) port

A high-speed port to which you can connect a device with a USB connector to have the computer recognize the device and allow you to use it immediately.

program

A list of instructions that the computer uses to perform a specific task; also called application.

hard disk drive

A magnetic storage device that contains several magnetic oxide-covered metal platters that are usually sealed in a case inside the computer. Also called hard driveor hard disk.

peer-to-peer network

A network in which all the computers essentially are equal, and programs and data are distributed among them.

local area network (LAN)

A network in which the computers and peripheral devices are located relatively close to each other, generally in the same building, and are usually connected with cables.

personal area network

A network that allows two or more devices located close to each other to communicate or to connect a device to the Internet. In a PAN, devices are connected with cables or wirelessly.

wide area network (WAN)

A network that connects multiple LANs together.

LTE (long-term evolution)

A newer wireless standard used by some cell phone companies to deliver access to their 4G networks.

circuit

A path along which an electric current travels.

optical storage device

A polycarbonate disk coated with a reflective metal on which data is recorded using laser technology as a trail of tiny pits or dark spots in the surface of the disk; the data that these pits or spots represent can then be "read" with a beam of laser light.

HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) port

A port that digitally transmits video and audio.

PS/2 port

A port through which a keyboard or a mouse is connected.

ethernet port

A port used to connect computers in a LAN or sometimes directly to the Internet; it allows for high-speed data transmission.

card

A removable circuit board that is inserted into a slot in the motherboard to expand the capabilities of the motherboard; also called expansion card.

circuit board

A rigid piece of insulating material with circuits on it that control specific functions.

byte

A series of eight bits.

memory

A set of storage locations on the main circuit board that store instructions and data.

central processing unit (CPU)

A silicon chip, located on the motherboard, that is responsible for executing instructions to process data; also called processor.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

A standard of wireless communication defined by the IEEE that allows computers to communicate wirelessly over many miles; signals are transmitted from WiMAX towers to a WiMAX receiver in a device.

strong password

A string of at least eight characters of upper and lowercase letters and numbers.

command

A type of input that instructs the computer how to process data.

wearable device

A type of mobile device that is attached to a person and worn as a piece of jewelry or clothing.

spoofed site

A website set up to look exactly like another website, such as a bank's website, but which does not actually belong to the organization portrayed in the site, with the goal of stealing the information people enter.

Bluetooth

A wireless technology standard that allows electronic devices to use short range radio waves to communicate with one another or connect to the Internet; the radio waves can be transmitted around corners and through walls

expansion slot

An electrical connector on the motherboard into which a card is plugged.

computer

An electronic device that accepts input, processes data, displays output, and stores data for retrieval later.

chip

An integrated circuit embedded in semiconductor material.

port

An opening on a computer connected to a card or an appropriate place on the motherboard into which you can plug a connector.

CD (compact disc)

An optical storage device that can store 700 MB of data.

petabyte (PB)

Approximately 1000 terabytes.

random access memory (RAM)

Chips on cards plugged into the motherboard that temporarily hold programs and data while the computer is turned on. Also called volatile memory or temporary memory.

nonvolatile memory

Computer memory that remains intact when the computer is turned off.

network

Connects one computer to other computers and peripheral devices, enabling you to share data and resources with others.

firewall

Hardware or software that prevents other computers on the Internet from accessing a computer or prevents a program on a computer from accessing the Internet.

processing

Modifying data in a computer.

double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM)

RAM that is synchronized with the CPU to allow faster access to its contents.

accounting software

Software designed to help individuals and businesses create and track budgets.

adware

Software installed with another program that generates advertising revenue for the program's creator by displaying targeted ads to the program's user.

operating system

Software that allocates system resources, manages storage space, maintains security, detects equipment failure, and controls basic input and output.

multimedia authoring software

Software that allows you to record digital sound files, video files, and animations that can be included in presentations and other documents.

anti-spyware software

Software that detects and removes spyware.

application software

Software that enables you to perform specific computer tasks, such as document production, spreadsheet calculations, database management, and presentation preparation.

network software

Software that establishes the communications protocols that will be observed on the network and controls the "traffic flow" as data travels throughout the network.

information management software

Software that keeps track of schedules, appointments, contacts, and "to-do" lists.

antivirus software

Software that searches executable files for the sequences of characters that may cause harm and disinfects the files by erasing or disabling those commands. Also called virus protection software.

spyware

Software that track a computer user's Internet usage and sends this data back to the company or person that created it, usually without the computer user's permission or knowledge.

programming language

Software used to write computer instructions.

document production software

Software, such as word processing software, desktop publishing software, email editors, and web authoring software, that assists you in writing and formatting documents, including changing the font and checking the spelling.

cache memory

Special high-speed memory chips on the motherboard or CPU that store frequently-accessed and recently-accessed data and commands; also called RAM cache or CPU cache.

3G, 4G, 5G

Standards used by cell phone companies to transmit data.

BIOS

Stands for basic input/output system, the set of instructions stored in ROM that the computer uses to check its components to ensure they are working and to activate the software that provides the basic functionality of the computer when you turn on the computer.

Wi-Fi

Stands for wireless fidelity, a term created by the nonprofit Wi-Fi Alliance to describe networks connected using a standard radio frequency established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

network adapter

The card in a computer on a network that creates a communications channel between the computer and the network.

screen size

The diagonal measurement from one corner of the screen to the other.

software

The intangible components of a computer system, particularly the programs that the computer needs to perform a specific task.

supercomputer

The largest and fastest type of computer used by large corporations and government agencies for processing a tremendous volume of data.

motherboard

The main circuit board of the computer on which processing tasks occur.

channel

The medium, such as telephone or coaxial cable, over which a message is sent in data communications.

screen resolution

The number of pixels that a monitor displays.

hardware

The physical components of a computer.

binary digit (bit)

The representation of data as a 1 or 0.

boot process

The set of events that occurs between the moment you turn on the computer and the moment you can begin to use the computer.

protocol

The set of rules that establishes the orderly transfer of data between the sender and the receiver in data communications.

specifications

The technical details about a hardware component.

data communications

The transmission of text, numeric, voice, or video data from one computer to another or to a peripheral device.

data

The words, numbers, figures, sounds, and graphics that describe people, events, things, and ideas.

phish

To send emails to customers or potential customers of a legitimate Web site asking them to click a link in the email and then "verify" their personal information; the link leads to a spoofed site.

cloud computing

When data, applications, and resources are stored on servers accessed over the Internet or a company's internal network rather than on user's computers.