Complete List of Terms and Definitions for Computer Terms 7

Terms Definitions
chip U.S. diplomat.
VGA VIDEO GRAPHIC ARRAY
megabit 220 (1,048,576) bits.
DISSIPATE DRIVE AWAY OR DISPERSE
JAVA An object-oriented programming language to create executable content (i.e. self-running applications) that can be easily distributed through networks like the Web.
Menu A list of commands
DIMM DUAL IN LINE MEMORY MODULE
GIF Graphic Interchange Format (pronounced jiff). A file compression format developed by CompuServe for transferring graphic files to and from on-line services.
Gateway A special-purpose dedicated computer that attaches to two or more disparate networks and converts data packets from one form to another.
MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A technology that enables a computer to record and play musical performance.
FTP file transport protocol internet standard high level protocol for transferring files
Cyberspace the electronic information available on the internet.
component a constituent part; element; ingredient.
Component means? one element of a system.
Properties Information about an object, including settings or options for that object. For example, you look at properties of a file for information such as the file size, file type, and file attributes.
ROM Read-Only Memory. It's like software that's hard-wired into your computer - basic, permanent information that tells it things like how to load up the operating system when you turn it on.
DOS Disk Operating System. The operating system used on IBM personal computers and compatible machines.
Multimedia Any presentation or software program that combines several media, such as graphics, sound, video, animation, and/or text.
Hacker Slang term for a technically sophisticated computer user who enjoys exploring computer systems and programs, sometimes to the point of obsession.
Database A collection of data typically organized to make common retrievals easy and efficient.
DNS (Domain Name System)- A general purpose distributed, replicated, data query service.
megahertz (MHz)- A million cycles per second.
Byte One character of information, usually eight bits wide.
ISP Internet Service Provider. A company that provides access to the Internet. A service provider can offer simple dial-up access, SLIP/PPP access, or a dedicated line.
Megahertz (MHz) A million cycles (occurrences, alterations, pulses) per second. Used to describe the speed at which a computer's processor (or CPU) operates.
Access Provider Company that provides internet access.
computer an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations.
cpu central processing unit: the key component of a computer system, which contains the circuitry necessary to interpret and execute program instructions.
THIS TYPE OF EXPANSION PORT GIVES FAST ACCESS TO THE PCS MEMORY SO IT CAN DISPLAY 3D GRAPHICS AGP
Jpeg Joint Photographic Experts Group is a graphic file format that has a sophisticated technique for compressing full-color bit mapped graphics, such as photographs.
Paint The oldest and most limited Macintosh graphic file format, holding only black-and-white bit maps at 72 dpi. Paint files (file type PNTG) are limited to 8 by 10 inches.
Host The main computer system to which users are connected
Virus A program that replicates itself from one file or disk to another without your consent. They are spread through floppy disks, networks, and on-line services and can go undetected (unless you have an antiviral utility) until something goes wrong. Some viruses deliberately destroy data, and even those designed to be benign can cause crashes, slowdowns, and file corruption.
Site Organization or facility where a host is located.
CD-Rom Compact Disk, Read-Only Memory. A type of storage device that looks like an audio CD and stores as much data as a large hard dick(600MB), making it a popular means of distributing fonts, photos, electronic encyclopedias, games, and multimedia offerings. As the name indicates, however, you can’t save or change files on a CD-Rom, only read them. Pronounced see-dee rom.
Internet The Internet is the largest internet in the world. It is a three level hierarchy composed of backbone networks, mid level networks, and stub networks.
User ID The string of characters that identifies you. The name by which you are known to the network. Also known as username.
Binary A numbering system with only two values: 0 and 1.
Operating System Software that supervises and controls tasks on a computer.
Font The software that creates a typeface on a computer screen.
PDF Portable Document Format. A PDF file is an electronic facsimile of a printed document.
Download To retrieve a file from another computer using a modem.
LAN Local Area Network. A network of directly-connected machines (located in close proximity), providing high speed communication over physical media such as fiber optics, coaxial cable, or twisted pair wiring.
QuickTime A file extension for videos or "movies" (like animations) compressed using their QuickTime format.
Protocols When data is being transmitted between two or more devices something needs to govern the controls that keep this data intact. A formal description of message formats and the rules two computers must follow to exchange those messages. Protocols can describe low-level details of machine-to-machine interfaces (e.g., the order in which bits and bytes are sent across wire) or high-level exchanges between application programs (e.g., the way in which two programs transfer a file across the Internet).
Memory In general, another word for dynamic RAM, the chips where the computers store system software, programs, and data you are currently using. Other kinds of computer memory you may encounter are parameter RAM (PRAM), video RAM (VRAM), and static RAM (SRAM). Most computer memory is volatile, that is, its contents are lost when the computer shuts down.
Driver software that tells the computer how to operate an external device
Mpeg Moving Pictures Expert Group. MPEG is an international standard for video compression and desktop movie presentation. You need a special viewing application to run the MPEG movies on your computer. MPEG II is a newer standard for broadcast-quality video.
bit a removable drilling or boring tool for use in a brace, drill press, or the like.
hardware metalware, as tools, locks, hinges, or cutlery.
What gets electricity into the computer? power supply
A/V (Audio Visual) Audio-Visual. AV Macintosh models have video-capture hardware and have sophisticated sound (and video) recording capabilities.
Home Page The document that is displayed when you first open a web client program. Also, commonly used to refer to the first document you come to in collection of documents on a Web site.
Netiquette A form of online etiquette. This term refers to an informal code of conduct that governs what is generally considered to be the acceptable way for users to interact with one another online.
Format To initializes a disk to prepare it for use. The disk is checked for errors and organized so that data can be recorded and retrieved. Formatting a used disk erases any previously stored information.
Disk Defragmenter Arranges the blocks of information for a file into adjacent blocks on your hard drive, which may significantly improve the file access time.
Resolution In general, this refers to how sharp and clear an image looks on screen or on paper, and how much detail you can see. It's usually determined by the number of dots (or pixels) per square inch (the more there are, the higher the resolution) and is used to describe printers, monitors, and scanners.
File A collection of information on a disk, usually a document or program, that’s lumped together and called by one name.
Taskbar An area that runs across the bottom (usually) of the Windows 95 desktop. Running applications are represented as buttons on the taskbar, the current window is shown as a depressed button, all other applications are displayed as raised buttons.
TIFF Tag Image File Format. A graphic file format, TIFF files are also bit maps, but they can be any size, resolution, or color depth.
Webmaster A person or group of people who maintain and administer a web server.
Cache An area of RAM reserved for data recently read from disk, which allows the processor to quickly retrieve it if it’s needed again.
Clipboard An area used to temporarily store cut or copied information.
Megabyte (MB)- A unit of data storage size which represents 10^6 (one million) characters of information.
Hue The color of an object perceived by the eye due to the fact that a single or pair of RGB primary colors predominates.
Scanner A device that converts images (such as photographs) into digital form so that they can be stored and manipulated on computers.
Gigabit (Gb) 10^9 bits of information (usually used to express a data transfer rate; as in, 1 Gigabit /second = 1 Gbps).
Network In general, a group of computers set up to communicate with one another. Your network can be a small system that's physically connected by cables (a LAN), or you can connect separate networks together to form larger networks (called WANs). The Internet, for example, is made up of thousands of individual networks.
Parallel Cable A cable used to connect peripheral devices through a computer's parallel port. A type of port that transmits data in parallel (several bits side by side).
Browser A program that enables you to access information on the Internet through the World Wide Web.
A moving picture or pattern that is displayed on the screen when no activity takes place for a specified period of time. Scripts
Peripheral A piece of hardware that's outside the main computer. It usually refers to external hardware such as disk drives, printers, and scanners sold by a third party.
Ethernet a standard data link layer which can operate over several different media
gigabyte a measure of storage capacity equal to 1 billion (109) bytes.
What is a router? hardware device that routs data
WYSIWYG What you see is what you get. The image you see on the screen matches what will print on paper. Pronounced wizzy-wig.
Web Browser Also known as a Web client program, this software allows you to access and view HTML documents. Netscape, Mosaic, Lynx, WinWeb, and MacWeb are some examples of Web browsers.
Binary Number System A counting system used in computers consisting of only 1’s and 0’s (zeros).
Scripts A type of program that consists of a set of instructions for another application or utility to use.
Encryption A way of coding information in a file or e-mail message so that if it is intercepted by a third party as it travels over a network it cannot be read.
A scanner is an input device that scans documents and images, which can be imported into a computer. They are available in flatbed or sheet-fed versions and are usually connected via a high-speed USB port. OCR software can be used to recognize text docume Screen Saver
mainframe a large computer, often the hub of a system serving many users.
What is the ethernet? most common type of connection computers use in a LAN
Title Bar The horizontal bar at the top of a window. The title bar shows the name of the window.
The bar that appears at the right side or the bottom of a window that contains more information that can be displayed. The scroll bar is used to scroll an object or parts of a document into view when the entire object or document does not fit in the windo Search Engines
Cookies A file sent to a web browser by a web server that is used to record one’s activities
WHAT IS THE NAME OF A VERY HIGH SPEED CONNECTION USED BY THE GRAPHICS CARD? AGP-ACCELERATED GRAPHIC PORT