Computer Terms

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1. Access Provider

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The Company that provides internet access.

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Active Window

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The currently focused window in the current window manager or explorer.

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Application

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Software that lets users do relatively complex tasks, as well as creates and modify documents.

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4. A/V (Audio Visual)

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AV Macintosh models have video-capture hardware and have sophisticated sound (and video) recording capabilities.

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Byte

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One character of information, usually eight bits wide.

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Bandwidth

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The capacity of the transmission Medium stated in bits per second or as a frequency.

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Binary

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A numbering system with only two values: 0 and 1.

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Binary Number System

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A counting system used in computers consisting of only 1’s and 0’s.

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BIOS

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Basic input-output system

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Bit

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A unit of measurement that represents one figure or character of data.

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Broadcast

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A packet whose special address results in its being heard by all hosts on a computer network.

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Booting

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Starting up a computer via the power switch, which loads the system software into memory.

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Browser

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A program used to browse the web.

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Cache

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An area of RAM reserved for data recently read from disk, which allows the processor to quickly retrieve it if it’s needed again.

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CD-Rom

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A type of storage device that looks just like an audio CD and stores as much data as a large hard disk, making it a popular means of distributing fonts, photos, electronic encyclopedias, games, and multimedia offerings.

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Clipboard

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An area used to temporarily store cut or copied information.

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Compression

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The reduction in size of an image file.

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Cookies

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A file sent to a web browser by a web server that is used to record once’s activities.

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CPU

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Central Processing Unit; the brains of the computer.

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Crash

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A problem that causes a program, or the entire operating system, to unexpectedly stop working.

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Cursor

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A point of attention on the computer screen often marked with a flashing line or block.

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Cyberspace

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A term used to refer to the electronic universe of information available through the Internet.

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Database

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A collection of data typically organized to make common retrievals easy and efficient.

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Digital

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Data or voltages consisting of discrete steps or levels, as opposed to continuously variable analog data.

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Direct Connection

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A permanent communication connection between your computer system and the Internet.

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Disk Defragmenter

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Arranges the blocks of information for a file into adjacent blocks on your hard drive, which may significantly improve the file access times.

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DNS

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(Domain Name System)- A general purpose distributed, replicated, data query service.

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DOS

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The operating system used on IBM personal computers and compatible machines.

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Download

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To retrieve a file from another computer using a modem.

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Driver

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A piece of software that tells the computer how to operate an external device, such as a printer, hard disk, CD-ROM, or scanner.

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E-mail

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Electronic Mail. Private messages sent between users on different computers, either over a network or via a modem connection to an o n-line service or BBS.

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Encryption

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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 network it cannot be read.

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Ethernet

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An IEEE 802.3 standard data link layer which can operate over several different media including fiber optic, coaxial cable and twisted-pair cable.

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File

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A collection of information on a disk, usually a document or a program, that’s lumped together and called by one name.

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Filter

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A piece of software that an application uses for file-format conversion or special effects.

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Firewall

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A mechanism that isolates a network from the rest of the Internet, permitting only specific traffic to pass in and out.

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Folder

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An object that con hold other objects, such as other folders and files.

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Font

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The software that creates a typeface on a computer screen.

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Format

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To initialize a disk to prepare it for use.

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FTP

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File Transfer Protocol. The Internet standard high-level protocol for transferring files from one computer to another across the network.

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Gateway

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A special-purpose dedicated computer that attaches to two or more disparate networks and converts data packets from one form to another.

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Gigabyte

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(GB)- A unit of data storage size which represents 10^9 (one billion) characters of information.
43. Gigabit (Gb) - 10^9 its of information (usually used to express a data transfer rate; as in , 1 Gigabit\second= 1 Gbps).

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GIF

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Graphic Interchange Format. A file compression format developed by CompuServe for transferring graphics file to and from on-line services.

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Hacker

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Slang term for a technically sophisticated computer user who enjoys exploring computer systems and programs, sometimes to the point of obsession.

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Highlight

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The lightest tone in an image. A spectral highlight is a bright, reflected light source.

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Home page

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The document that is displayed when you first open a web client program.

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Host

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The main computer system to which users are connected.

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HTML

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Hyper Text Markup Language. A system for tagging various parts of a Web document that tells the We client programs how to display the document’s text, links, graphics and attached media.

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Hue

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The color of an object perceived by the eye due to the fact that a single or pair of RGB primary colors predominates.

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Hypertext

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A text-linking strategy that lets you jump between related information in a document by clicking on a button or highlighted word.

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Icon

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A graphic symbol usually representing a file, folder, disk or tool.

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Import

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To bring data into a document from another document, often generated by a different application.

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Inactive window

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A window that is open but is not the top window.

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Installer

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A utility that copies system software or an application from floppy disks or a CD-ROM to your hard disk.

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Internet

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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.

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IP address

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Network addresses are usually of two types: the physical or hardware address of a network interface card; for Ethernet this 48 bit address might be 0260.8C00.7666.

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ISP

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Internet Service Provider. A company that provides access to the Internet.

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JAVA

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An object-oriented programming language to create executable content that can be easily distributed through networks like the Web.

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Jpeg

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Joint Photographic Experts Group is a graphic file format that has a sophisticated technique for compressing full color bit mapped graphics, such as photographs.

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Kilobyte

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(KB)- A unit of data storage size which represents 10^3 (one thousand) characters of information.

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Kilobit

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(kb)- 10^3 bits of information (usually used to express a data transfer rate; as in, 1 Kilobit\second=1Kbps = 1Kb)

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Keyword

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Specified words used in text search engines.

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LAN

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Local Area Network. A network of directly-connected machines, providing high speed communication over physical media such as fiber optics, coaxial cable, or twisted pair wiring.

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Laser Printer

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Although a number of devices employ laser technology to print images, this normally refers to black-and-white desktop printers, which use the dry toner, xerographic printing process.

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Links

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Synonymous with anchors, hotlinks and hyperlinks.

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Login

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The acoco9unt name used to access a computer system.

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Mainframe

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A large, multi-tasking computer that is used by many users.

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Megabit

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(Mb)- 10^6 bits of information (usually used to express a data transfer rate; as in, 1 megabit\second = 1 Mbps)

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Megabyte

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(MB)- A unit of data storage size which represents 10^6 (one million) characters of information.

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megahertz

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(MHz)- A million cycles per second.

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Memory

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In general, another word for dynamic RAM, the chips where the computers store system software, programs, and data you are currently using.

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Menu

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A list of commands.

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Menu bar

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The horizontal bar the contains the names of available menus.

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MIDI

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Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A technology that enables a computer to record and play musical performance.

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Modem

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A device which converts digital signals into analog signals for transmission over telephone lines.

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Motherboard

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The heart, soul, and brains of a computer.

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Mpeg

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Moving Pictures Expert Group. MPEG is an international standard for video compression and desktop movie presentation.

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Multimedia

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Any presentation of software program that combines several media, such as graphics, sound, video, animation, and\or text.

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Multitasking

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The capability of an operating system to handle multiple processing tasks, apparently, at the same time.

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Netiquette

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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.

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Network

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In general, a group of computers set up to communicate with one another.

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Online

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Actively connected to other computers or devices.

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Operating System

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Software that supervises and controls tasks on a computer.

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Paint

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The oldest and most limited Macintosh graphic file format, holding only black-and-white bit maps at 72 dpi.

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Parallel Cable

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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.)

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Paste

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To insert information from the Clipboard. Information can be pasted multiple times.

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PDF

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Portable Document Format. A PDF file is an electronic facsimile of a printed document.

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Peripheral

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A piece of hardware that’s outside the main computer.

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Pixel

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Picture element. Digital images are composed of touching pixels, each having a specific color or tone.

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POP

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(server)- A server using the Post Office Protocol, which holds users’ incoming e-mail until they read or download it.

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Port

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one of several rendezvous points where TCP\IP connections can be made on a computer.

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Properties

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Information about an object, including settings or options for that object.

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Protocols

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When data is being transmitted between two or more devices something needs to govern the controls that keep this data infact. A formal description of message formats and the rules two computers must follow to exchange those messages.

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Query

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The process by which a web client requests specific information from a web server, based on a character sting that is passed along.

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Quicktime

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A file extension for videos or “movies” (like animations) compressed using their QuickTime format.

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RAM

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Random Access Memory. RAM is the most common type of computer memory, and it’s where the computer stores system software, programs, and data you are currently using.

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Resolution

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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 and is used to describe printer, monitors, and scanners.

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ROM

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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.

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Router

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A special purpose computer that attaches to two or more networks and routes packets from one network to the other.

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RTF

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Rich Text Format. A file format for text files that includes formatting instructions. Also called Interchange Format.

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Scanner

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A device that converts images into digital form so that they can be stored and manipulated on computers.

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Screen Saver

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A moving picture or pattern that is displayed on the screen when no activity takes place for a specified period of time.

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Scripts

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A type of program that consists of a set of instructions for another application or utility to use.

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Scroll Bar

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The bar that appears at the right side or the bottom of a window that contains more information that can be displayed.

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Search Engines

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A type of software that creates indexes of databases or Internet sites based on the titles of files, key words, or the full text of files.

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Server

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A computer that shares its resources, such as printers and files, with other computers on the network.

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Shareware

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Software that you can try before you buy.

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Site

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Organization or facility where a host is located.

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SMTP

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Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Internet standard protocol for transferring electronic mal messages from one computer to another.

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SPAM

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Refers to the practice of blindly posting commercial messages or advertisements to a large number of unrelated and uninterested newsgroups.

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Spreadsheet

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A number-related document whereby calculations and formulas are applied to the data organized in rows and columns of cells.

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Taskbar

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An area that runs across the bottom of the Windows 95 desktop.

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TIFF

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Tag Image File Format. A graphic file format, TIFF files are also bit maps, but they can be any size, resolution, or color depth.

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Title Bar

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The horizontal bar at the top of a window.

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Toolbar

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A collection of buttons that typically make the more common tools for an application easily accessible.

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URL

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Uniform Resource Locator, a string of characters that represents the location or address of a resource on the Internet and how that resource should be accessed.

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User ID

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The string of characters that identifies you. The name by which you are known to the network. Also known as username.

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Virus

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A program that replicates itself form one file or disk to another without your consent.

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Wallpaper

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A graphical pattern displayed on the desktop.

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Web Browser

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Also known as a Web client program, this software allows you to access and view HTML documents.

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Web Page

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A document created with HTML that is part of a group of hypertext documents or resources available on the world wide web.

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Webmaster

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A person or group of people who maintain and administer a web server.

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Wide Area Network

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(WAN)- Network spanning multiple geographic distances, usually connected by telephone lines, microwave, or satellite links.

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WYSIWIG

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What you see is what you get. The image you see on the screen matches what will print on paper.