Computer Tech Midterm

File Explorer

A Windows app that allows you to navigate your computer's file hierarchy and manage your files and folders.

Start Button

A clickable button at in the lower left corner of the Windows 10 screen that you click to open the Start menu.

File

A collection of information stored on your computer, such as a letter, video, or app.

Scroll Bar

A vertical or horizontal bar that appears along the right or bottom side of a window when there is more content than can be displayed within the window, so that you can adjust your view.

Microsoft Account

A web service that lets users sign on to one web address so they can use Windows 10 computers as well as Outlook com.

Shut Down

To exit the operating system and turn off your computer.

Navigate Up

To move to a higher level in your computer's fil hierarchy.

User Interface (UI)

A collective term for all the ways you interact with a software program.

Quick Access Toolbars

A customizable toolbar that contains buttons you can click to perform frequently used commands.

Recycle Bin

A desktop object that stores folders and files you delete from your hard drive(s) and enables you to restore them.

Pointing Device

A device that lets you interact with your computer by controlling the movement of the mouse pointer on your computer screen; examples include a mouse, trackball, touchpad, pointing stick, on-screen touch pointer, or a tablet.

Subfolders

A folder within another folder.

ScreenTip

A label that identifies the name of the button or feature, briefly describes its function, conveys any keyboard shortcut for the command, and includes a link to associated help topics, if any.

Border

A line that can be added above, below, or to the sides of a paragraph, text, or table cell; a line that divides the columns and rows of a table.

Menus

A list of related commands.

Pointing Device Actions

A movement you execute with your computer's pointing device to communicate with the computer; the five basic pointing device actions are point, click, double-click, drag, and right-click.

Task View Button

A new Windows 10 area, accessible from the Task view button on the taskbar, that lets you switch applications and create multiple desktops (also called virtual desktops).

Tabs

A page in an application program's Ribbon, or in a dialog box, that contains a group of related commands and settings.

Navigation Pane

A pane in the Access program window that provides a way to move between objects (tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules) in the database.

Operating System

A program that manages the complete operation of your computer and lets you interact with it.

Window

A rectangular-shaped work area that displays an app or a collection of files, folders, and Windows tools.

File List

A section of a window that shows the contents of the folder or drive currently selected in the Navigation pane.

Panes

A section of a window, such as the Navigation pane in the File Explorer window.

Address

A sequence of drive and folder names that describes a folder's or file's location in the file hierarchy; the highest hierarchy level is on the left, with lower hierarchy levels separated by the symbol to its right

Program

A set of instructions written for a computer, such as an operating system program or an application program; also called an application or an app.

Tiles

A shaded rectangle on the Windows 10 Start menu that represents an app.

Buttons

A small rectangle you can click in order to issue a command to an application program.

Password

A special sequence of numbers and letters that users can employ to control who can access the files in their user account area; keeping the password private helps keep users' computer information secure.

Dialogue Box

A window with controls that lets you tell Windows how you want to complete an application program's (app's) command.

Path

An address that describes the exact location of a file in a file hierarchy; shows the folder with the highest hierarchy level on the left and steps through each hierarchy level toward the right. Locations are separated by small triangles or by backslashes.

Case Sensitive

An application program's (app's) ability to differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters; usually used to describe how an operating system evaluates passwords that users type to gain entry to user accounts.

App

An application program; Windows 10 apps are smaller apps available at the Windows store. Desktop apps, such as Microsoft Office, are more full-featured programs and are available from many software companies.

Notification Area

An area on the right side of the Windows 10 taskbar that displays the current time as well as icons representing selected information; the Notifications button displays pop-up messages when a program on your computer needs your attention. Click the Notifications button to display the Action Center.

Folder

An electronic container that helps you organize your computer files, like a cardboard folder on your desk; it can contain subfolders for organizing files into smaller groups.

Windows 10 Desktop

An electronic work area that lets you organize and manage your information, much like your own physical desktop.

Commands

An instruction to perform a task, such as opening a file or emptying the Recycle Bin.

Inactive Window

An open window you are not currently using; if multiple windows are open, the window(s) behind the active window.

Start Menu

Appears after you click the Start button; provides access to all programs, documents, and settings on the computer.

Title Bar

Appears at the top of every Office program window; displays the document name and program name.

Desktop Apps

Application programs (apps), such as Microsoft Word, that are full-featured and that are often purchased, either from the Windows Store or from a software developer; also called traditional apps.

Windows Accessories

Application programs (apps), such as Paint or WordPad, that come with the Windows 10 operating system.

Groups

Areas of the Ribbon that arrange commands based on their function, for example, text formatting commands such as Bold, Underline, and Italic are located on the Home tab, in the Font group.

Highlighted

Describes the changed appearance of an item or other object, usually a change in its color, background color, and/or border; often used for an object on which you will perform an action, such as a desktop icon.

Close Button

In a Windows title bar, the rightmost button; closes the open window, app, and/or document.

Address Bar

In a window, the area just below the Ribbon that shows the file hierarchy, or address of the files that appear in the file list below it; the address appears as a series of links you can click to navigate to other locations on your computer.

Default

In an app window or dialog box, a value that is automatically set; you can change the default to any valid value.

Toolbars

In an application program, a set of buttons, lists, and menus you can use to issue program commands.

Ribbon

In many Microsoft app windows, a horizontal strip near the top of the window that contains tabs (pages) of grouped command buttons that you click to interact with the app.

Canvas

In the Paint accessory, the area in the center of the app window that you use to create drawings.

Microsoft Edge

New in Windows 10, the Microsoft Web browser that is intended to replace Internet Explorer.

Restore Down Button

On the right side of a maximized window's title bar, the center of three buttons; use to reduce a window to its last non-maximized size. In a restored window, this button changes to a Maximize button.

Maximize Button

On the right side of a window's title bar, the center button of three buttons; used to expand a window so that it fills the entire screen. In a maximized window, this button changes to a Restore button.

Minimize Button

On the right side of a window's title bar, the leftmost button of three buttons; use to reduce a window so that it only appears as an icon on the taskbar.

Windows Apps

Small program available for free or for purchase in the Windows Store; can run on Windows desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones.

Snap Assist

The Windows 10 feature that lets you drag a window to the left or right side of the screen, where it "snaps" to fill that half of the screen and displays remaining open windows as thumbnails you click to fill the other half.

File Management

The ability to organize folders and files on your computer.

Taskbar

The horizontal bar at the bottom of the Windows 10 desktop; displays icons representing apps, folders, and/or files on the left, and the Notification area, containing the date and time and special program messages, on the right.

Select Pointer

The mouse pointer shape that looks like a white arrow pointing toward the upper-left corner of the screen.

Lock Screen

The screen that appears when you first start your computer, or after you leave it unattended for a period of time, before the sign-in screen.

Window Control Buttons

The set of three buttons on the right side of a window's title bar that let you control the window's state, such as minimized, maximized, restored to its previous open size, or closed.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The storage location that is part of every computer, that temporarily stores open apps and document data while a computer is on.

File Hierarchy

The tree-like structure of folders and files on your computer.

Active Window

The window you are currently using; if multiple windows are open, the window in front of other open windows.

Select

To change the appearance of an item by clicking, doubleclicking, or dragging across it, to indicate that you want to perform an action on it.

Navigate Down

To move to a lower level in your computer's file hierarchy.

Double-clicked

To quickly press and release or click the left button on the pointing device twice. The touch-screen equivalent is a double-tap on the screen.

Sign In

To select a user account name when a computer starts up, giving access to that user's files. Also called log in.

Live Tile

Updated, "live" content that appears on some apps' tiles on the Windows Start menu, including the Weather app and the News app.