Download Common Computer Terms

Common Computer Terms
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Term
microprocessor
central processing unit (CPU)
memory
random access memory (RAM)
memory
random access memory (RAM)
hard disk drive
hard disk drive
network card
modem (modulator/demodulator)
input device
12
output device
13
14
15
16
17
machine language
first-generation language
second-generation language
third-generation language
fourth-generation language
18
19
20
assembly language
interpreted language
compiled language
21
22
24
25
26
low-level language
high-level language
programming language
program
common features of a program
server
27
client
28
input
© Dr. Margaret Critchlow, 2004.
Definition
the brain of the computer, carries out all computations.
the brain of the computer, carries out all computations.
stores the instructions and data while they are being processed.
stores the instructions and data while they are being processed.
its contents are lost when the computer's power is turned off.
its contents are lost when the computer's power is turned off.
stores the instructions and data when they are not being used in memory.
its contents remain intact when the computer's power is turned off.
connect a computer to a local area network of computers.
connect a computer via telephone lines to any computer that can be reached by a phone call.
allows computer to receive data and instructions: keyboard, mouse, disk drive, network card,
modem.
allows computer to send or store data and instructions: display monitor, printer, sound card,
disk drive, network card, modem.
understood directly by the microprocessor, but awkward for humans.
another name for machine language
another name for assembly language
another name for high-level language such as FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, Pascal and C
a language at a higher level that traditional: dBase, most are a mixture of 3GL and 4GL,
query languages, report writers.
programming language close to machine language, one for each CPU
programming language that is translated line-by-line and run immediately.
programming language that is translated by analyzing the whole program to produce an
executable file.
another name for machine language
has instructions to which people can relate: VB.Net
a vocabulary and set of grammar rules used to write instruction for the computer.
a sequence of instructions to the computer that can be expressed in a computer language.
(1) input: take in data, (2) processing: manipulate data, (3) output: give desired information
a computer in a network that provides resources to other computers: files, printers, Internet
access.
a program on a networked computer that calls for and receives data or processing from a
server program.
input data might be held in a portion of the program, reside on a disk drive, or be provided by
the operator.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
output
hardware
software
programmer
user
problem solving
output data are either displayed on the screen, printed on the printer, or recorded on a disk.
the physical components of the computer, including all devices connected to it.
programs.
a person who solves problems by writing programs.
a person who uses a program.
determine what data is given and what outputs are requested, then devise a step-by-step
procedure.
algorithm
a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem--the program carries it out.
.NET run time
a program that executes VB.NET programs as well as programs from other languages
object-oriented programming
a way of organizing a program by constructing classes and objects.
the Internet
a network formed by connections between thousands of networks around the world.
router
a device or computer that is connected to two or more networks: it allows sending and
receiving information.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Iternet Protocol: the standard communications language used
by routers on the Internet.
ARPA
Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, created the earliest
Internet.
ARPANET
the earliest version of the Internet.
Unix
an operating system used by computers on the Internet.
Internet Service Providers
companies that provide acces to the Internet for a fee.
World Wide Web (WWW)
a vast collection of information stored on servers throughout the Internet.
web browser
a type of program used to get information via the world wide web
HTTP
HyperText Transfer Protocol: the communication language of the WWW.
hypertext document
a document that contains links (hyperlinks) that refer to other documents
pointing device
allows the user to conduct Windows like an orchestra leader with a baton.
arrow (mouse pointer) means … you are pointing to a Windows item and can select or activate it.
hourglass (mouse pointer) means … Windows is busy, you cannot select or activate anything.
I-beam (mouse pointer) means … the area you are pointing to can be clicked on and then typed in.
mouse actions
pointing, hovering, clicking, double-clicking, dragging (drag and drop).
active window
window that Windows' attentions are focussed on: it can be affected by your actions.
inactive window
window that does not have Windows' focus: it will not be affected by your actions.
Notepad
a Windows application that is an elementary word processor, a.k.a. text editor.
cursor
blinking vertical line that shows where the next typing will appear.
Work area
region of the Notepad window where text is typed.
Title bar
strip at the top of all windows that usually displays the document name and application name
System menu button
small icon at the upper left of all windows
Minimize button
changes a window to a button on the Task bar of the desktop.
Maximize button
changes a window to take up the whole screen.
© Dr. Margaret Critchlow, 2004.
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
Close button
Restore button
Vertical scroll bar
Horizontal scroll bar
Scroll arrows
Scroll box
Scroll channel
Menu bar
file
filename
path
folder
root folder
Windows Explorer
IDE
RAD
Local Area Network
80
81
82
83
Wide Area Network
LAN characteristics
LAN topology
LAN protocols
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
Lan media
Computer network
Network servers
Computer
Computer
memory
storage device, mass storage
91
92
93
94
input device
output device
central processing unit (CPU)
program
95
96
low-level language
high-level language
© Dr. Margaret Critchlow, 2004.
exits (stops) the application running in a window and makes the window disappear.
changes a window to shrink to its previous size (when it is taking up the whole screen).
when the contents of the window is too long to display, allows you to move it up and down.
when the contents of the window is too wide to display, allows you to move it left and right.
click them to move up/down or left/right one line.
drag it to move quickly.
click it to move one screenfull up/down or left/right.
strip just below the Title bar: click names to get menus.
data or instructions stored on disk so that it can be retrieved.
name associated with a file and used to refer to or retrieve it.
list of folder names ending with a filename: it specifies the location of the file.
a.k.a. directory: name given to a grouping of filenames (and/or folders).
the folder on a disk that "contains" or groups all the files and folders on that disk.
a Windows application that helps you view, organize, and manage files and folders.
Integrated Development Environment, for example MS Visual Studio .Net.
Rapid Application Development: what you do using the IDE
A computer network that spans a relatively small area: a single building or group of
buildings.
A system of LANs connected via telephone or radio over any distance
Topology, Protocols, Media
Star, Ring, Bus: All connected to one node, All in a ring, All in a straight line.
rules and encoding specifications for sending data. Can be Peer-to-Peer, of Client/Server, e.g.
Ethernet
connections can be by twisted pair, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, or radio.
Two or more computer systems linked together.
Computers or devices that allocate resources on the network.
A programmable machine. It responds to instructions in a well defined manner.
A machine that stores both program and data in memory.
component which enables a computer to store data and programs temporarily.
component which allows a computer to permanently store programs and large amounts of
data.
component which is the conduit through which data and instructions enter a computer.
component which stores or displays the result of the computation.
The heart of the computer, the component that actually executes instructions.
An organized list of instructions that, when executed, causes the computer to behave in a
predetermined manner.
A programming language that is closer to the language used internally by the computer.
A programming language that is closer to the language used by humans.
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
Source program
Executable program
software
hardware
Software: Two main categories
system software
application software
utility program
A program written in a programming language.
A program that has been translated into language that the computer can execute.
Instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software.
Physical machinery, components of a computer system.
System software, applications software
The operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer to function.
Programs that do work for users--usually implies that there is a user interface.
A program that performs a very specific task, usually related to managing system resourses:
may not have a user interface.
driver program
A program that performs a very specific task, for a specific device, e.g. a printer driver.
the World Wide Web
A way of accessing information over the internet using the HTTP protocol.
browser program
An application used to access WWW documents, e.g., Netscape, Internet Explorer
Web services, web servers
Programs which use HTTP to allow applications to communicate (by implication the
machines that run them).
Compiler
Program which translates a program in a high-level language into machine language,
sometimes in several stages.
client/server
Network architecture in which the user's PC (client) requests service from the supplying
machine (server).
system development cycle
Process of writing complex software:starts with information requirements, ends with final
implementation, changes cause cycle to begin again--maintenance.
object-oriented programming (OOP) Modular programming with more formal rules that allow pieces of software to reused and
interchanged between program.s.
object-oriented programming languages
Smalltalk, C++, Java, C#, Visual Basic
event-driven programming
Programs which respond to events. Often implies a user interface.
event
An action which the executing program can respond to ("handle") with code. Events are
generated by users, the system, or the program itself.
event handler
A procedure in your code that determines the actions to be performed when an event occurs.
Hertz, Hz
One cycle per second (of electrical vibrations) after Heinrich Hertz
MHz
MegaHertz, One million cycles per second. A measure to the transmission speed of
electronic devices.
KHz
KiloHertz, One thousand cycles per second.
GHz
GigaHertz, One billion cycles per second. Some number of bits are manipulated x times per
second.
MIPS
Millions of Instructions Per Second--the execution speed of a computer.
byte
common unit of computer storage = 8 bits, holds a single character.
bit
a 1 or a 0 (high or low) smallest unit of storage or memory.
© Dr. Margaret Critchlow, 2004.