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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abstraction
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Distinction between the external properties of an entity and details of the entity's internal composition
(allows us to ignore the internal details of a complex device such as a computer) |
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Algorithm
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set of steps that defines how a task is performed
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ALU
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arithmetic logic unit
digital circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations The ALU is a fundamental building block of the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer |
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ASCII
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American Standard Code for Information Interchange
character-encoding scheme based on the ordering of the English alphabet ASCII codes represent text in computers, communications equipment, and other devices that use text |
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Bit
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binary digit
basic unit of information in computing and telecommunications computers information is encoded as patterns of 0s and 1s, these digits are called bits |
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Boolean expression
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expression that results in a Boolean value, that is, TRUE or FALSE
(For example, the value for 5 > 3 is TRUE, the value for "An apple is not a fruit" is FALSE) |
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Boolean gate
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Device that produces the output of a Boolean operation when given the operation’s input values
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Boolean operation
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Operations that manipulate true/false values
(AND, OR, XOR) |
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Byte
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A computer’s main memory is organized in manageable units called cells, with a typical size being eight bites (8 bites = 1 byte, thus a typical memory cell has a capacity of one byte)
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Control Unit
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One of the three parts a CPU consists of
Contains the circuitry for coordinating the machine’s activities |
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CPU
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central processing unit
circuitry in a computer that controls the manipulation of data (=processor) |
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File
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Information stored in a mass storage system is conceptually grouped into large units called files
A typical file may consist of a complete text document, a photo... |
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HTML
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HyperText Markup Language
predominant markup language for web pages A markup language is a set of markup tags HTML uses markup tags to describe web pages written in the form of HTML elements consisting of "tags" surrounded by angle brackets (like <html>) |
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Instruction Register
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One of the two special purpose registers within the CPU
Is used to hold the instruction being executed |
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Machine Language
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Collection of instructions along with the encoding system
(CPUs are designed to recognize instructions encoded as bit patterns) |
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Mass storage
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Due to the volatility and limited size of a computer’s main memory, most computers have additional memory devices called mass storage (or secondary storage) systems, including CDs, flash drives etc.
Advantages of mass storage systems over main memory: Less volatility, large storage capacities, low cost and in many cases, the ability to remove the storage medium from the machine for archival purposes |
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Memory address
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To identify individual cells in a computer’s main memory, each cell is assigned a unique “name” called its address
The addresses used are entirely numeric |
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Memory cell
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A computer is organized in manageable units called cells
(typical size: 8 bits = 1 byte) |
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Op-code
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The operation code is one of the two parts the encoded version of a machine instruction consists of
The bit pattern appearing in the op-code field indicates which of the elementary operations such as STORE, SHIFT, XOR and JUMP is requested by the instruction |
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Port
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To communicate with other devices the controller can connect to a port (connector), on the back of the computer where external devices can be attached
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Program
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Representation of an algorithm
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Program counter
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One of the two special purpose registers within the CPU
Contains the address of the next instruction being executed, thereby serving as the machine’s way of keeping track of where it is in the program |
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RAM
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Because a computer's main memory is organized as individual, addressable cells the cells can be accessed independently as required
To reflect the ability to access cells in any order, a computer's main memory is often called RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY |
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Register
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One of the three parts a CPU consists of is called the register unit, which contains data storage cells (similar to main memory cells) called registers that are used for temporary storage of information within the CPU
Some of the registers within the register unit are considered general-purpose registers whereas others are special-purpose registers |
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Stored-program concept
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Idea of storing a computer’s program in its main memory
--> Has become the standard approach used today |
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von Neumann architecture
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design model for a stored-program digital computer that uses a central processing unit (CPU) and a single separate storage structure ("memory") to hold both instructions and data
A CPU fetches its instructions from memory over a central bus |
