Glossary

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |

| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 

A

 

ASCII

Usually refers to a text file. An ASCII file contains only characters that can be entered from the keyboard. It does not contain any special characters or formatting codes.

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B

 

Backup

To make a copy of a file

Bit

Smallest piece of information that a computer can process.  Represented by a 1 or a 0.

Byte  

8 bits.  The amount of memory used to store one character (letter, digit, or punctuation mark).

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C

 

CD-ROM

Compact disk that can be read only. 

Chat

Real time communication using the Internet or WWW 

Clipboard

An area in memory where items are stored during the process of copy/cut and paste operations 

CPU (central processing unit)

The brain of the computer. Does all of the processing and controls other computer components.

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D

 

Defragment

The process of putting a file in contiguous storage locations on a disk 

Driver

A software program that helps a hardware device communicate with the operating system

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E  

 

Email

Electronic transfer of messages between hosts on Internet

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F  

 

Folder

A collection of related files 

Font

Collection of characters (letters, numbers and other symbols) of a given design, type and style. Example: Times New Roman, 12 point. 

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Used for transferring files between computers on the Internet. When you download a file from the Internet or upload pages to your web site you are using FTP

Function key

Keys on computer keyboard labeled F1 through F12. Perform special tasks that depend on program. 

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G  

 

GB (gigabyte)

1024 Megabytes 

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

An image format used on web pages

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

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H  

 

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

A system for describing documents on the WWW 

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

Hypertext

Text in a document on the WWW that allows you to jump from one location to another

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I

 

Input device

A way to get information into the computer. Examples are the keyboard and mouse. 

Internet

Worldwide network of networks

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

A company that provides direct access to the Internet, normally for a fee. Also usually provides email service.

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J

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K  

 

KB (kilobyte)

1024 bytes

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L

LAN (Local Area Network)

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M

 

MB (megabyte)

1024 kilobytes 

MHz

Measurement of speed of CPU 

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)

Specifies how to encode non-text data 

Motherboard

Main circuit board of the computer

Multitasking

The ability to run more than one program at a time

 

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N  

 

NIC (Network interface card)

A circuit board that installs in a computer to enable it to be connected in a network.

Newsgroup

Discussion group on the Internet that focus on a single topic

Network

Group of two or more computers linked together that are able to share data and resources via cable or phone lines

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O
 

Output device

A way to get information out of the computer. Examples are monitors and printers.

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P  

 

Peripheral device

A computer component that is used by the computer but located outside of the system unit. 

Plug-ins

Software programs that extend the capability of browser - audio, video 

POP (Post Office Protocol)

The protocol that handles incoming email messages 

Protocol

Set of rules used by computers when communicating

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Q

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R  

 

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Internal memory that stores instructions and data to be processed by the CPU. When power is turned off everything in RAM is lost. 

ROM (Read-only Memory)

Internal memory that contains start up instructions for computer.

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S  

SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol)

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

The protocol that handles outgoing email messages 

Software

Computer programs that provide instructions for the CPU. Includes applications and operating systems.

Spool

A location on the hard drive where files are temporarily stored during the process of printing. Files are transferred from this temporary location to the printer

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T

 

TCP/IP

The protocol used by computers on the Internet

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U  

 

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

Unique address of web page or other Internet resource  

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V

 

Virus

Program that attaches itself to other programs and alters the way your computer works

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W

 

WAN (Wide Area Network)

WWW (World Wide Web)

Collection of linked documents stored on the Internet

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X

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Y

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Z

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